Tag Archives: philippe

Newcastle handed Euro boost after Bruges axe boss George Leekens

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Newcastle handed Euro boost after Bruges axe boss Leekens

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UPDATED:

14:56 GMT, 6 November 2012

Newcastle United's Europa League opponents FC Bruges have been thrown into turmoil ahead of this week's meeting in Belgium.

The Belgian side have sacked manager George Leekens after a run of six games without a win.

Axed: Georges Leekens

Axed: Georges Leekens

The former Belgium manager, who was in his second spell at the Jan Breydel Stadium, was dismissed after the 1-0 defeat to Zulte-Waregem at the weekend.

Reserve team coach Philippe Clement will be in charge for Thursday's clash with Newcastle in Bruges which the Belgian side need to win to stand any chance of staying in the competition.

Bruges lost 1-0 at St James's Park last month, thanks to a Gabriel Obertan goal, but performed well in front of more than 2,500 travelling fans.

Leekens, 63, who managed nine different Belgian clubs as well as taking over the national team twice, had vowed to exact revenge this week with a fully-fit side, while injuries will force Alan Pardew to name an even more makeshift Newcastle side than usual.

Philippe Gilbert climbs to victory in world road race

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No title repeat for retiring Cavendish as Gilbert climbs to victory in world road race

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UPDATED:

17:45 GMT, 23 September 2012

Belgium's Philippe Gilbert won the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships after breaking away on the final climb of the Cauberg hill in Limberg.

The 30-year-old left rivals Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway and Spain's Alejandro Valverde in his wake towards the end of the 267-kilometre race through Holland.

On the home straight: Philippe Gilbert crosses the finish line in Valkenburg to win the world road race title

On the home straight: Philippe Gilbert crosses the finish line in Valkenburg to win the world road race title

The Belgian team had faced an early challenge from both recent Vuelta a Espana winner Alberto Contador and France's Thomas Voeckler, but Gilbert managed to break away on the final climb.

British rider Mark Cavendish was unable to defend his title after retiring with 111km of the race remaining.

Pleased as punch: Gilbert clenches his fist following victory

Pleased as punch: Gilbert clenches his fist following victoryPleased as punch: Gilbert clenches his fist following victory

The 27-year-old sprinter had already admitted the hilly terrain was ill-suited to his personal style, in contrast to the flat roads of Copenhagen where he raced to glory last year.

Cavendish's Team Sky colleagues and Olympic medallists Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome also dropped out of the arduous race before reaching the final stages.

Away support: A Belgian fan cheers on Gilbert

Away support: A Belgian fan cheers on Gilbert

Earlier, Matej Mohoric of Slovenia claimed the men's world junior title after stunning Australia's Caleb Ewan with a sprint on the final kilometre.

He told limburg2012.nl: 'When the whole bunch arrived at the Cauberg I managed to stay in the front and still had something left. This is incredible, fantastic. I can't believe it.'

Street spirit: Supporters came out in their hundreds to cheer on participants

Street spirit: Supporters came out in their hundreds to cheer on participants

Euro 2012: Danny Welbeck put in mature performance for England: Martin Keown

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The England files: Danny puts in mature performance

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UPDATED:

22:47 GMT, 11 June 2012

Danny Welbeck put in a really mature performance, which was a credit to his club Manchester United and the way they have brought him up. His movement was excellent and he played intelligently, running into space and holding up the ball well. France’s centre halves Philippe Mexes and Adil Rami will have known they have been in a game.

Doing his job well: Danny Welbeck put in a mature performance

Doing his job well: Danny Welbeck put in a mature performance

Roy right to rotate

Scott Parker didn’t look happy when he was taken off but I was pleased to see Jordan Henderson come on. Parker had an excellent game but you don’t win tournaments with your first XI — you need your squad. I’m out in Ukraine working with the BBC and it is so hot — the conditions are really energy sapping for football. So it is important for Roy Hodgson to get fresh legs on.

