Welcome to Naija Gist: French Open 2013 day fiveLive

Rain delays play for the fourth time on day five of the French Open with Maria Sharapova's match among those interrupted.

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Rain stops play for fourth time
Sharapova leading 4-1 v Bouchard
Nadal v Martin Klizan was due to start
Djokovic beats Pella 6-2 6-0 6-2 in R2
Azarenka beats Beck 6-4 6-3 to make R3

Reporting by

Mike Henson, BBC Sport

1743:

The rain is fair pelting down now in Paris. It is looking like this weather break might be a lengthy one. Time to stretch our legs while the players rest up their's. After getting it so nearly right last time I'm picking 1835 BST in the restart sweepstakes.
It could be before that though so keep them peeled. I'll be right back with you as soon as a court coverer twitches an index finger.
1739:

LATEST SCORES
Play suspended all around the grounds which at least gives us a chance to catch up with what is happening away from the showpiece arenas.
Maria Sharapova is 4-1 up in the first on Eugenie Bouchard on Philippe Chatrier
Rafael Nadal and Martin Klizan are waiting to hit the first ball of their match on Suzanne Lenglen.
On Court One, France's Benoit Paire is 7-6 (7-2) 5-2 up on Lucasz Kubot.
On Court Two, Alize Cornet is 6-1 3-3 up on Silvia Soler-Espinosa
On Court Seven, ninth seed Stanislas Wawrinka is 6-2 4-5 up on Horacio Zeballos, with the second set on serve.
1732:

The Suzanne Lenglen crowd have hardly had a glimpse of Rafael Nadal's salmon-coloured shorts before they are disappearing back inside at top speed. Those volatile French skies are spitting once again and ball boys and girls are scattered as the burly court coverers come on to prevent the clay getting wet.
Piers Newbery, BBC Sport at Roland Garros
"Sharapova and Bouchard make for an interesting match-up on Chatrier, as the young Canadian is considered such a star in the making that she did a promotional campaign with Sharapova for their clothing manufacturer on the eve of the French Open. Bouchard is also best mates with Laura Robson, and the pair were responsible for a gangnam style video last year. Remeber gangnam style? It was the one before the harlem shake, I think."
1725:

Rafael Nadal has prowled out onto Philippe Chatrier. The Spaniard, who is hunting an eighth French Open title from nine campaigns, lost the first set in his first-round win over Daniel Brands.
He will be hoping for a tidier afternoon's work against Martin Kliznan today, especially with it darkening up top once again.
1720:

Second seed Maria Sharapova is up and running against Eugenie Bouchard with the pair sharing the first two games.
Bouchard, ranked 77th in the world, has been in some nifty-looking form ahead of the French Open, reaching the last four in Strasbourg and the quarter-finals in Charleston.
Bouchard is also best mates and hitting partners with Laura Robson.
1715:

GAME, SET AND MATCH
Victoria Azarenka scrawls her mark on the lens of an obliging camaraman as she leaves the scene of her 6-4 6-3 win over Annika Beck.
She will play either Alize Cornet or Silvia Soler-Espinosa in the next round. Cornet won the first set of their meeting out on Court Two, but trails 3-1 in the second.
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Claironimo: I saw Pella play on Tuesday. He looked like he was going to play 5-a-side down the local sport centre. And today also.
1705:

Novak Djokovic's 6-2 6-0 6-2 win over Guido Pella weighed in at a featherweight one hour 26 minutes by the way. The Serb clocked up some solid service numbers as well, landing with 72% of his first serves, even if he only managed the solitary ace.
1702:

While we await the arrival of Maria Sharapova and her opponent Eugenie Bouchard on Philippe Chatrier, Victoria Azarenka is slowly crushing Annika Beck out on Suzanne Lenglen. Azarenka is 6-4 4-2 up on the German who has hit a couple of pearlers, but lacks the consistency and quality to stay the pace.
1655:

Neat, tidy and as functional as his haircut, that will more than do for Novak Djokovic. The Serb will have his feet up while his opponent in the main draw, including Rafael Nadal who he is seeded to meet in the semi-finals, take their luck in tonight's gathering Parisian gloom.
GAME, SET AND MATCH - Djokovic 6-2 6-0 6-2 Pella
Novak Djokovic puts Guido Pella up on the hook as he romps to 40-0 against the Argentine's serve. It looks like Pella may be able to wiggle off as he worms his way to 30-40 with Djokovic's attention wavering a fraction, but a double fault cedes the match and sends Djokovic though to a reunion with Grigor Dimitrov, the man who beat him in Madrid earlier this year.
Djokovic 6-2 6-0 5-2 Pella*
Novak Djokovic breezes through another service game as he holds to love. Pella must serve to stay in the match next.
1644:

Li Na has been speaking to the media following her surprise loss to Bethanie Mattek-Sands: "This is very tough conditions, coming back to the court three times. But for both players it's the same, so I should find out what happened and talk to myself or also talk to team to see what happened."
*Djokovic 6-2 6-0 4-2 Pella
Perhaps wisely, Novak Djokovic is concentrating on sharpening up that backhand drop-shot that has been getting away from him rather than his evening meal. He still has not quite got it right, chopping a little clumsily into the net to allow Pella another notch on his bedpost.
Djokovic 6-2 6-0 4-1 Pella*
Novak Djokovic cruising. He can probably weigh up his dinner options while he plays this one out.
Djokovic 6-2 6-0 3-1 Pella*
It was just a whisper coming off the racquet as Djokovic patted away a forehand volley into the open court for a break to love, but that might be the sound of Guido Pella's challenge shattering.
The Serb in complete control. He has dealt with the rain break far better than Pella.
Djokovic 6-2 6-0 2-1 Pella*
The Djokovic service train rumbles on through. Pella looks on like a passenger trying in vain to flag down the Kyoto to Tokoyo express for an unscheduled stop.
*Djokovic 6-2 6-0 1-1 Pella
Pella gets a game as reward for his plucky ball-striking. The French Open crowd love lumping their lot in with the underdog and cheer enthusiastically, but Djokovic is not going to allow them to gain many more decibels I fear.
Djokovic 6-2 6-0 1-0 Pella*
Guido Pella is not going to die wondering. The Argentine flays away on his groundstrokes, flattening everything in his hitting zone to bring up a break point from deuce. Djokovic has the guile and cunning to go with the power though and he slickly negotiates his way out of trouble to make it 11 games in a row.
BBC Radio 5 live sports extraBBC coverage
Bethanie Mattek Sands may have been too busy dumping former champions out of the main draw to do the 5 live commentary honours today, but Russell Fuller and Jill Craybas are on the microphones in a cramped Parisian commentary box. Join them for all the details on Novak Djokovic and Guido Pella right now.
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Paul Spence: Is this where we claim Bethanie Mattek-Sands as a Brit as she commentates on 5 live?
Certainly can Paul. Sign her up.
Piers Newbery, BBC Sport at Roland Garros
""Novak, will you marry me?" shouts a spectator, optimistically. Djokovic walks back to the baseline grinning sheepishly towards his watching girlfriend in the stands, who laughs. No need to issue a hands-off warning yet. Her man is playing some great stuff, taking the set by chasing down a short ball and angling a backhand winner with the kind of athleticism that sets him apart. Meanwhile, beaten former champion Li Na is heading straight to the interview room. She could be in the UK by this evening."
GAME AND SECOND SET- *Djokovic 6-2 6-0 Pella
Guido Pella claws his way back from an ugly-looking 0-40 scoreline, cracking away winners with all guns blazing to stoutly defend three break points. How long can this purple patch last? Not long enough to avoid the bagel. His second-set goose is cooked as Djokovic teases him with a flimsy little cross-court pick up that dies just out of the Argentine's reach and inside the sidelines.
Djokovic 6-2 5-0 Pella*
Someone has put a rocket under Novak Djokovic. He whisks his way through another service game and he doesn't look like he has much time to give Pella any ego-massaging game to put a shine on the scoreboard.
DJOKOVIC-PELLA RESUMES- *Djokovic 6-2 4-0 Pella
Novak Djokovic and Guido Pella have stuck an upward-facing palm out of the door, realised it is not raining and got the show back on the road.
No hanging around for a warm-up and Djokovic immediately breaks Pella's serve to move 4-0 as they throw themselves into the fray.
1611:

