- Title: FRANCE: PREVIEW OF OPEN TENNIS.
- Date: 27th May 2001
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 27, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. PUBLIC STROLLING THROUGH ROLAND GARROS STADIUM 2. TIM HENMAN ON KIDS COURT AND GIVING AUTOGRAPHS 3. SOUNDBITE(English) BRITISH PLAYER No 9 SEED TIM HENMAN SAYING: "I am looking foreward to it, it is one of the Grand Slam, one of the biggest tournaments of the year, and the last two years I have lost in the third round so I'll try to improve on that this year, and I feel like I have a good chance. You have to make sure you put in the practice, you learn a little bit about your opponent, then you go out there and try to have a game plan and execute that game plan and give it a best shot, and see how it goes. I feel really good. You have to be strong because the matches can go on a long time, you have got to be ready to do a lot of running and work hard on the court." 4. RUSSIAN PLAYER No2 IN THE WORLD MARAT SAFIN ARRIVING SURROUNDED BY KIDS FANS. 5. SAFIN PLAYING A FEW BALLS WITH CHILDREN 6. SAFIN BEING LED THROUGH CROWD TO THE PRESS CORNER 7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) MARAT SAFIN SAYING: "I have fully recovered from my wound, I am ready to play in this tournament. I would like to get back to my good game and go through the first round which is the most difficult. Yes, I like it a lot here, it is in my favourite town, I like the people, the atmosphere and the stadiums are very good, one should hope for good results. To be number one will be difficult because this year has been difficult for me, so I will be at the Masters in Sydney where I hope to win." 8. CLOSE OF TENNIS RACKET WITH BALLS Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 11th June 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVAE4BLCPV7RYDFVH4CW8H6KEORX
- Story Text: Two of the main contenders for the French Open took a
little time out on Sunday before they begin their respective
challenges on the red dust of Roland Garros. Briton Tim Henman
joined Russia's Marat Safin for a charity day at the famous
Paris venue where they mingled with fans and coached juniors.
Both Henman and Safin will be looking for an upsurge
in form at the season's second Major. Henman, has never been
beyond the third round in Paris and many experts believe he
has no chance of winning on his least favourite surface.
Currently without a coach, Henman has suffered a dip in
ranking recently and currently is only 14th in the Champions
Race. And while his main goal remains next month's Wimbledon
championships, he would love to prove the critics wrong and
put in a strong showing at Roland Garros.
He said: "I am looking foreward to it, it is one of the
Grand Slams, one of the biggest tournaments of the year and
the last two years I have lost in the third round so I'll try
to improve on that. I feel like I have a good chance.
"You have to make sure you put in the practice, learn a
little bit about your opponent, then you go out there and try
to have a game plan and execute that game plan and give it
your best shot.
"You have to be strong because the matches can go on a long
time, you have got to be ready to do a lot of running and work
hard on the court."
Safin, who stunned the tennis world when he dismantled
Pete Sampras to win the US Open last year, has suffered a
terrible year so far although he says his injury problems are
now behind him.
Despite being number two in the world rankings, the
Russian knows he has a tough task ahead of him. "I have fully
recovered from my injury," he said. "I am ready to play in
this tournament. I would like to get back to my best and go
through the first round which can be the most difficult.
"I like it a lot here, it is in my favourite town, I like
the people, the atmosphere and the stadiums are very good. To
be number one will be difficult because this year has been
hard for me."
All the proceeds from the day's event went to charity.
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