Friday 23 May 2014

Caroline Wozniacki set to play in Paris despite McIlroy break-up... as Brits rack up the wins in French Open qualifying

Caroline Wozniacki appears set to take her place in Friday’s draw for the French Open despite the raw anguish of her break-up from Rory McIlroy.
Andy Murray will also learn what is in store for him on Friday, while James Ward, Jo Konta and Heather Watson will try and join him in the main field by achieving the rare British feat of qualifying for the French Open.
Wozniacki wants to go ahead and play in the second Grand Slam of the season after the very public calling off of her engagement to the golf star. Another threat to her participation – although it might seem comparatively trivial at this time – is the knee injury which forced her to withdraw from the Italian Open last week.
Set to play: Caroline Wozniacki appears ready to play in the French Open which begins on Sunday
Set to play: Caroline Wozniacki appears ready to play in the French Open which begins on Sunday
Love split: Wozniacki (right) and Rory McIlroy, pictured here in Miami earlier this year, broke up this week
Love split: Wozniacki (right) and Rory McIlroy, pictured here in Miami earlier this year, broke up this week


Murray will enter the draw as the number seven seed, his lowest position at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2008. He will also do so without having a head coach in position as a replacement for Ivan Lendl.
The 27 year-old Scot has continued to work with his long time friend and assistant Dani Vallverdu this week after his more heartening performance in Rome, where he narrowly lost to Rafael Nadal. Murray did hold out the possibility that he might have appointed a new member to his team in the lead up to Roland Garros, but that will not be happening in time.
The consequence of being outside the top four is that he may have to meet all three of Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in order to win a championship where he has reached the semi-finals before.
Shaking on it: Andy Murray (right) shakes hands with Grigor Dimitrov after practice on Thursday
Shaking on it: Andy Murray (right) shakes hands with Grigor Dimitrov after practice on Thursday
Firm grip: Defending champion Rafael Nadal warms up ahead of a training session at Roland Garros
Firm grip: Defending champion Rafael Nadal warms up ahead of a training session at Roland Garros
Cooling down: Roger Federer (centre) takes a break during his practice session in Paris on Thursday
Cooling down: Roger Federer (centre) takes a break during his practice session in Paris on Thursday



Murray’s compatriot Ward, the British number three, will try and become the first GB man since John Lloyd in 1973 to come through the Roland Garros qualifying event.
The Davis Cup stalwart made it through to the third and final qualifying round by defeating highly rated American Ryan Harrison 7-6, 7-6 on the clay, a surface he is becoming more and more comfortable with.
He does, however, have a tough task on Friday as his opponent is world number 94 Blaz Rola, ranked 76 places above him. The Slovenian lefthander has risen 200 places in the past twelve months and reached three Challenger level finals on clay this year already, winning one of them.
Big reach: James Ward plays a backhand during his straight-sets qualifying win over Ryan Harrison
Big reach: James Ward plays a backhand during his straight-sets qualifying win over Ryan Harrison

British number three Jo Konta is also one match away, having defeated Poland’s Paula Kania 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. She now plays world number 161 Yuliya Begelzimer.
Rain delays mean that Heather Watson is still only in the second round and potentially faces two matches in one day after she yesterday beat American Irina Falconi 6-2, 6-4. Her first opponent will be Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine, ranked 184.
Dan Cox could also face a potential double-header with the British number four scheduled to play his second-round qualifier against top seed Paolo Lorenzi first up on Friday.
Edging loser: Johanna Konta beat Poland's Paula Kania to move just one win away from the main draw
Edging loser: Johanna Konta beat Poland's Paula Kania to move just one win away from the main draw
Off to a flier: Heather Watson reaches out wide during her first-round qualifying win over Irina Falconi
Off to a flier: Heather Watson reaches out wide during her first-round qualifying win over Irina Falconi

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