Serbia's Novak Djokovic can secure the No. 1 ranking with a win over Roger Federer in Friday's second men's semifinal. The winner faces Rafael Nadal in Sunday's men's final. (Jacques Demarthon/Getty Images)

The streak is over. Long live the king.

Novak Djokovic’s record-threatening run of 43 straight matches without a loss is finished courtesy of Roger Federer, who won 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5) in Friday’s semifinal showdown at the French Open.

In what’s certain to be called the greatest victory of his career outside of a Grand Slam final, Federer outlasted Djokovic over three hours and 39 minutes amid an electric atmosphere on Court Philippe Chatrier. By the time Federer boomed his 18th ace on match point, it was 9:37 p.m. local time.

Federer advances to face Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s final (9 a.m. ET, NBC). The longtime rivals have met 24 times, but it will mark their first meeting in a Grand Slam final in two-and-a-half years.

Here’s video of match point, followed by a full minute-by-minute analysis of the match:

Fourth set

3:37 p.m. ET | Federer wins fourth set, 7-6(5); Federer win 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5)

Federer goes up a minibreak at 2-0 with a screaming forehand winner, but Murray gets it back at 2-2 when Federer pushes a backhand past the baseline — perhaps thrown off by a ball boy who started to move prematurely. (Echoes of Murray-Troicki?) It’s 3-3 as the players change sides. Federer goes up another minibreak as Djokovic pulls his shirt above his head in agony, then booms another ace to go up 5-3. Another booming serve that Djokovic can’t return and Federer is up 6-3 with three match points. Djokovic closes it to 6-4 with a netcord-aided return that Federer can’t reach, then makes it 6-5 with an ace. Crowd in crescendo as Federer serves for the match. Ace. And he does it. Federer emits a shout to no one in particular, walks slowly toward the net and meets Djokovic for a handshake. Federer all smiles.

3:29 p.m. ET | Set tied 6-6

Djokovic jumps ahead 30-0 but Federer wins two quick points to pull within two points of the victory. At 30-30, Djokovic yanks Federer all over the baseline before kissing a cheeky drop shot to set up game point. Federer forces deuce but Djokovic holds to set up a fourth-set tiebreak. Probably the last tennis we’ll see today.

3:20 p.m. ET | Federer leads 6-5

This is tennis at the highest level: brutal, taxing rallies that are pushing both players to the limit. Federer falls behind 30-40 and gives Djokovic a vital break-point chance, but pounds another 112-m.p.h. second-serve ace to force deuce. After netting another backhand, Federer saves another break point with another ace, then goes on to hold when Djokovic hits a backhand long. Another “Come on!” from Fed. Deafening noise on Chatrier, but it’s really getting dark now.

3:15 p.m. ET | Set tied 5-5

And how about this! Djokovic immediately falls behind 0-40 on his serve. Federer can’t take advantage of the first or second break points — briefly falling to 3-for-24 (!) on break-point opportunities — but he doesn’t waste the third chance, crushing a forehand to break back and level the set at five games apiece.

3:12 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 5-4

Federer pushes a forehand long to fall behind 0-30 on his serve, but pulls within 15-30 by outlasting Djokovic in a 19-stroke rally. At 30-30, Federer pounds a 111-m.p.h. second serve for an ace, but nets a backhand on the next point for the first deuce in an eternity. Crowd buzzing in anticipation. More nervy play from both sides. It’s Federer who blinks: On the fifth deuce, Djokovic rips a comet of a cross-court forehand just beyond Roger’s reach, then secures the crucial break when Federer shanks.

2:58 p.m. ET | Set tied 4-4

Now it’s Djokovic who holds easily. Very quick set thus far, with neither man having any trouble holding serve. If Djokovic pulls out the set, perhaps they could begin the fifth after all?

2:55 p.m. ET | Federer leads 4-3

Another easy hold for Federer, who’s only dropped one point in four service games this set. A fantastic point at 30-0 with Federer scrambling all over the terre battue like a teenager.

2:53 p.m. ET | Set tied 3-3

Djokovic falls behind 0-30 on his serve but rallies to level it at 30-30. A booming ace gives him game point, and an easy winner hands Novak the game.

2:52 p.m. ET | Federer leads 3-2

Another lightning-quick service game from Federer, who holds at love and keeps the pressure on. He’s 10-for-10 on first-serve points in the fourth set.

2:46 p.m. ET | Set tied 2-2

Make it eight straight without deuce as Djokovic holds again. Crowd seems to have been sapped of energy.

2:42 p.m. ET | Federer leads 2-1

Djokovic nets a drop shot to give Federer his second easy hold of the fourth. That’s seven games in a row without deuce.

2:38 p.m. ET | Set tied 1-1

And Djokovic returns the favor with a hold, although a dodgy one. It’s worth mentioning the pace of the match has picked up from the first set (70 minutes) to the second (45) to the third (37).

2:36 p.m. ET | Federer leads 1-0

Masterful hold of serve from the Swiss maestro to open the third set.

Third set

2:32 p.m. ET | Djokovic wins third set, 6-3; Federer leads 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6

Djokovic goes up 40-0 to line up three set points. He only needs one: winning the point, game and set with a 120-m.p.h. to Federer’s forehand side. That’s the first set Federer has dropped in the entire tournament. Roger had 22 break-point chances in the first two sets and zero in the third.

2:30 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 5-3

Federer holds at love for the fourth time today and Djokovic will serve for the third set. Maybe an hour of daylight remains. If it goes five, they’ll have to finish it Saturday morning.

2:27 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 5-2

Easy hold by Djokovic, who looks as fresh as he did in the first game of the first set. Supremely conditioned.

2:23 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 4-2

Federer keeps within a break with a clinical hold of serve. Hard to believe he’s 3-of-22 on break-point opportunities in the match and winning by two sets.

2:19 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 4-1

Djokovic holds but not without stern challenges from Federer, whose court coverage and ability to return is still absurd. Djokovic takes the game on a Federer backhand error, prompting a “Come on!”

2:14 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 3-1

Federer saves a break point at 30-40 with his 10th ace, then sets up game point with a picture-perfect drop shot. Djokovic nets the return and Roger is on the board in the third.

2:10 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 3-0

More errors from Federer and Djokovic leads 3-0. Can Novak extend this match to Saturday? You’ve got to think Nadal is pulling for it.