Right decision: Roy Hodgson was right to take off Scott Parker

Right decision: Roy Hodgson was right to take off Scott Parker

Joe can take Hart

In the press room ahead of the Ukraine-Sweden match a lot of French journalists were praising Joe Hart. They really rate him and — despite a couple of shaky moments early on — he did very well. France tried to get the better of him with a series of long-range shots but he was solid and had no chance with the goal that came through two players. It was the best performance by an England keeper since the David Seaman era.

Safe hands: Joe Hart impressed with his display

Safe hands: Joe Hart impressed with his display

EURO 2012: England v France preview

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Le Crunch: Spotlight on England and France ahead of Group D opener

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UPDATED:

21:00 GMT, 9 June 2012

It's the one we've all been waiting for. Ever since the draw for Euro 2012 was made England fans have been counting down the days to Monday's clash with France. Here, Sportsmail previews 'Le Crunch'…

Key role: Joleon Lescott (left) has never played alongside John Terry at centre-half for England, but should know plenty about the talents of Frances Samir Nasri (right), his team-mate at City

Key role: Joleon Lescott (left) has never played alongside John Terry at centre-half for England, but should know plenty about the talents of Frances Samir Nasri (right), his team-mate at City

Key role: Joleon Lescott (left) has never played alongside John Terry at centre-half for England, but should know plenty about the talents of France's Samir Nasri (right), his team-mate at City

Who leads the team

England: A group of senior players.

Steven Gerrard, as captain, is technically the leader. However, former skipper John Terry is in the background and has had to be told by Roy Hodgson to let the Liverpool midfielder do things his way.

Wayne Rooney is always a big presence in the squad, too, even when he is not playing and Scott Parker has worn the armband recently as well.

France: No one, really.

‘Do we have someone who can be the coach’s reflection on the pitch like we had in 1998 No,’ said manager Laurent Blanc of France’s leadership crisis.

He spent 18 months passing the captain’s armband around – between Philippe Mexes, Alou Diarra, Eric Abidal and Florent Malouda – before settling on understated keeper Hugo Lloris as skipper. That says it all.

‘I wish I had someone who could analyse the game and decide what to do straightaway,’ added the coach.

Le skipper: France keeper Hugo Lloris

Le skipper: France keeper Hugo Lloris

How strong are they defensively
TIME TO PLAY THE HODGSON WAY…

It is defence first for Roy Hodgson as England look to counter-attack their way to glory:

1 The first priority for Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard is to protect the back four. They are supposed to start attacks, too, but are likely to be restricted to the grey shaded area mostly and that can leave them too far away from the strikers.
2 The wide players have to work hard to get forward and back and are asked to leave space for the full-backs to overlap.
3 Danny Welbeck is the focal point of the attack, having to hold up long balls and create space for Ashley Young to attack from deep.
4 The players work in pairs, with John Terry and Joleon Lescott the foundation for the system.

England: Reasonably strong on paper but, in practice, unknown.

Terry and Joleon Lescott have never played together in the middle for England, who have had nine centre-half partnerships in the last 17 games, and pairing them means the Chelsea captain has to vacate his favourite left side.

Ashley Cole is one of the best left-backs in the world but Glen Johnson can be tactically naive on the right. Gerrard’s discipline in midfield will be important, too, as he and Parker are supposed to fortify the team’s defence.

France: Not as strong as they were.

Blanc’s first-choice centre-halves have been Mexes and Adil Rami for two years but, in recent weeks, they have looked off form. Rami seems fatigued after playing more than 50 games for Valencia this season, while Blanc has had to deny suggestions that Mexes, who was slow and made mistakes in last week’s friendly against Estonia, is overweight. Laurent Koscielny is next in line, and calls are increasing for him to start.

Key man: Ashley Cole is one of the best left-backs in world football

Key man: Ashley Cole is one of the best left-backs in world football

Is the midfield a hub of creativity
THE REFEREE

Nicola Rizzoli, 40: An architect from Mirandola in Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Performance in 18 Serie A games last season: 535 fouls, 9 pens, 91 yellow cards, 5 reds

Biggest game: Europa League final in 2010 between Hodgson’s Fulham and Atletico Madrid

British controversy: Criticised by Sir Alex Ferguson for bowing to ‘German pressure’ after sending off United’s Rafael in Champions League against Bayern in 2010

England: No.

