Artem Sitak bows out of French Open
Marcus Daniell has followed fellow Kiwi Artem Sitak in bowing out of the first round at the French Open doubles in Paris.
Sitak, who has often played for Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club, and his American playing partner, Nicholas Monroe, won the first set against Marcin Matkowski and Edouard Roger-Vasselin but failed to go on with the job, losing 5-7 6-4 6-4 in two hours and five minutes on May 31.
Daniell and Brazilian Marcelo Demoliner did not fare any better, losing 6-4 6-4 to Ivan Dodig and Marcel Granollers in one hour 24 minutes.
Before the tournament 31-yearold Sitak and Monroe were confident of upsetting their higher ranked opponents.
‘‘We have had solid results, a lot of semi-finals and we have lost some very tight matches ... I think we are playing well and we are ready,’’ Sitak said.
But, it wasn’t to be. Sitak at least made a promising start as both teams dropped serve early before he and Monroe broke Matkowski for 5-3.
Sitak was immediately broken to love serving for the set, however, after saving a break point at five-all, they were able to break again at 6-5 to close out the opening set in 42 minutes.
‘‘It was an up and down first
‘‘Sometimes it doesn't go your way.’’
Artem Sitak
set, we got on top of them, there were a lot of breaks which is not usual for doubles of that calibre. ‘‘ Sitak said. Games went with serve until the fifth game of the second set when Sitak was broken and the 12th seeds were able to go on and close out the set to force a decider.
There was nothing between the teams in the final set and Sitak felt they had a good chance to cause an upset.
‘‘It was just a few points, second set and third set, we got broken at 2-2 in the second set but I think we got our groove back on in the third set and we were on top of them,’’ he said.
‘‘We had looks on their serve but couldn’t convert. Then at 4-all with Nick serving it was a long game and they came up with the goods. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way.’’ The result continued a tough clay court swing for the pair, who now turn their attention to the grass court season in the run up to Wimbledon.
Although, Sitak is still in mixed doubles draw with Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and was expected to play on June 2.