2:05 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 2-0

Signs of life from Djokovic, who sprints ahead 15-40 on Federer’s serve. Roger saves the first break point, but frames a backhand wide on the second to give Djokovic a glimmer of hope.

2:01 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 1-0

Just past 8 p.m. in Paris and Djokovic holds to open the third set. You know Federer, with all the momentum in the world, wants to end this one. Maybe another 90 minutes of light.

Second set

1:49 p.m. ET | Federer wins second set, 6-3; Federer leads 7-6(5), 6-3

Huge break opportunity for Djokovic at 30-40, but Federer booms an ace. (Interestingly, it’s ruled out despite cheers from the crowd; but Djokovic concedes the point before the umpire even leaves his chair.) Federer doesn’t waste his sixth set point, dictating a nine-shot rally that ends when Djokovic dumps a forehand into the net. Fist-pumping exhortations from the Swiss. The odds are really against Djokovic now: Federer is 174-0 lifetime at Grand Slams when holding a two-set lead.

1:49 p.m. ET | Federer leads 5-3

Stunningly, Djokovic falls behind 0-40 on his serve, but saves three set points to force deuce. Djokovic saves fourth and fifth set points, the former by attacking the net as Federer frames a shot into the crowd. Eventually, Novak holds. Federer will serve for the second set.

1:39 p.m. ET | Federer leads 5-2

Federer goes down 0-30 on his serve, then uncoils a 134-m.p.h. ace. Djokovic pushes a forehand wide to make it 30-30, and two more errors gift Federer the service game.

1:35 p.m. ET | Federer leads 4-2

Error after error for Djokovic, who looks as tentative as we’ve seen him in 2011. Lots of theorizing on the negative effects of the four-day layoff on Djokovic, who had a walkover in the quarters and hasn’t played since Monday. Djokovic rallies to hold but he’ll need a break sooner than later to avoid going down two sets to none.

1:29 p.m. ET | Federer leads 4-1

Federer consolidates the break. Three quick impressions from the tennis intelligentsia:

• Matt Cronin of FOXSports.com:  “1 thing we have to realize is that there had to come a time in Djokovic’s wondrous year where he would have a bad match & it might be today”

• Neil Harman of the Times of London: “The record is looking distinctly vulnerable right here, right now”

• Diane Pucin of the L.A. Times: “Novak looks like the Novak who used to pack it in against the likes of Andy Roddick.”

1:28 p.m. ET | Federer leads 3-1

Djokovic falls behind 15-30. A half-hearted attempt at a volley misses the mark and gives Federer a pair of break-point chances, but two big serves from Djokovic get him out of trouble. Novak looks tight, with some very negative body language. A net cord lifts a Djokovic forehand over the baseline and Federer gets the break to go up 3-1. Crowd really behind him. Federer now 3-for-13 on break-point opportunities.

1:21 p.m. ET | Federer leads 2-1

Federer holds at love. Clouds obscure already dimming light at 7:15 Paris time.

1:19 p.m. ET | Set tied 1-1

Djokovic holds easily as the wind appears to have calmed.

1:15 p.m. ET | Federer leads 1-0

Federer saves a break point with an ace and goes on to hold. Between sets, Bad Gilbert tweeted what everybody’s thinking: “Just a thought, we’ve only got about 2hrs 10min of light left, don’t think we could squeeze in a 5 setter tonight…carry over would be bad”

First set

1:09 p.m. ET | Federer wins first set, 7-6(5)

Both players hold through the first three points of the tiebreak, including a 126-m.p.h. ace from Federer. Roger goes up a minibreak at 3-1 on a Djokovic backhand error (a rare moment of flat-footedness from the Serb), but Novak gets them back on serve at 4-3 with a impossibly angled backhand winner. Federer gets a set point with Djokovic serving at 5-6, and Djokovic fires a forehand into the net after a six-shot rally. First set to Federer, who’s still yet to drop a set at Roland Garros this year.

12:59 p.m. ET | Set tied 6-6

Exactly one hour into the match, the first set will be decided by a tiebreaker as Federer holds easily. BBC Sport’s Piers Newbery reports chants of “Roger! Roger!” on Chatrier.

12:53 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 6-5

Serving at 15-30, Djokovic gets a warning from the chair umpire for a delayed serve. He wins the next point with a calm volley, then had a few choice words for the umpire — drawing whistles and jeers from the Parisian crowd. At 30-30, an incredible 27-shot rally ends with a Federer unforced error on a backhand. Djokovic wins the next point to hold and Federer will serve to force a first-set tiebreaker.

12:43 p.m. ET | Set tied 5-5

Bad miss from Federer, who frames a shot at 15-30 to give Djokovic two set points. He comes back with a vicious forehand that Djokovic can’t reach to pull within 30-40, then a 122-m.p.h. serve that Novak can’t get back. From there, he goes on to hold.

12:43 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 5-4

Sloppy forehand from Federer at 30-40 hands Djokovic the game. Roger will serve to stay in the first set.

12:39 p.m. ET | Set tied 4-4

Quick hold from Federer. Moving well, always on time, crushing the ball.

12:36 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 4-3

And Federer breaks right back. Lots of crowd support for the Swiss. Lots of bad bounces too. Remember: they elected not to sweep the court after the Rafael Nadal-Andy Murray match so they could get the second semifinal started in time to finish before sundown.

12:32 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 4-2

A sequence of fantastic returns of serve by Djokovic, who goes up a break on Federer with a laser-guided inside-out backhand return in the sixth game of the match — and he doesn’t even look like he’s playing his best. Djokovic now 2-for-2 on break-point chances; Federer is 1-for-8.

12:28 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 3-2

Another break-point chance at 30-40 for Federer, but Djokovic saves it with a crushing inside-out forehand that Roger backhands into the net. Djokovic then booms an ace and takes the game on a Federer forehand error. The Serb has faced break points in each of his first three service games.

12:20 p.m. ET | Set tied 2-2

Quick hold at love for Federer: booming serves, exquisite backhand volleys. Roger looking sharp.

12:18 p.m. ET | Djokovic leads 2-1

With Federer serving at 1-1, Djokovic makes three quick errors to give Federer three more break points, but fights back from 40-0 to deuce. The ball is really flying on both players in this wind; lots of errors long. Djokovic ultimately holds after six deuces.

