By Tennis Panorama News
Who says Americans can’t play on clay? In the first two days of the French Open, the ladies from the United States are a perfect 10 for 10 in wins. It’s the first time since 2003 that so many US women have gained a berth in the second round in Paris. In 2003 11 US women made the second round.
The US women can still add to their total in the second round, as two more women Serena Williams and Jamie Hampton take the court on Tuesday for their first round matches.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) d. (12) Sabine Lisicki (GER) 64 63
(Q) Lauren Davis (USA) d. (30) Mona Barthel (GER) 61 61
Christina McHale (USA) d. (Q) Kiki Bertens (NED) 26 64 64
Vania King (USA) d. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 64 62
Varvara Lepchenko (USA) d. Ksenia Pervak (KAZ) 62 67(6) 64
Sloane Stephens (USA) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 64 76(6)
Venus Williams (USA) d Paula Ormaechea (ARG) 46 61 63
Irina Falconi (USA) d Edina Gallovits-Hall (ROU) 36 63 61
(Q) Alexa Glatch (USA) d Anna Tatishvili (GEO) 63 57 64
(WC) Melanie Oudin (USA) d Johanna Larsson (SWE) 63 63
In five of the past seven years, a mere four American ladies made it out of the first round in Paris.
“A couple years ago everyone was asking me the opposite questions on why American tennis was so bad, said Bethanie Mattek-Sands who upset 12th seed Sabine Lisicki on Monday. “I told them, I think we have some great young players coming up. It’s just the WTA right now has a lot of depth.
“It really shows that some of the Americans are coming through playing tough, grinding it out here on the clay, and it’s awesome, I think.”
“It’s exciting.” Sloane Stephens said about all of the American women coming through. “I was just talking to Christina (McHale) in the locker room. I’m like, Who do you play? She’s like, I play Lauren Davis. I’m like, Oh, my God. I play Bethanie.
“So all the Americans are playing Americans, but it’s good that we’ll have people in the third round. So that’s always nice.”
In terms of American women on clay”I don’t think anything’s changed,” Stephens continued. “It’s always been the same. Maybe people got tough draws before. I don’t know what methods people are using or what’s been different, but we’re winning.”
“Maybe it’s a little bit extra firepower or some extra come ons or some heart. I’m not sure.
“But to everyone that got a win, that is really exciting, because everyone always says that we’re not good on clay.
“That’ll prove ‘em wrong.”
As for the US men, although Andy Roddick and Ryan Harrison crashed out in the first round, John Isner, Jessie Levine, and comeback player Bryan Baker are through to the second round. Sam Querrey, James Blake, Donald Young will face huge challenges to advance to the second round when they play their first round matches on Tuesday.