SHOCK RESULTS!
A pair of seeds have fallen on fallow French Open ground.
Sixth seed and former champion Li Na has been downed 5-7 6-3 6-2 by the American Bethanie Mattek-Sands while 16th seed Dominika Cibulkova is out after a 6-2 2-6 6-4 defeat by Marina Erakovic, Elena Baltacha's conqueror.
1606:

LATEST SCORES
Time for a quick spin around the grounds then.
Unfortunately British interest in the French Open is wilting quicker than a Parisian's barbeque plans. Colin Fleming and Jonathan Marray, seeded 10th, have lost 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (3-7) 7-5 to Andre Sa and Feliciano Lopez in the doubles.
American youngster Sloane Stephens has beaten compatriot Vania King in straight sets while Victoria Azarenka is well on her way to the first set with a 5-1 lead over Annika Beck on Suzanne Lenglen.
Lukas Rosol may not get another crack at Rafael Nadal after his Wimbledon heroics last year. The Czech is two sets to love down to Fabio Fognini on Court Three.
Piers Newbery, BBC Sport at Roland Garros
"Djokovic has his tracksuit top on and his racquet bag zipped up long before the umpire succumbs to the inevitable, and it's bad news as the umbrellas win out once again. The obligatory boos ring out as the players troop off in the rain. Djokovic's form has been patchy, relatively speaking, in the last few weeks but he made it very clear last week that the French Open is his "major target" for 2013. Getting the job done today and having 24 hours' rest before facing Grigor Dimitrov, his conqueror in Madrid earlier this month, will be a key part of the plan."
1557:

DJOKOVIC-PELLA SUSPENDED
Philippe Chatrier has one heck of a micro-climate. Play continues pretty much everywhere else but Novak Djokovic and Guido Pella are marching back to the sanctuary of the corridors if not the locker room itself as the rain starts to splutter down a bit more heavily.
1554:

There is an upset brewing. American Bethanie Mattek-Sands has former champion Li Na by the windpipe, leading 5-0 in the decider and serving for the match. Li dodges one bullet as she breaks back for 5-1 but she has a long old climb to go if she is going to get out of this sticky situation.
Djokovic 6-2 3-0 Pella*
Another Novak Djokovic service game whizzes pass without Guido Pella laying glove leather on it. Meanwhile over on Court One though...
*Djokovic 6-2 2-0 Pella
Guido Pella has an almighty tussle to keep hold of his serve with Djokovic batting him around between deuce and advantage. The Argentine's nerve comes a little unstuck mentally and the disintegration transmits itself into his strings as he cuffs a forehand long to surrender a break of serve.
Pella complains that the gentle drizzle has made conditions unplayable. Umbrellas are popping up in the stands.
Djokovic 6-2 1-0 Pella*
Novak Djokovic might have one eye on the skies. It is churning up there with the threat of a downpour hanging over this match like a grand piano on a cotton thread. He dusts off another service game with little fuss and will want to get back indoors before the elements intervene.
1541:

Bad news for out on Court 14. Heather Watson has come a cropper in the doubles as she and Irina Buryachok lose 6-3 4-6 7-5 to Oksana Kalashnikova and Alicja Rosolska.
GAME AND FIRST SET- *Djokovic 6-2 Pella
Djokovic gets a huge slice of luck as his backhand return grinds up against the net cord before slipping over to Guido Pella's side of the court to bring up deuce. Pella has a glimpse of the sunny uplands of 5-3 as he brings up advantage, but Djokovic slams the door with his swishing forehand putting too much sauce on the ball for the Argentine to deal with.
Pella attempts an audacious escape with an on-the-run down-the-line winner from set point down. The net claims it and Djokovic has the first set.
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Stephanie Siu: Nice play from Nole here. Really needs to make his potential path to a SF as seemless as possible to have a chance against Rafa.
Kayley Jay: Guido. You're supposed to be having a tennis match, not a slanging match...and not with the umpire! Not how to make round 3.
Djokovic 5-2 Pella*
Novak Djokovic has the choke out and the engine firing now. He wraps up a service game quicksmart to put himself within spitting distance of the first set.
He will play Grigor Dimitrov in the next round should he get there. The Bulgarian has completed his win over Lucas Pouille. Djokovic suffered a surprise loss to Dimitrov in Madrid earlier this year that he will want to pay back.
1530:

GET INVOLVED
Don't just leave it to Piers and the 5 live sports extra team. Your thoughts on today's action are more than welcome on #bbctennis on Twitter or 81111 from UK mobiles.
*Djokovic 4-2 Pella
Guido Pella chased and scurried but his creaking serve has finally given way as Djokovic takes his fourth break point of the match with a regulation overhead smash. Pella is now chasing the scoreline as well as the ball in this set.
Piers Newbery, BBC Sport at Roland Garros
"It's desperately tense on Chatrier, a mighty battle of wills and strength of character. Some have gone for the waterproofs at the first chill wind and darkening of the skies, others have remained resolute and exposed to the elements. A lone union flag umbrella is opened and then quickly closed - made of stern stuff. Novak Djokovic is keeping warm by practising his backhand drop shot, which needs work."
1526:

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra have dried themselves off and cranked into action in Paris. You can catch all today's action with them right now.
Djokovic 3-2 Pella*
Novak Djokovic's serve just keeps on trucking. 40-0 in a twinkle. The Serb scuffs a drop-shot into the net off the backhand wing, he is still trying to find his range on that, but he sweeps up the next point to head back to his stool.
*Djokovic 2-2 Pella
Pella is dragged downmarket into a straight forehand slug-out by Djokovic at 30-30 and is overpowered to bring up a break-point. The Argentine left-hander wisely decides that discretion is the better part of valour and mixes it up to prevent Djokovic building up a head of steam on the next rally. From deuce, Palla keeps probing away intelligently and a frustrated Djokovic tries to out-fox him with a backhand drop shot that floats into the net.
Djokovic 2-1 Pella*
Novak Djokovic makes his way through a second service game without too much hassle from Guido Pella. Safe and steady rather than spectacular so far from Djokovic, but that may well be enough against Pella.
*Djokovic 1-1 Pella
The good thing about playing on clay is that you can turn marginal line calls into show and tell. Guido Pella saves a first break point by breaking off from a rally to ring the mark left by a Djokovic groundstroke beyond the baseline with his racquet. Djokovic clumps a forehand return into the net to send a second break point slithering down the swanny and he pays for his profligacy as Pella pings a couple of forehands to opposing corners of the court to stretch his opponent all out of shape and seal the game.
Djokovic 1-0 Pella*
Guido Pella smuggles two points his way off the Djokovic serve, but there is not anything else in the opening game for him.
1505:

Guido Pella has a bit of a barney with the umpire about where he can leave his towel before he sets off to the baseline to receive serve. After all that rain, we are about to get going...
1504:

World number one Novak Djokovic won in straight sets in his first-round match, but it was far from a stroll in the park against David Goffin. The Belgian took Djokovic deep in each of the three sets, before folding out 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 7-5.
1459:

Novak Djokovic, decked out in a deep blue shirt with white shorts and socks for those that keep track of these things, is knocking up. The crowd staved of tennis, but stuffed full of lunch are quickly filling up the seats on Philippe Chatrier.
Up above, the skies are an evenly fought battle between blue patches and grey cumulus.
1456:

Just a quick reminder of where we stand after that extended break for the weather. Up next on Philippe Chatrier is Novak Djokovic against Guido Pella, on Suzanne Lenglen Grigor Dimitrov will see off France's Lucas Pouille if he converts a 4-1 lead in the third set while on the outside courts Heather Watson and Colin Fleming and Jonathan Marray are keeping the British flag flying in doubles action.
1448:

My weather eye is clearly in. Almost bang on schedule, the covers are peeled back, the sun peeks round a cloud and we are back in the tennis, rather than meteology, business at Roland Garros.
1416:

No play until at least 1430 BST was the latest from the referees' office at Roland Garros, but that deadline is going to float by without a ball being struck. It is still hammering it down in Paris.
We are going to take a short break and come back to you when we have action rather than locker-room tittle-tattle to report on. Best guess would be around 1445 BST. If we get lucky.
Hopefully I'll see you soon.
1405:

Maybe Ernests Gulbis was so damning about the men's top four because he had just been enjoying the company of Gael Monfils.
The Frenchman doesn't worry about what other people say. Fresh back from injury and competing on a wildcard, he has been one of the stars of the tournament so far.
During a changeover in his four-set win over Gulbis yesterday he whipped out his mobile phone to film a Mexican wave making its way around the stands.
That came after Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine used his phone to take a picture of a contentious line call in his French Open first round defeat to Richard Gasquet.
Roger Federer has warned that, like school kids in an exam, the players may be banned from bringing their phones courtside because of the possibility they could be used to facilitate some sneaky backdoor coaching.
A guy at my school hid his phone in his pants for an exam. I guess that would hinder your service action on court though.
1355:

"To be honest, over the years I have found it difficult to open up and be a bundle of laughs in press conferences or interviews," Andy Murray said of the accusation.
"I always try to give honest answers, but they are fairly boring so I don't have to deal with the aftermath of any scandals."
Federer added: "Our interviews are not always the most exciting. But that's not just our fault, that's the machine.
"After each match, we have to give press conferences.
"But also you cannot say anything you do not like about something to someone without being totally criticised by many people. Therefore, everyone is very careful."
1352:

Andy Murray and Roger Federer have not taken Ernests Gulbis claims that they are "boring" lying down.
In fact they have challenged the Latvian to a break-dance battle followed by five minutes of stand-up each during the rain delay.
No, sorry, crossed wires. They have actually kind of agreed.
1347:

Play has been suspended on all courts. The players are back in their locker-room holding pattern. This could be an afternoon of action serialised into more episodes than M*A*S*H.
Piers Newbery, BBC Sport at Roland Garros
"Novak Djokovic has been amusing himself in the locker room this morning by posing in a Serbia water polo cap, as you do, possibly in an attempt to prove he is not "boring". Shoot-from-the-hip Ernests Gulbis has been having his say in l'Equipe today: "I respect Roger [Federer], Rafa [Nadal], Novak [Djokovic] and [Andy] Murray but, for me, all four of them are boring players. Their interviews are boring."
1339:

GET INVOLVED
As a starter, why not send your thoughts on what to buy the couple who were brought together by their love of Roger Federer as a wedding gift.
Matching pristine white monogrammed pocket handkerchiefs perhaps...
1338:

GET INVOLVED
Whatever the weather, the Parisian crowd aren't ones to sit back and just spectate. Even Rafael Nadal has felt the rough side of their collective tongue.
After not getting his fair share of support in defeat to Robin Soderling in 2009, Nadal's uncle Toni agreed that "there is only one set of supporters that is worse than the French and that is the Parisians."
Fighting talk.
If you can get in touch with your inner Parisian and fire some feisty thoughts on today's action to #bbctennis on Twitter or 81111 from UK mobiles that would be perfect.
1336:

There are no Britons left in the singles draw, but in typically stiff upper lip style they are amongst those out there braving the elements.
Fresh from singles defeat to Stefanie Voegele, Heather Watson has teamed up with Ukraine's Irina Buryachok to take on Oksana Kalashnikova and Alicja Rosolska. Watson and Buryachok are one set all, and level at 4-4 in the third.
Wimbledon champion Jonathan Marray and Colin Fleming came out on the rough side of a first set tie-break and are deep into the second at 7-6 (7-4) 6-6 down to Feliciano Lopez and Andre Sa on Court 10. Fleming and Marray are seeded 10th.
1333:

Just as I type, the bomb doors open on a brooding black cloud over Philippe Chatrier. The green tarpaulin has been hurriedly pulled across. The good news is that play is continuing on some of the outside courts.
1331:

MORE RAIN FORECAST
The bad news is that there is a stubborn blue stain smeared across the weather radar. Today's action maybe more stop, start and dither than Rafael Nadal's service action.
1329:

BBC coverage
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra have dried themselves off and cranked into action in Paris. You can catch all today's action there while the team hop around the grounds and dodge the showers. Of which there might well be a few.
1328:

GAME, SET AND MATCH
Post-match pecks exchanged at the net as Sam Stosur completes a 6-4 6-3 win over Kristina Mladenovic.
The Australian 2010 finalist plays Jelena Jankovic next after the Serb slipped in a 6-3 6-0 win over Garbine Muguruza before the rain started to fall this morning.
1323:

One off the undercard to keep your eye on is Benoit Paire's match against big-hitting Pole Lukasz Kubot on next on Court One.
Paire, seeded 24th, beat Marcos Baghdatis 3-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 6-4 in an entertaining first-round match which he sealed with a baseline drop-shot.
Ooh, and indeed, la la.
1321:

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
With Kristina Mladenovic just a game away from defeat now, those two are about to go toe-to-toe on the showpiece Philippe Chatrier court.
But there are plenty of other big guns parking up on the red clay later today.
Selected highlights include:
Third seed and 2009 finalist Victoria Azarenka is second on Suzanne Lenglen against Annika Beck.
Seven-time champion Rafael Nadal's match against Slovakia's Martin Klizan follows on the same court.
Women's second seed Maria Sharapova and Eugenie Bouchard of Canada will have next use of Philippe Chatrier once Djokovic and Pella are finished.
1319:

In all probability, no.
Pella is ranked a full 100 places below Djokovic and recorded his first-ever win in a Grand Slam main draw as he overhauled Ivan Dodig 4-6 6-4 6-3 2-6 12-10 on Tuesday.
But it wouldn't be a surprise if we expected it would it?
1317:

What to make of Novak Djokovic's start to the year?
The Serbian world number one has come flying out of the traps in the past couple of seasons. He won his first 41 matches of 2011 and reached the final of five of his first eight events in 2012.
This year has been a bit more patchy with the highs of winning the Australian Open and beating Rafael Nadal in Monte Carlo mixed in with surprising defeats to Tommy Haas and Grigor Dimitrov.
Could Argentina's Guido Pella spring an upset in the second round of the French Open today?
1312:

On the showpiece Philippe Chatrier stage, French world number 46 Kristina Mladenovic is knocking up with Australian Sam Stosur in front of small handful of spectators. There may not be much left to run in this one. Stosur has a 6-4 4-1 lead.
Once they are done, the men's world number one steps up...
1308:

The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain. Which is great for those in Iberia, but it seems in France it prefers to hang out in urban areas.
The fifth day of action has been held up by the wet stuff in Paris, it has been a soggy edition of the tournament so far, but the good news is that the covers are off on Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen.
A resumption of play is just minutes away. Hopefully anyway..

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Thursday 30 May 2013

French Open 2013 day fiveLive

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