12:04 p.m. ET | Set tied 1-1

And Djokovic breaks right back. Tennis coach Nick Bollettieri tweets: “No matter what anyone says there is more pressure on #Djokovic”

12:01 p.m. ET | Federer leads 1-0

Djokovic goes down 0-30, then hits a forehand long after a 12-stroke rally to give Federer three early break-point chances. After pulling within 15-40, Djokovic hits a forehand wide to give Federer the early break. Djokovic glares into the crowd in the direction of a spectator who made a loud noise right as he met the ball. It’s just the third time Djokovic has been broken in the entire tournament.

11:50 a.m. ET | Pre-match

Rafael Nadal called it: “The best player of the world today against the best player [in] history.”

If that’s not an endorsement for Friday’s second men’s semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, what is?

The stakes are high for Federer, who is hoping to prove there’s room for three in the top tier of men’s tennis. But they’re stratospheric for Djokovic, who can nail down the No. 1 ranking (as S.L. Price mentioned in his preview), equal John McEnroe’s record for a season-opening winning streak at 42-0 and earn a shot at his first French Open title against Nadal, who knocked off Andy Murray in Friday’s first semifinal.

After Thursday's semifinal win over Marion Bartoli, Francesca Schiavone (above) is one victory away from back-to-back French Open championships. (AP)

What’s Happening Friday

Tennis Channel will air the first men’s semifinal (which starts at 8 a.m. ET), with NBC picking up the second at 11 a.m. And while NBC’s coverage is frequently associated with tape-delayed matches, never fear: you’ll be able to watch any live action on NBCSports.com while you’re waiting for the Today Show to finish.

Later on, Tennis Channel will replay both men’s semifinals between 5 p.m. and midnight.

The two semifinals are:

• No. 1 Rafael Nadal vs. No. 4 Andy Murray (Court Philippe Chatrier, 8 a.m. ET)

• No. 3 Roger Federer vs. No. 2 Novak Djokovic (Court Philippe Chatrier, second match)

The complete order of play for Day 13 can be found here.

What Happened Thursday

• Li knocks off Sharapova. Maria Sharapova will likely never have a clearer path toward her first French Open title and the career Grand Slam. Alas, it wasn’t enough, as the 23-year-old went down to sixth-seeded Li Na in straight sets. Sharapova double faulted 10 times in the match, including on match point, as the 29-year-old Li became the first Asian player to reach the French Open final.

• Schiavone defeats Bartoli. Marion Bartoli’s bid to become the first native Frenchwoman to win at Roland Garros since 2000 was extinguished by the artful Schiavone, the defending champion who enters Saturday’s final on a streak of 13 straight wins here. Gusty conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier compromised both players’ games, but it was Schiavone who adjusted better, frustrating Bartoli with her variety and persistence.

• Bryan brothers lose. In perhaps the biggest upset of this year’s French Open, Juan Sebastian Cabal of Colombia and Eduardo Schwank of Argentina knocked off the top-seeded Bryan brothers in the men’s doubles semifinals.

Paris Clicks

Our own Jon Wertheim discusses The Streak on NPR … Andre Agassi is teaming with a group of L.A. bankers to finance as much as $750 million in charter schools nationwide … Andy Murray is writing a column for BBC Sport … Andy Roddick is now designing tennis shorts for Lacoste … A look back at the French Open that almost didn’t happen.

Photo of the Day

Li Na serves to Maria Sharapova during Thursday’s first women’s semifinal (from SI.com’s Best Shots from Day 12 at the French Open).

Go Figure

64 … Number of games conceded by Rafael Nadal at this year’s French Open, the most he’s ever dropped en route to the semis at Roland Garros.

16 … Months since Roger Federer’s last appearance in a Grand Slam final, his longest gap since winning Wimbledon in 2003.

21 … Years since a player aged 30 or over won a Grand Slam title, when Martina Navratilova won Wimbledon in 1990 at 33. Francesca Schiavone turns 31 in June.

Must-See Video

At the Moulin Rouge with Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

They Said It

“As an athlete you want to win. There’s no doubt. But, you know, good retail therapy and I’ll be fine.”
–Maria Sharapova, looking on the bright side after Thursday’s semifinal loss to Li Na

Seventh-seeded Maria Sharapova is just two victories away from becoming the 10th women's player to complete the career Grand Slam. (AP)

What’s Happening Thursday

The women’s semifinal doubleheader is the day’s real highlight, with ESPN2′s coverage running from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Earlier, Tennis Channel will have live coverage of the men doubles semifinals beginning at 5 a.m. The network will also re-air the women’s semis at 6:30 p.m. (Clip and save the complete TV schedule.)

The two semifinals are:

• No. 6 Li Na vs. No. 7 Maria Sharapova (Court Philippe Chatrier, 8 a.m. ET)

• No. 11 Marion Bartoli vs. No. 5 Francesca Schiavone (Court Philippe Chatrier, second match)

The complete order of play for Day 12 can be found here.

What Happened Wednesday

• Rafa roars past Soderling to set up Murray meeting. Rafael Nadal coasted to a 6-4, 6-1, 7-6(3) victory over Robin Soderling. Both players struggled in the windy conditions; Soderling (41 unforced errors) just struggled a lot more than Nadal (13), who seemed emboldened by the victory after Monday’s self-flagellatory press conference. “I said two days ago I am not playing good enough to win Roland Garros. We will see in two days. That’s what I said,” Nadal mused. “And today I played better. Much better, in my opinion.” That’s a scary thought for semifinal opponent Andy Murray, who had little trouble with unseeded Juan Ignacio Chela in the day’s other men’s match.

• Sharapova, Li book semifinal date. Maria Sharpova whipped Andrea Petkovic, advancing to her first Grand Slam semifinal in more than three years. She’ll face Li Na, the Australian Open runner-up who’s peaking at Roland Garros after a horrific post-Melbourne slump. Li booked her place in the semis Wednesday with a straight-sets victory over fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka.

Paris Clicks

The New Yorker on Tuesday’s ball boy blunder … Maria Sharapova shows there’s life after the Williams sisters … New York Times story on the best seat in the house at Roland Garros … The French Open is barely moving the needle Down Under … Which tennis legend did Novak Djokovic call Wednesday for an impromptu hitting session? … Rafael Nadal proves he’s just like anybody else.

