• French Open, Day One

Baltacha taught a lesson by Stosur

ESPN staff
May 27, 2012
Elena Baltacha was well beaten by Sam Stosur on Court Philippe Chatrier © PA Photos
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Men's round-up: Del Potro battles injury
Women's round-up: Ivanovic makes rapid start
Stosur outguns Baltacha

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What They Said

Elena Baltacha admitted it was a tough ask to upset world No. 6 and 2010 French Open finalist Sam Stosur on the opening day of the French Open

"To be honest, it was not the draw I wanted - she is one of the best players in the world on clay, it was a big ask. I knew I had to do my best, and knew if I played my best and she was patchy then I would have a chance. She played very well. I managed to get back at 5-4. It would have been interesting to see if I had made it 5-5. In the second set she went two levels up and that was it. She was too good. It was a great experience for me. I was able to gauge where I'm at against one of the best in the world. It was a good lesson for me today."

Stosur, who also kicked off proceedings on the opening day last year, was happy to get her opening match out of the way early - she will not play again until Wednesday

"Funnily enough, I think I had first match on Sunday last year too here, so it wasn't anything I guess foreign in that sense. Obviously first match, it's a bit of an early start, but always nice to get through it now. You have the whole day and whatever else to recover and, yeah, enjoy."

Melanie Oudin was delighted to end a five-match losing streak in grand slam tournaments

"That's the biggest thing when I'm out there: I believe I can win these matches again. I was putting so much pressure on myself. Now I feel like I am the underdog."

Juan Martin Del Potro is confident he can shake off a knee injury in time for his second-round match against Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

"I had a little problem with my knee but it is nothing dangerous. Hopefully I am going to be fit for my next match. I will be working with my physio for the next couple of days trying to be ready for my second round match."

Former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, 32, insisted age was only a number after his victory over Jonathan Dasnieres de Veigy

"When I walk on the court I don't think whether I am young or old, the only thing I try to do is play well."

Andy Roddick said his "bad" footwork was to blame for his defeat to Nicolas Mahut.

"I'm fine [but] I wasn't playing really well," he said. I moved just horrendously out there. My first step is just so bad on this stuff [the clay]. I feel like I'm always shuffling or hopping or not stopping or something. I feel like I get exposed too easily. I feel like I'm not set on most shots. If you're not set, it's tough to get much of a flow going. When you don't have much of a flow going, it lends itself to sporadic play. It all adds up. You can't fake it out there. These are the best tournaments in the world. It's tough to lie out. My footwork on this stuff is really, really bad."

Venus Williams, who only returned to the tour in March after being diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, said she was just happy to be playing at the French Open after her hard-fought win over Paula Ormaechea.

"It's a huge accomplishment just to be here," she told BBC Sport. "The biggest challenge was to learn how to live with it and that the key is to be here and to try my best right now. Sometimes I think is this all my fault. Did I do something wrong to cause it? My main goal is the Olympics. If I reach that then I will be home free - you might not see me again. I would love to play doubles here with [sister] Serena but my goal was to peak in singles for the Olympics. All of my energies are towards that."

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