NOTEBOOK From Roland Garros

Russian rues one shot: Nadia Petrova, the first Russian female semifinalist at the French Open in 28 years, will leave with lingering memories of one shot. The unseeded Petrova lost Thursday to Kim Clijsters 7-5, 6-1. A drop shot by Clijsters that clipped the net and landed for a winner proved pivotal. It erased a set point against the Belgian in the opening set. "It was an important point, because then I would be one set away from the final," Petrova said. Instead, the weary Petrova became deflated when she lost the first set and couldn't muster a comeback. She needed three sets to beat compatriot Vera Zvonareva in the quarterfinals and played against Clijsters with her left thigh wrapped.
Twenty years ago: French soccer star Michel Platini said he was inspired by compatriot Yannick Noah's victory in the French Open 20 years ago Thursday. Noah beat Mats Wilander on June 5, 1983, to win his only Grand Slam title. He was the first Frenchman to win at Roland Garros in 37 years. Platini, a three-time world player of the year, was playing at the time for Juventus, an Italian team. "Yannick's win was huge for French sport," Platini was quoted as saying in Thursday's edition of French sports daily L'Equipe. "The Italians wouldn't stop mocking me because France never won anything in sports. Thanks to Yannick, attitudes started to change."
-- Associated Press