Parker and Gerrard are primarily there to break up play and support the defence.

Unless the spark comes in the form of a long pass, the wide players get the job of creating but have to combine that with some hard yards getting up and down the touchline to support the strikers, midfield and defence.

James Milner, as one of them, is solid rather than spectacular and Stewart Downing, on the other side, has more than a few detractors.

France: Undeniably.

After two years without a goal for Les Bleus, left-winger Franck Ribery now has three in three games, while Samir Nasri has been moved from a central playmaker role to wide right, giving good creative options.

There is Ribery’s dribbling, Nasri’s ability to pick a pass, Yohan Cabaye’s shooting from range, and, in Patrice Evra and Mathieu Debuchy, full-backs who are not afraid to attack.

Blanc has tinkered with his tactics lately, with a 4-3-3 system producing the best performance of his reign, a 2-0 qualifying win in Bosnia.

Cabaye and Alou Diarra should be in the middle against England with Malouda, after his excellent performances in the last two friendlies, a surprise choice alongside them.

Being Franck: France's Ribery

Being Franck: France's Ribery

How potent is their goal threat

England: Not as potent as France’s while Wayne Rooney is suspended (the French starting XI have 54 league goals and 44 assists this season to England’s 32 and 27).

Ashley Young has looked a handful in the warm-up games and Danny Welbeck, who leads the line well, scored a great goal.

Andy Carroll provides the aerial threat and Jermain Defoe is the fox in the box, so it is a balanced attack but they may not get great service and Rooney’s creativity with and without the ball will be missed.

France: Very.

Karim Benzema, ignored at the World Cup, is in the best form of his career, and has had his most prolific season in Madrid, with 21 league goals.

If goals are hard to come by, Blanc can also call upon Olivier Giroud, Ligue 1’s top goalscorer for Montpellier last season and a transfer target for Arsenal, to offer a more physical challenge.

Leading the line: Welbeck (right) is likely to start for England

Leading the line: Welbeck (right) is likely to start for England

Have they got a wild card

England: Yes. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Young and a little naive, but the Arsenal forward is confident enough to take on defenders and not afraid to shoot. His pace could frighten a few, too, and introducing him from the bench could be a fruitful approach.

Beyond that, Theo Walcott does not quite fit the bill but has plenty to prove still and that might help.

France: Yes. Several.

Despite losing Loic Remy to injury, there is strength in depth: Hatem Ben Arfa and Jeremy Menez can cause havoc if allowed to run at defences, while Mathieu Valbuena and Marvin Martin could slot in at No 10.

Giroud, though, is the biggest unknown.

FORM GUIDE TO STARTING XI (Based on form in league this season): England (4-4-2)

Joe Hart (Man City) – 29 clean sheets, 77% of shots saved
Glen Johnson (Liverpool) – no assists in 23 appearances
Joleon Lescott (Man City) – won 39 of the 43 tackles he made
John Terry (Chelsea) – eight yellows in 31 games, the most in the squad
Ashley Cole (Chelsea) – six assists in 32 games, the third most in the 23-man squad
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) – five goals, two assists in 12 starts
Scott Parker (Spurs) – 14 shots in 29 games, 11 were off target
James Milner (Man City) – completed 20 of his 83 crosses
Ashley Young (Man Utd) – seven assists, 28 chances in 25 games
Stewart Downing (Liverpool) – no goals or assists in 36 matches
Danny Welbeck (Man Utd) – nine goals from 57 shots

FORM GUIDE TO STARTING XI (Based on form in league this season): France (4-3-3)