Photo of the Day

Maria Sharapova returns to Andrea Petkovic on Court Suzanne Lenglen (from SI.com’s Best Shots from Day 11 at the French Open).

Go Figure

32 … Number of games conceded by Maria Sharapova en route to the semifinals, the fewest of the four remaining women in the draw. She’s also been on court the shortest amount of time (7 hours, 54 minutes).

6 … Number of Frenchwomen to reach the French Open final since the tournament went international in 1925. Bartoli can become the seventh with a victory on Thursday.

12 … Number of times in the Open era (since 1968) that the top four seeded men reached the semifinals at a Grand Slam tournament.

Must-See Video

A China Central Television feature on Li Na and her racket stringer.

They Said It

“The best player in the world today against the best player in history, so it’s difficult to say.”
–Rafael Nadal, killing ‘em with kindness with asked to predict the winner of Friday’s semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer

Italy's Francesca Schiavone is back in the French Open semifinals after last year's surprise run to the championship. (Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images)

What’s Happening Wednesday

The last four men’s and women’s quarterfinals will be played. Tennis Channel’s live coverage runs from 8 a.m. ET until noon. ESPN2 continues with live and same-day action from 12 until 6:30 p.m. ET. (Clip and save the complete TV schedule.)

The day’s four quarterfinals are:

• No. 6 Li Na vs. No. 4 Victoria Azarenka (Court Philippe Chatrier, 8 a.m. ET)

• No. 7 Maria Sharapova vs. No. 15 Andrea Petkovic (Court Suzanne Lenglen, 8 a.m. ET)

• No. 1 Rafael Nadal vs. No. 5 Robin Soderling (Court Philippe Chatrier, second match)

• No. 4 Andy Murray vs. Juan Ignacio Chela (Court Suzanne Lenglen, second match)

The complete order of play for Day 11 can be found here.

What Happened Thursday

• Andy’s agony and ecstasy. Hobbled by an injured ankle, Andy Murray had fallen behind two sets to none in Monday’s fourth-round match with Viktor Troicki. He rallyed to knot the score at two sets apiece, but the match was suspended for darkness before the players could decide it. Fast forward to Tuesday, where Murray fell behind 5-2 in the fifth before promptly taking five straight games and the match. Next up: a quarterfinal clash with Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela.

• Schaivone back in semis, will face Bartoli. One year after becoming the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam, the artistic Schiavone is back in the semifinals after a wacky 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. In a match between the oldest and youngest women remaining in the draw — Schiavone turns 31 next month; Pavlyuchenkova is 19 — the artful Italian rallied from a moribund opening to take control in the second set before nearly letting it slip away at the finish. She’ll face Marion Bartoli in the semifinals after the 11th-seeded Frenchwoman dispensed of Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets.

• Federer books Djokovic showdown. Federer coasted to a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over Gael Monfils in straight sets, reaching the French Open semifinals for the sixth time in seven years. He’s the lone player yet to drop a set at Roland Garros. Next up: a Friday clash with Novak Djokovic for a place in Sunday’s final.

Paris Clicks

Jim Courier penned this appreciation of the Bullring at Roland Garros … Today’s new musketeers are no match for the Mousquetaires who defeated Bill Tilden, writes Roger Kaplan of The American Spectator … Meet Betty and Veronica: Svetlana Kuznetsova’s new two-headed coaching brain trust … Rafael Nadal discusses the Champions League final in the latest entry of his ongoing blog for the Telegraph.

Photo of the Day

Andy Murray reacts after defeating Viktor Troicki (from SI.com’s Best Shots from Day 10 at the French Open).

Go Figure

4 … Number of French women to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros in the Open era: Francoise Durr (1972, ’73), Brigitte Simon (1978), Mary Pierce (2000, ’05) and Marion Bartoli (2011).

400 … Career singles victories by the 26-year-old Bartoli, who reached the milestone with Tuesday’s quarterfinal win over Kuznetsova.

1 … Number of players remaining in the men’s draw from outside of Europe: Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina.

Must-See Video

Pop quiz, hotshot: Who presented Rafael Nadal each of his five French Open trophies? Rafa himself gets put on the spot.

They Said It

“I was really sad inside but what can you do? Nobody can change it, just me. So I came back and I enjoyed it a little bit more at the end than at the start, for sure.”
–Francesca Schiavone, on falling behind 1-6, 1-4 against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova before rallying for a three-set victory

Ninth-seeded Gael Monfils (above) needed two days to dispense of David Ferrer in the fourth round of the French Open. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images)

What’s Happening Tuesday

The business end of the French Open commences with the first two women’s quarterfinals. Also: one men’s quarterfinal and the conclusion of the Andy Murray-Viktor Troicki fourth-rounder.

Tennis Channel’s live coverage runs from 8 a.m. ET until noon. NBC continues with live and same-day action from 12 until 6:30 p.m. ET. (Clip and save the complete TV schedule.)

The day’s three quarterfinals are:

• No. 14 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs. No. 5 Francesca Schiavone (Court Philippe Chatrier, 8 a.m. ET): The artistic Schiavone, who turns 31 next month, has won 11 straight matches at Roland Garros and enters the quarters as the second highest remaining seed in the field. She’s a favorite against the 19-year-old Pavlyuchenkova, a former Australian and U.S. Open girls’ champion who’s in the last eight at a Grand Slam for the first time.

• No. 9 Gael Monfils vs. No. 3 Roger Federer (Court Philippe Chatrier, second match): A champion here just two years ago, Federer is now the forgotten third man and a distant 6-to-1 underdog to win it all. (It’s easy to forget he’s yet to drop a single set.) The all-time Grand Slam pacehorse is expected to make it past the elastic Monfils and a stadium full of French supporters, where a Friday semifinal clash with the well-rested Novak Djokovic awaits.

• No. 13 Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. No. 11 Marion Bartoli (Court Suzanne Lenglen, third match): Kuznetsova is a two-time Grand Slam champion branded with the dreaded underachiever tag, but she’s overcome a moribund start to 2011 to make the last eight and she’s as dangerous as anyone in the field. A one-time Grand Slam finalist (at Wimbledon in 2007), Bartoli is the last French woman remaining and enters the quarters in similarly excellent form.

The complete order of play for Day 10 can be found here.

