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TENNIS

Söderling sets up French Open clash with old foe Nadal

Sweden's Robin Söderling set up a quarter-final clash with old rival Rafael Nadal after easing past Gilles Simon in the French Open on Monday.

Published: 31 May 2011 08:18 CEST

Söderling has been something of a bogeyman for Nadal, since having inflicted a single shock defeat at Roland Garros for the Spaniard in the fourth round in 2009, before Nadal gained revenge in the 2010 final.

Five-time champion Rafael Nadal reached the quarter-finals on Monday with a 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 win over Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic.

It was another low-key display by the top-seeded Spaniard against the veteran Ljubicic before he took his Paris record to 42 wins and just one loss.

Big-swinging Swedish fifth seed Soderling meanwhile made light work of the French 18th seed Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).

Nadal, bidding for a sixth French Open title to take him level with Björn Borg’s record, has looked a shadow of his usual powerful self in Paris, shaken by the super-charged form of Novak Djokovic.

The 24-year-old has cut a world-weary figure both on and off the court, complaining he sometimes feels as if he’s been on tour for “100 years”, is a champion under pressure.

World number two Novak Djokovic, on a staggering 43-match unbeaten run, is tipped to take the Spaniard’s Paris title, as well as the number one ranking, after picking up the Australian Open and six other titles this year.

“I am not playing enough well to win this tournament. That’s the truth,” said Nadal, who needs one more French Open to equal Björn Borg’s record of six.

“You have to be realistic. But I have won here five times already. I don’t have an obligation to win six.”

His mood would not have been improved by knowing that the Serbian second

seed was excused quarter-final duty when scheduled opponent Fabio Fognini of

Italy withdrew with a torn left thigh muscle.

Robin Söderling, who needed a fifth match point to defeat Simon for the sixth time in eight meetings, meanwhile said he feels inspired every time he comes back to

Paris.

“I have good memories of this tournament. I have won a lot of great matches here and I get a great feeling every time I come back,” he said.

French ninth seed Gael Monfils, a 2008 semi-finalist, set-up a last-eight

clash with third seed Roger Federer after defeating Spain’s David Ferrer 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, 1-6, 8-6.

Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela shattered Alejandro Falla’s dreams of becoming the first Colombian man to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final with a 4-6, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 win.

He will face either British fourth seed Andy Murray, who is carrying an ankle injury, or Serbia’s 15th seed Victor Troicki for a place in the semi-finals.

Murray recovered from two sets to love down to pull level with the Serbian Davis Cup winner when darkness halted their tie which will be played to a finish on Tuesday.

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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