Hugo Lloris (Lyon) – conceded 48 goals in 36 appearance
Philippe Mexes (AC Milan) – won 15 of 23 tackles made
Adil Rami (Valencia) – 2,969mins played in 33 starts, second most in the squad
Patrice Evra (Man Utd) – made 104 tackles, won 80
Mathieu Debuchy (Lille) – booked just once in 33 games
Alou Diarra (Marseille) – nine dribbles in 34 appearances
Florent Malouda (Chelsea) – started only 11 of his 26 matches
Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle) – made 117 tackles, winning 83
Franck Ribery (B Munich) – 12 goals and 12 assists in 32 games
Karim Benzema (R Madrid) – 21 goals and seven assists in 34 games
Samir Nasri (Man City) – 69 chances created in 31 games, nine led to goals

French Open 2012: Rafael Nadal rejects Roger Federer"s favourite tag as history beckons

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Nadal rejects Federer's favourite tag as Djokovic blocks the path to surpassing Bjorn

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UPDATED:

15:03 GMT, 9 June 2012

The weight of history will not sit heavily on the shoulders of Rafael Nadal when he walks on to Court Philippe Chatrier for the French Open final against Novak Djokovic.

Both men have plenty more on the line than simply the Coupe des Mousquetaires, with Djokovic looking to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four grand slam titles at once.

Victory for Nadal, meanwhile, would earn him a seventh Roland Garros crown, taking him past the record he currently shares with Bjorn Borg.

The Spaniard said: 'I have the chance to break the Borg record because I have already won six. The pressure is the same every year.

Heavyweight: Rafa Nadal can win a record 7th French Open title

Heavyweight: Rafa Nadal can win a record 7th French Open title

'I am here because I try my best every day and because I have a lot of motivation, the desire to try to win the tournament, not because it's the seventh, because it's Roland Garros. It's one of my top tournaments of the year, if not the most important.

'So seriously, the extra pressure for me is zero. In the end, if it finally happens, it's going to be another thing that maybe is important, maybe not that important. For me, the important thing is Roland Garros.'

Remarkably, Djokovic and Nadal are meeting in their fourth straight slam final, all of which have so far been won by the world No 1.

But it would be a major surprise if there was the same outcome here, for Nadal has looked supreme, losing only 35 games on his way to the final and destroying David Ferrer 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in the last four.

Roger Federer described Nadal as the 'overwhelming favourite', but the man himself believes it is a closer call than that.

He said: 'I don't feel I'm the great favourite, as he said, because I'm going to play against the No 1. You can keep the word favourite if you want.

'You cannot be relaxed against the number one player in the world. Yesterday's match just gives me confidence. It confirms that I am playing well. I have played well almost every day. That's the most important thing for me.

Respect: Nadal is ready for the challenge of Novak Djokovic

Respect: Nadal is ready for the challenge of Novak Djokovic

'For sure, I will have my doubts for tomorrow. For sure I have to respect my opponent. He beat me a lot of times. But I am here to fight for every ball and to try my best in every moment.'

Victory at the Australian Open extended Djokovic's winning streak over Nadal to seven matches, all of them finals, but the Spaniard has won the last two, in Monte Carlo and Rome.

Nadal has also beaten Djokovic in all their three previous meetings at Roland Garros, which came three years in a row from 2006.

The world number one said: 'I didn't expect to win every match until the end of our careers against him, even though I won seven in a row.

'But I won against him on clay last year two times, back-to-back in eight days (in Madrid and Rome), and that's something that is in the back of my mind. That's something that can give me confidence, that I can think of when I step on the court with him.

'But obviously it is different because now it's best of five sets. He has lost one match in his career here. That says enough about his quality on this court.

'I lost to him here three times. I haven't won a set against him on this court. All the facts are on his side. But I feel different nowadays. I believe I'm at the peak of my career.

Peaking art the right time: Can Djokovic win his fourth consecutive slam final against Djokovic

Peaking art the right time: Can Djokovic win his fourth consecutive slam final against Djokovic

'I'm playing the best tennis of my life for the last year and a half, and I should use that as a confidence boost and try to get my hands on the title. Why not'

Djokovic has struggled this fortnight but played better in his semi-final win over Federer and hopes he is hitting form at just the right time.

He said of facing Nadal: 'It's the ultimate challenge. But I believe (yesterday) was the best match of 2012 Roland Garros for me, so I've raised my game when I needed to.