What Happened This Weekend

• Rafael Nadal kept winning but kept looking vulnerable and gave a self-flagellatory press conference on Monday.

• Playing on one good leg, Andy Murray went down two sets against Viktor Troicki but rallied to knot the match at two sets apiece. The match was suspended for darkness and it will resume Tuesday (8 a.m. ET).

• Roger Federer is through to the quarters. (Again.) And he still hasn’t dropped a set.

• Vera Zvonareva joined Caroline Wozniacki and Kim Clijsters on the sidelines, making Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova the de facto co-favorites for the women’s title.

• Italy’s Fabio Fognini advanced via the strangest finish in recent Grand Slam history, before defaulting the next day and giving Novak Djokovic easy passage to the semis. For the record: the walkover does not count toward Djoker’s streak.

Paris Clicks

“Tennis Week” on Wheel of Fortune kicks off tonight … Andrea Petkovic’s Road to Roland Garros … Everything you ever wanted to know about the French Open racket stringers … Doug Robson of USA Today talks to NPR about the all the women’s upsets … Bradley Cooper and Tony Parker bring their bromance to Roland Garros.

Photo of the Day

Rafael Nadal plays a forehand during his three-set victory over Ivan Ljubicic (from SI.com’s Best Shots from Day 9 at the French Open).

Go Figure

28 … Consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances by Roger Federer, an all-time record.

3 … Number of major tournaments in the Open era where none of the top three seeded women made the quarterfinals. Third-seeded Vera Zvonareva lost Sunday to join No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and No. 2 Kim Clijsters on the sidelines.

21 … Years since a player age 30 or older won a Grand Slam singles title, when Martina Navratilova won Wimbledon in 1990 at 33. Francesca Schiavone, 30, is three wins away.

Must-See Video

Andrea Petkovic added a Moonwalk-inspired flourish to her celebratory dance for 2011 — and Monday’s fourth-round victory over Maria Kirilenko was the perfect opportunity to break it out.

They Said It

“Walkover from Fognini. Bad luck for him, hope he recovers fast. Today I get to enjoy Paris in a different way “
–Novak Djokovic, via Twitter, celebrating his easy passage to the semifinals

With the top seeds on the women's side dropping like flies, the oddsmakers are listing Victoria Azarenka (above) as the new title favorite. (AP)

What’s Happening Saturday

The third round concludes. Tennis Channel’s live coverage runs from 5 a.m. ET until noon. NBC continues with live and same-day action from 12 until 3 p.m. ET. (Clip and save the complete TV schedule.)

Saturday’s must-see match is no different than Friday’s must-see match: the blockbuster third-rounder between No. 2 Novak Djokovic and No. 25 Juan Martin del Potro (Court Suzanne Lenglen, not before 7 a.m. ET).

Other key matches to watch on Saturday include:

• No. 30 Roberta Vinci vs. No. 4 Victoria Azarenka (Court Philippe Chatrier, 5 a.m. ET): Guess who’s the betting favorite on the women’s side? The trendy pick is Maria Sharapova, but the oddsmakers are fancying Azarenka at 7-to-2. Which can only mean she’s ripe for a fall.

• No. 6 Li Na vs. Sorana Cirstea (Court Suzanne Lenglen, 5 a.m. ET): Speaking of newly tabbed French favorites, Australian Open runner-up Li Na seems to have shaken off her post-Melbourne slump just in time for Roland Garros. The 29-year-old always conjures her best stuff at the majors, but she could get a stern test from Cirstea, who made a breakthrough here in 2009 with a run to the last eight.

• No. 10 Mardy Fish vs. No. 18 Gilles Simon (Court Philippe Chatrier, third match): Not the easiest draw for the last American standing on the men’s side: going against a seasoned Frenchman (and 14,840 of his countrymen) on center court. But a victory would go a long way toward halting — if only temporarily — the endless parade of what-happened-to-American-tennis stories.

The complete order of play for Day 7 can be found here.

What Happened Friday

The mostly warm weather of the first five days gave way to cold and windy conditions (high of 64 degrees).

• Upsets ravage women’s draw. Caroline Wozniacki’s stunning upset loss to Daniela Hantuchova got all the pub, but No. 8 Sam Stosur and trendy sleeper pick Julia Goerges went down earlier Friday, opening up the women’s side for some second-week surprises.

• Djokovic-Delpo halted for darkness. Djokovic won the first at 6-3. Del Potro won the second by the same count. And the two will play a best-of-three match Saturday for the right to face Richard Gasquet in the last 16.

• Federer blasts way into fourth round. Behind a booming serve that clocked in at 130 m.p.h., Roger Federer stormed to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Janko Tipsarevic to book a date in the fourth round with …

• … Stan Wawrinka rallies back. Down two sets to none against homestanding Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the other top Swiss player rallied for a dramatic 4-6, 6-7(3), 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-3 triumph.

• Other seeded players march on. No. 7 David Ferrer advanced (and note: he still hasn’t dropped a set). Other men’s seeds to progress included No. 9 Gael Monfils and No. 13 Richard Gasquet. Women’s seeded winners included No. 3 Vera Zvonareva, No. 5 Francesca Schiavone, No. 10 Jelena Jankovic, No. 11 Marion Bartoli, No. 13 Svetlana Kuznetsova and No. 14 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Paris Clicks

Novak Djokovic makes The Onion … Questions for Roger Federer? None in English … Sports business analyst Rick Horrow with a commercial look at this year’s French Open … No one has a more navigable draw to the semis than Andy Murray … Elena Baltacha’s latest dispatch for BBC Sport … The filmmaker behind the WTA’s new “Strong is Beautiful” campaign is being accused of turning women’s tennis into soft porn.

Photo of the Day

Mike and Bob Bryan get up simultaneously during their second-round men’s doubles match (from SI.com’s Best Shots from Day 6 at the French Open).

Go Figure

0 … Number of times in the Open era (since 1968) the top two seeded women at a major tournament failed to make the round of 16 prior to this year’s French Open.

26-2 … Career record of Maria Sharapova at Grand Slams (including qualies) against opponents ranked outside the top 100. Sharapova’s third-round opponent, Yung-Jan Chan, is ranked 129th.

9:15 p.m. … Time of day in Paris when the third-round clash between Djokovic and Del Potro was suspended, 26 minutes before sunset.

