TENNIS French Open notes

Better or retire: When Anastasia Myskina won the French Open in 2004 she became the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam title. Two years later, after a disappointing season in 2005 in which she became the first Roland Garros defending champion to lose in the first round, Myskina says she'll have to do better in 2006 or retire. "I give one more chance to myself this year to do well, and I have a goal," said Myskina, who was focused on her mother's battle with cancer last year.
"I know it's [my goal] a really tough one, but it's to be in Madrid [at the season-ending championships] by the end of the year. So if I can reach that one, that's going to be perfect." Myskina finished the 2005 season out of the top 10 for the first time in three years. But she's faring much better this year with a 14-8 record, having reached the semifinals at Tokyo and quarterfinals at Miami. When asked why she would consider possible retirement at only 25, Myskina insisted there's no point in playing if she can't compete at a top level. "There's so many things you can do besides the tennis," she said after beating Sania Mirza of India 6-4, 6-1 in the first round at Roland Garros. "I don't want to be in the middle [of the field] of something. I want to be either top player or just [do] something else good."
Ginepri's problems: Last year was a breakthrough season for Robby Ginepri. This year he's lost his way. "When I'm on the court, I don't feel that hunger that I've had," said Ginepri, who reached his first career Grand Slam semifinal at the U.S. Open last September. "There hasn't been the same eagerness to be out there and the same desire, that I've had every day, waking up hungry, waiting to bust into the top 10, even top five." Ginepri lost again Tuesday, a 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-4 defeat to Albert Montanes of Spain in the first round of the French Open. the match had been stopped in the fourth set Monday night because of darkness. He has a 3-11 record in 11 tournaments, and has yet to win two straight matches this year. Ginepri knows it's a mental problem. He just doesn't know how to fix it. "I don't know why I need to get kicked in the teeth a few times to get back up," Ginepri said. "It shouldn't be that way for me."
Olympic boost: Zheng Jie is well aware the 2008 Beijing Olympics have opened many doors for her career. "This is a good time for me," said Zheng, referring to an emphasis on tennis in China with the Summer Games ahead. "The Olympics, it has given me a chance to play a lot." All of Zheng's coaching is paid for by her tennis federation, which has five coaches on staff. On the other hand, a percentage of Zheng's tournament earnings are handed over to the government. "Prize money, a smaller half is for me, a bigger half to Chinese," she said after knocking off No. 23 Tatiana Golovin 6-3, 7-6 (5) Tuesday at the French Open. At the 2004 French Open, Zheng became the first Chinese woman to play a fourth-round match at a Grand Slam event.
Associated Press
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