'I played really well when it was the most important, so that's something that gives me confidence before the final.'

Were Djokovic to win and hold all four titles at the same time, he would achieve something neither Nadal nor Federer have managed.

The Serb said: 'I'm not thinking about that. It's not about prestige or whatever, being better than one person. I'm thinking about myself, my career, and just trying to win every match that I play in.

'And obviously I had a lot of doubts in the last couple of years if I can really overcome the big challenge of the two strongest players in our sport, the most dominant players in our sport.

'I've matured. I got stronger over the years. It's because of them, as well. They made me a better player.

French Open 2012: Rafael Nadal beats Nicolas Almagro

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Rafa's running hot! Nadal dispatches fellow Spaniard Almagro to reach semis

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UPDATED:

16:52 GMT, 6 June 2012

Rafael Nadal powered past Nicolas Almagro to reach the semi-finals and continue his bid for a seventh French Open title.

The world No 2 won in straight sets and extended his career record to 8-0 against the 12th seed, but he was made to work a little harder than those figures suggest.

The first set went to a tie-break but the second was one-sided, and a resurgent effort from Almagro in the third set came too late to prevent a 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-3 defeat.

Ominous: Rafael Nadal looked imperious as he dispatched Almagro

Ominous: Rafael Nadal looked imperious as he dispatched Almagro

Nadal was not at his best in the opening set, but after an opening love game for Almagro he tended to hold serve more comfortably.

It was game 11 before the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier saw the first break point, Almagro surviving with a decisive overhead.

That took the set to a tie-break, Nadal taking the first four points and wrapping it up when Almagro sent a service return long.

The left-hander broke serve for the first time to take a 3-1 lead in the second set.

Nadal faced break point for the first time in the seventh game of the set, after an hour and 36 minutes' play, but produced a dominant point, some powerful groundstrokes forcing Almagro from one corner to another before a powerful overhead killed it off.

Not enough: Nicolas Almagro took Nadal close in the first set but that was as good as it got

Not enough: Nicolas Almagro took Nadal close in the first set but that was as good as it got

He duly took the game for a 5-2 lead and though Almagro produced some big shots to prolong the next game to three deuces, Nadal took his first set point to move within one set of victory.

He added one more game before rain forced a very brief delay, with Almagro 40-30 up on his own serve. Two deuces followed the almost instant restart but the underdog held to level the set at 1-1.

After being taken to deuce in the next game, Nadal responded with a trademark barrage of deep groundstrokes and then an ace to hold.

On fire: Nadal is aiming for his seventh French Open

On fire: Nadal is aiming for his seventh French Open

Almagro missed a cross-court backhand as the first of two break points slipped away at 2-2 and Nadal closed out the game.

The right-handed player was producing some huge shots from his repertoire, particularly when allowed to attack a high ball on the forehand side, and held to go 3-3.

But Nadal made the crucial break to go 5-3 up, having been gifted his second break point by Almagro's first double-fault of the match, and served out to 15, winning the match with an ace.

More to follow.

Euro 2012: Laurent Blanc tells his defenders to raise their game for England clash

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Furious France boss Blanc orders his defenders to raise their game for England clash

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UPDATED:

13:15 GMT, 6 June 2012

France coach Laurent Blanc has issued a wake-up call to his defenders just days before their Euro 2012 opener against England.

Les Blues extended their unbeaten run to 21 games with a comfortable 4-0
victory over Estonia in their final warm-up game on Tuesday night.

Laurent Blanc

Furious: France coach Laurent Blanc

Karim Benzema scored twice and Franck
Ribery and Jeremy Menez were also on target.

Euro 2012 email button

But there were moments of concern for the hosts, however, with Estonia enjoying several chances to open the scoring in the first period.

Blanc insists those early scares were all self-inflicted, and called on his back four of Mathieu Debuchy, Adil Rami, Philippe Mexes and Patrice Evra to raise their game.

'I'm not going to beat around the bush. Our defence was not good enough,' Blanc told reporters.