Must-See Video

Inside the locker room (where Djokovic shares a special message for all the kids out there).

They Said It

“I was really unlucky — I always had to face the Williams sisters.”
–Daniela Hantuchova, slayer of Caroline Wozniacki, explaining her modest record at Grand Slams

Novak Djokovic (front) and Juan Martin del Potro (rear) meet Friday in a third-rounder that will have a much weightier feel. (William West/Getty Images)

What’s Happening Friday

The third round begins. Tennis Channel’s live coverage runs from 5 a.m. ET until noon. ESPN2 continues with live and same-day action from 12 until 6:30 p.m. ET. (Clip and save the complete TV schedule.)

Several top seeds on both sides are in action, among them No. 2 Novak Djokovic, No. 3 Roger Federer, No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, No. 3 Vera Zvonareva and No. 5 Francesca Schiavone. Also, Bethanie Mattek-Sands — the highest ranked American in the women’s draw — will attempt to punch her ticket to the Round of 16 against 10th-seeded Jelena Jankovic (Court 2, second match).

Other key matches to watch on Friday include:

• No. 29 Janko Tipseravic vs. No. 3 Roger Federer (Court Suzanne Lenglen, second match): The free-spirited, Nietzsche-reading Serb is 0-3 lifetime against Federer, but their only previous meeting at a Grand Slam was a five-set thriller that could have gone either way.

• No. 14 Stan Wawrinka vs. No. 17 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Court Philippe Chatrier, third match): Two evenly matched players ranked in the teens going toe to toe on center court. Sounds like a perfect apertif for the match everyone’s been licking their chops over since last Friday’s draw …

• No. 25 Juan Martin del Potro vs. No. 2 Novak Djokovic (Court Philippe Chatrier, fourth match): Throw the seedings out the window — Djoker isn’t playing like a No. 2 and Delpo isn’t playing like a No. 25 — when the first marquee matchup of this year’s French Open kicks off late Friday morning on the East Coast. These two were on a level playing field when Delpo captured the 2009 U.S. Open title, but a wrist injury derailed his 2010 season just as Djokovic cracked the Federer-Nadal diarchy.

The complete order of play for Day 6 can be found here.

What Happened Thursday

A blustery day on the grounds made for, er, troublesome playing conditions. (Said Rafael Nadal: “If you play good, seems like much less wind. If you are playing bad, seems like a hurricane.”)

• Clijsters clipped in major upset. So much for Kim Clijsters’ 15-match win streak at Grand Slams. The No. 2 seed squandered match points against 114th-ranked Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands, then completely fell apart at the seams. The final damage: 65 unforced errors and 10 double faults. On Tennis Channel, Martina Navratilova called it one of the biggest upsets at Roland Garros in recent memory, drawing comparisons to Venus Williams’ first-round loss to Barbara Schett in 2001 and Justine Henin’s second-round defeat against Tathiana Garbin in ’04.

• Nadal wins in straight sets, but nothing came easy. The top-seeded Spaniard won 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 over compatriot Pablo Andujar, saving eight set points in the third to rally from 1-5 down. But the five-time French Open champ showed unusual inconsistency (26 unforced errors) heading into a third-round matchup Saturday against Antonio Veic.

• Sharapova digs deep to survive. A trendy pick to win it all since bagging the Rome title, Maria Sharapova managed to fall behind 3-6, 1-4 against 17-year-old wild card Caroline Garcia. That’s when something clicked and Sharapova won the next 11 games in succession to summarily dismiss the French upstart.

• Go Fish. No. 10-seeded Mardy Fish — the lone American man remaining after Sam Querrey’s quiet exit — punched his third-round ticket with a victory over Robin Haase in straight sets.

• Other seeded players march on. No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, another popular pick to win the title, progressed to the Round of 16. As did No. 6 Li Na, No. 9 Petra Kvitova, No. 12 Agnieszka Radwanska, No. 15 Andrea Petkovic and No. 16 Kaia Kanepi. On the men’s side, seeded winners included No. 4 Andy Murray, No. 5 Robin Soderling, No. 15 Viktor Troicki and No. 16 Fernando Verdasco.

Paris Clicks

Behold: 47 of Maria Sharapova’s grunts from Thursday’s win … Interesting video piece on Alexandr Dolgopolov’s unorthodox strokes … Heather Watson explains what it was like to become the first British woman in 17 years to make the second round at Roland Garros … Busted Racquet breaks down Maria Sharapova’s “hilarious, horrendous” serve … This well-played Roger Federer prank hit the web a few weeks back, but it made a viral comeback in earnest today.

Photo of the Day

Rafael Nadal returns during Thursday’s second-round match with Pablo Andujar (from SI.com’s Best Shots from Day 5 at the French Open).

Go Figure

37 … Number of weeks Caroline Wozniacki will end up spending at No. 1 if the 21-year-old Dane defeats Daniela Hantuchova on Friday. A victory would secure Wozniacki the No. 1 ranking through Wimbledon.

27 … Years since a Polish player last reached the Round of 32 at Roland Garros. Lukasz Kubot ended the drought Thursday with a second-round victory over Carlos Berlocq.

800 … Career doubles victories by Canada’s Daniel Nestor, who reached the milestone on Thursday.

Must-See Video

Luck wasn’t on Kim Clijsters’ side for most of Thursday’s match, but it was for one third-set point.

They Said It

“The girl sharapova is playing is going to be number one in the world one day caroline garcia, what a player u heard it here first”
–Andy Murray, via Twitter, when Caroline Garcia led 6-3, 4-1 over Maria Sharapova; the 17-year-old lost the next 11 games and the match

Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round and kept his winning streak alive Wednesday with an easy win over Romania's Victor Hanescu. (AP)

What’s Happening Thursday

The second round finishes up. Tennis Channel’s live coverage runs from 5 a.m. ET until noon. ESPN2 continues with live and same-day action from 12 until 6:30 p.m. ET. (Clip and save the complete TV schedule.)

No. 1 Rafael Nadal, No. 4 Andy Murray, No. 5 Robin Soderling, No. 2 Kim Clijsters, No. 6 Li Na and No. 7 Maria Sharapova are all in action, hoping to punch their tickets to the Round of 32.