'It was an easy game, very easy… I said to them, “This is not your day – the team is dominating out there and yet we're getting ourselves in trouble”.

'You have to understand that it wasn't the opposition that was causing us problems. We have to have a long hard think about what happened out there.

'The most important thing, whether you're playing up front, in midfield or in defence, is to play simple.

'We didn't do that in the first half and we found ourselves in trouble.

'They need to improve, and I'm talking about all four defenders.'

Warning: French defender Patrice Evra

Warning: French defender Patrice Evra

France were due to fly out to Ukraine today before opening their European Championship campaign against England on Monday.

France's run of form since Blanc took over at the start of the qualification campaign for Poland and Ukraine has many tipping them as dark horses for the title.

But Bayern Munich midfielder Ribery – who has scored in his last three internationals – is refusing to look any further than his side's Group D programme, which also includes matches against Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine.

'We all want to go as far as possible in the Euros, but the aim is to get past the group stage,' he said.

'We mustn't rush into this game against England. We've still got a few days. First and foremost, we want to get to Ukraine and settle into our hotel, start training and preparing.'

Asked about his productive partnership with Real Madrid striker Benzema, Ribery added: 'It's very good with Karim. We can find each other with our eyes closed. What's more, we get along really well away from football in our everyday life.

Up for it: France's Adil Rami (L) challenges Estonia's Henrik Ojamaa

Up for it: France's Adil Rami (L) challenges Estonia's Henrik Ojamaa

'When we play like that, it's great. It's just carrying on from my form with my club this season.

'I would have liked my relationship with the France team to have always been this good.

'For me to score three goals in three games is just incredible.'

Last night's triumph followed a 2-0 win over Serbia and a 3-2 victory over Iceland in France's first two warm-up games, and Benzema added: 'It's important to win, but also to play well.

'We're looking good after three very good matches. We're ready for the Euros.'

French Open 2012: Sam Stosur to play Sara Errani in semi-final

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Stosur sets up semi with Errani after US Open champion defeats Cibulkova

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UPDATED:

14:13 GMT, 5 June 2012

US Open champion Sam Stosur became the first woman into the French Open semi-finals with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Dominika Cibulkova on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The Australian, who lost to Francesca Schiavone in the final in 2010, was too powerful for 5ft 3in Cibulkova, the conqueror of world number one Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round.

The Slovakian mounted a brief comeback in the opening set, pulling back from 5-2 down to 5-4, and twice she had a chance to level, but Stosur held firm and clinched the game with two massive forehands.

Aussie rules: Sam Stosur (R) shakes hands with Dominika Cibulkova after winning her quarter-final match

Aussie rules: Sam Stosur (R and celebrating below) shakes hands with Dominika Cibulkova after winning her quarter-final match

Aussie rules: Sam Stosur (R) shakes hands with Dominika Cibulkova after winning her quarter-final match

It was a shot that Cibulkova simply had no answer to, and in the second set a relaxed-looking Stosur breezed through, sealing victory at the first opportunity when her opponent netted an attempted drop shot.

The 28-year-old sixth seed has now made the semi-finals here in three of the past four years and will be a hot favourite to reach another final having seen all the other big names in her half of the draw fall away.

In the last four Stosur will play Italy's Sara Errani, who claimed her first victory over a top-10 player in 29 attempts by defeating German 10th seed Angelique Kerber 6-3, 7-6 (7/2).

Errani is enjoying a terrific season and has now bettered her performance at the Australian Open, where she reached the last eight before losing to Petra Kvitova.

Italian job: Sara Errani celebrates her passage through to the last four

Italian job: Sara Errani celebrates her passage through to the last four

The 25-year-old made a great start today and held her advantage throughout the first set, but the second was a topsy-turvy affair featuring eight breaks of serve.

Alex Kay Talks Tennis

Kerber has had a remarkable run, climbing from outside the top 100 last August to 10th in the world, but she could not find the consistency required to defeat a player of Errani's guile on clay.

Twice she served for the second set but on both occasions Errani broke back, and the Italian was the better player in the tie-break.

Reaching the final looks a tough ask, though, with Stosur having won all their previous five meetings, the most recent of which came in Rome last month.

French Open 2012: John Isner loses another marathon match to Paul Henri Mathieu

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Isner fails long-haul test as marathon man suffers defeat in second epic encounter

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UPDATED:

20:46 GMT, 31 May 2012

Marathon man John Isner was at it again, taking a French opponent to the wire and challenging records for longevity late into the evening.

Unlike against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon he lost, going down 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 18-16 to world No 261 Paul Henri Mathieu, who brought the main Philippe Chatrier Court to its feet with a victory that took five hours and 41 minutes to complete.

As Heather Watson battled valiantly on court two before losing 6-3, 6-4 to Germany’s Julia Goerges, she could hear the roars from across the way as Mathieu sealed the most unlikely win against the No 10 seed.

At last: Paul-Henri Mathieu celebrates winning his second round match against John Isner

At last: Paul-Henri Mathieu celebrates winning his second round match against John Isner

Playing the long game: Isner

Playing the long game: Isner

He missed almost all of last season with a knee injury that destroyed his ranking, but held off from cramping to see off the huge-serving Isner on his seventh match point. It was the event’s second longest match in terms of time and contained the highest number of games of any match in the era of tiebreaks.

Isner's 6ft 9in frame delivered 41 aces on the clay and it is that power, plus a determination that makes him anything other than a gentle giant on court, which makes him so difficult to put away in these situations.

Just before he sent a final forehand wide, Watson was walking to the net having finished a journey that started in the qualifying rounds a week last Wednesday and, for the second year running, carried her into the second round of the main draw proper.

She could not quite handle the explosive Goerges, ranked 27th in the world, who plays with a potent combination of big serve and forehand.

At the start of the second set it
looked like the match might run away, but Watson reeled off three
straight games and came close to levelling for 5-5 before being edged
out, smashing her racket into the ground in frustration.

She
will now head back for a prolonged grass-court season due to the
Olympics. It starts in Nottingham next week, before going to Wimbledon
via Birmingham and Eastbourne.

Scoreboard says it all: The crowd applaud at the end of the marathon match

Scoreboard says it all: The crowd applaud at the end of the marathon match

A major ambition for Watson will be to win a round at Wimbledon, which has eluded her so far, although only having just turned 20 she has plenty of time ahead of her.

French Open 2012: Heather Watson beaten by Julia Goerges

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Watson dumped out at Roland Garros as Goerges proves a step too far for Brit

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UPDATED:

19:50 GMT, 31 May 2012

Heather Watson's French Open run came to an end in the second round with a 6-3 6-4 defeat at the hands of powerful 25th seed Julia Goerges.

Like last year, the 20-year-old Watson won three matches in qualifying and then her first-round clash as well, this time beating Russia's Elena Vesnina in fine style at Roland Garros.

Goerges was a real step up in class, though, the 23-year-old German having climbed as high as 15th in the rankings earlier this season and reached the final at the WTA Tour event in Dubai.

Beaten: Heather Watson serves in her second round match at Roland Garros

Beaten: Heather Watson serves in her second round match at Roland Garros

Watson made a perfect start, breaking the Goerges serve in the opening game, but from there she lost three games in a row, the remodelled serve that was so good against Vesnina struggling to find its mark.

Goerges' game plan of going for broke whenever possible was making it hard for Watson to get any rhythm, and the noise from the latest John Isner marathon on neighbouring Court Philippe Chatrier was certainly not helping.

Powerful: Julia Goerges was too tough an opponent for Watson

Powerful: Julia Goerges was too tough an opponent for Watson

The German continued to mix blazing winners with errors, but she was consistent enough to take the first set, and she then moved 2-0 ahead in the second.

But Watson is a battler and back she came, levelling matters at 2-2 only to lose her serve again in the seventh game with a fifth double fault.

The young Briton was trading much better with Goerges now but she came up just short, shanking her return on match point and smashing her racquet on the clay in frustration.