Other key matches to watch on Thursday include:

• Zheng Jie vs. No. 9 Petra Kvitova (Court 1, 5 a.m. ET): The 21-year-old Kvitova is a trendy sleeper pick at Roland Garros, with at least one pundit fancying her chances to go all the way. And while Zheng may not be playing on her preferred surface, the two-time Grand Slam semifinalist is more than capable of pulling off the upset.

• No. 24 Sam Querrey vs. Ivan Ljubicic (Court 7, 5 a.m. ET): Fresh off his first-ever win at Roland Garros in five career appearances, the SoCal-born Querrey is favored to make the third round. Standing in his way is the ageless Ljubicic, whose booming serve and deceptively good movement could give the American trouble.

• No. 18 Gilles Simon vs. Jeremy Chardy (Court Philippe Chatrier, fourth match): The crowd should be abuzz for the late-afternoon clash between two well-known Frenchmen. Simon is back in the Top 20 — having once climbed as high as No. 6 — while Chardy is a former Wimbledon boys’ champion whose No. 54 ranking isn’t an accurate reflection of his talent.

The complete order of play for Day 5 can be found here.

What Happened Wednesday

Another beautiful day on the grounds, with temperatures peaking at 79 degrees.

• Djokovic, Federer march onward. The No. 2 and No. 3 seeds coasted to straight-sets victories to book their spots in the third round.

• Mattek-Sands wins, surpasses Venus in rankings. American Bethanie Mattek-Sands advanced to the third round with a three-set victory over compatriot Vavara Lepchenko. With the win, the Gaga-inspired fashionista will move ahead of Venus Williams in the rankings.

• Delpo sets up Djoker showdown. 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro defeated Blaz Kavcic to set up a third-round showdown with Rafael Nadal, easily the most anticipated matchup of the Round of 32.

• Other seeded players stay alive. No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki won her second-round match. As did No. 3 Vera Zvonareva, No. 5 Francesca Schiavone, No. 8 Sam Stosur, No. 10 Jelena Jankovic, No. 11 Marion Bartoli, No. 13 Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 14 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, No. 17 Julia Goerges, No. 28 Daniela Hantuchova, No. 29 Peng Shuai. Men’s seeded winners included

Paris Clicks

On of England’s most promising juniors will miss next week’s French Open boys’ tournament because (wait for it) his dad forgot to enter him on time … Speaking of Great British Hopes, Nick Bollettieri is high on Heather Watson … Italian outfitter Sergio Tacchini really hit the jackpot with the Djoker, huh? … Roger Federer is playing invisible man at Roland Garros … Del Potro is focusing on the present rather than comparing his level of play to where it was before 2010.

Photo of the Day

Caroline Wozniacki’s shoes are seen near her shadow as she plays against Aleksandra Wozniak (from SI.com’s Best Shots from Day 4 at the French Open).

Go Figure

41 … Consecutive matches won by Novak Djokovic, matching Roger Federer’s career-best streak.

42-0 … Career record of Federer in the second round of Grand Slams after Wednesday’s victory.

1 … Number of left-handers in the WTA Top 30: Petra Kvitova, who faces Zheng Jie on Thursday. (The last southpaw to win the women’s title at Roland Garros was Monica Seles in 1992.)

Must-See Video

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova sings Pitbull. (For real.)

They Said It

“I can tell you who is my girlfriend, but I can’t tell you what I do with my girlfriend.”
–Novak Djokovic, explaining why he won’t go into specifics regarding his gluten-free diet

Spain's Rafael Nadal (left) was extended to five sets for the first time in 40 career matches at Roland Garros. (Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images)

What’s Happening Wednesday

The second round begins. Tennis Channel’s live coverage runs from 5 a.m. ET until noon. ESPN2 continues with live and same-day action from 12 until 6:30 p.m. ET. (Clip and save the complete TV schedule.)

Key matches to watch on Wednesday include:

• Bethanie Mattek-Sands vs. Varvara Lepchenko (Court 3, 5 a.m. ET): The All-American clash is the first match on Court 3. The winner will be the first U.S. woman in five years not named Venus or Serena to advance to the third round at Roland Garros.

• Maxime Teixeira vs. No. 2 Roger Federer (Court Suzanne Lenglen, 5 a.m. ET): We all know Federer has taken a backseat to Djokovic and Nadal in the French Open build-up, but doesn’t the setting for this second-rounder seem a little off? To quote Open Source Twitter follower @SingleAlley: “No respect for Fed! Sent to Susanne Lenglen….”

• No. 2 Novak Djokovic vs. Victor Hanescu (Court Philippe Chatrier, third match) and No. 25 Juan Martin del Potro vs. Blaz Kavcic (Court 2, third match): Should Djoker and Delpo prevail, they’ll meet Friday in the undisputed marquee matchup of the third round.

The complete order of play for Day 4 can be found here.

What Happened Tuesday

The temperature dipped slightly (a high of 66 degrees), but the sun kept shining.

• Nadal survives Isner’s best shot. Rafael Nadal improved to 28-0 in first-round matches at Grand Slams with a win over John Isner, but it wasn’t easy. Extended to five sets for the first time in 40 career matches at Roland Garros, Nadal dug deep to pull out the 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-4 victory. “Rafa is pretty good at tennis,” Isner tweeted, tongue firmly implanted in cheek.

• Sharapova shines. Wearing an Eiffel Tower-inspired dress, Masha cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic.

• Almagro suffers mystifying loss. The Spaniard held a commanding two-sets-to-none lead over Polish qualifier Lukasz Kubot, but let it fritter away before losing, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-7(5), 6-4.

• Teary exit for Ivanovic. The Grand Slam woes of 2008 French Open champ Ana Ivanovic continued as the 23-year-old Serb crashed out, 7-6(3), 0-6, 6-2, to Sweden’s Johanna Larsson. Ivanovic has now lost in the first round of three of the past four majors.

• Other seeds march on. Andy Murray briefly lost his cool against Eric Prodon, a French qualifier who seemed intent on drop-shotting him to death, but held strong for a 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 victory. Other seeded men’s winners included No. 5 Robin Soderling, No. 8 Jurgen Melzer, No. 16 Fernando Verdasco, No. 18 Gilles Simon, No. 20 Florian Mayer, No. 21 Alexandr Dolgopolov, No. 24 Sam Querrey and No. 32 Kevin Anderson. Women’s seeded winners included No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, No. 6 Li Na, No. 7 Maria Sharapova, No. 15 Andrea Petkovic, No. 21 Yanina Wickmayer, No. 24 Jarmila Gajdosova and No. 27 Alexandra Dulgheru.

Paris Clicks

A video montage of every match point from Djokovic’s streak … Elena Baltacha (in the second round at Roland Garros, no small accomplishment for a British woman) is writing a column for BBC Sport … Six-time Grand Slam champ Stefan Edberg is doing just fine these days … Lucky loser Ryan Harrison talks about making his way into the main draw.

Photo of the Day

Andrea Hlavackova slips during her first-round match against Victoria Azarenka (from SI.com’s Best Shots from Day 3 at the French Open).

Go Figure

2 … Sets dropped by Rafael Nadal in Tuesday’s victory over John Isner.

0 … Sets dropped by Rafael Nadal during the entire 2010 and 2008 French Opens.

27 … Years since three British players last made the second round at Roland Garros. Elena Baltacha and Andy Murray won Tuesday to join Heather Watson in the Round of 64.

Must-See Video

It took 24 hours, but video of Michael Llodra’s tantrum from Monday’s first-round loss — when he hit a ball at a female security guard in the stands out of frustration — finally went viral.

They Said It

“I don’t know what happened. He started to play better and better than me at the end of the third set. I didn’t play my best tennis and finally I lost. That’s all.”
–Nicolas Almagro, attempting to explain his come-from-ahead loss to Lukasz Kubot

French qualifier Stephane Robert rallied from two sets down Monday to upset sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych. (Jacques Demarthon/AFP/Getty Images)

What’s Happening Tuesday

Tennis Channel’s live first-round coverage runs from 5 a.m. ET until noon. ESPN2 will continue with live and same-day action from 12 until 6:30 p.m. ET.  (Clip and save the complete TV schedule.)

Key matches to watch on Tuesday include:

• No. 7 Maria Sharapova vs. Mirjana Lucic (Court Philippe Chatrier, second match): By virtue of last week’s Rome triumph, Masha enters the French Open as a trendy pick to run the table and complete the career Grand Slam. The 29-year-old Lucic shouldn’t pose too much of a threat, but Sharapova’s famously unreliable first serve has left the door open for lesser players than her.

• No. 1 Rafael Nadal vs. John Isner (Court Philippe Chatrier, third match): Nadal opens his quest for a record-tying sixth French Open title against Isner, the 6-foot-9 ace machine whose best weapon is hopelessly compromised by the terre battue of Paris.

• Anastasiya Yakimova vs. No. 2 Kim Clijsters (Court Suzanne Lenglen, fourth match): The numbers don’t favor an upset here. Clijsters is 29-2 lifetime in first-round matches at Grand Slams, including a run of 27 in a row and the past 19 in straight sets. Since returning to the tour in 2009, she’s won 6-0 in the first set of every Grand Slam she’s entered (including four double-bagel victories).

The complete order of play for Day 3 can be found here.

What Happened Monday

More sunny, windy weather (a high of 79 degrees), but just one high-profile upset after two days.

• Sixth-seeded Berdych blows two-set lead. Tomas Berdych led 6-3, 6-3 against French journeyman Stephane Robert, but lost in five sets to the 140th-ranked journeyman. The 25-year-old Czech faces a rankings drop after last year’s run to the semis.

• Brutal loss for New Jersey’s McHale. Up-and-coming American prospect Christina McHale came within two points of victory over Italy’s Sara Errani. But the 19-year-old from Englewood Cliffs, N.J., coughed up a 5-0 third-set lead and lost, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 9-7. “I think I just panicked,” McHale said.

• Djokovic, Federer and Wozniacki win. Easily.

• Milos Raonic eliminated. The fast-rising, big-serving Canadian (seeded 26th) lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to 95th-ranked Michael Berrer in the final match of the day.

• Other seeds march on. Mardy Fish, the top-seeded American at No. 10, reached the second round for the first time at Roland Garros with a four-set victory over Brazil’s Ricardo Mello. Other seeded winners on the men’s side included No. 9 Gael Monfils, No. 12 Mikhail Youzhny, No. 13 Richard Gasquet, No. 15 Viktor Troicki, No. 23 Thomaz Bellucci, No. 25 Juan Martin del Potro, No. 27 Marcos Baghdatis, No. 28 Nikolay Davydenko, No. 29 Janko Tipsarevic; women’s winners included No. 3 Vera Zvonareva, No. 5 Francesca Schiavone, No. 9 Petra Kvitova, No. 11 Marion Bartoli, No. 12 Agnieszka Radwanska, No. 16 Kaia Kanepi, No. 25 Maria Kirilenko, No. 28 Daniela Hantuchova, No. 29 Peng Shuai, No. 30 Roberta Vinci.

Paris Clicks

Anna Kournikova is officially a Loser … American teen Coco Vandeweghe went medieval on her racket after the chair umpire called her for a double hit during her loss to Maria Kirilenko … 10th-seeded Mardy Fish discusses his first-round victory over Ricardo Mello … Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki shows off her new Stella McCartney threads.

Photo of the Day

Coco Vandeweghe of the United States balances the ball on her fingers during Monday’s match with Maria Kirilenko. (from SI.com’s Best Shots from Day 2 at the French Open).

Go Figure

9 … Consecutive errors made by Christina McHale during her come-from-ahead loss to Sara Errani.

17 … Years since a British woman last won a main-draw singles match at the French Open, a streak 19-year-old Heather Watson ended with Monday’s victory over Stephanie Foretz Gacon.

40 … Consecutive victories by Novak Djokovic, dating back to December. He is 38-0 in 2011.

Must-See Video

Annoyed by peripheral distractions on Court 1, Michael Llodra lost his cool with a chair umpire during Monday’s first-round loss, saying: “On n’est pas au souk ici, on ne vend pas des tapis sur un marché” (Translation: “We’re not here at the souq [an Arab commercial district]. We’re don’t sell rugs at the market.”)

They Said It

“I felt really happy to be there. That court is perfect. It goes all around you. It’s like when you go home and your mum does everything for you and you feel comfortable. I felt like this, but with a lot of adrenaline.”
–Defending French Open champion Francesca Schiavone on her return to Court Philippe Chatrier