The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Ward sets sights high despite bowing out
JA MES WA RD will head into the grasscourt season with a spring in his step after once again showing he can trouble the world’s best tennis players.
The Londoner, who on Friday became the first British man in 41 years to qualify for the French Open, won the opening set against 17th seed Tommy Robredo before going down 4-6 6-4 6-2 6-4 in their firstround clash.
It was a terrific display of fight and no little quality from Ward against a high-class clay-courter and a player who won three matches from two sets down last year on his way to the quarter-finals.
The world No 168 has often played well above his ranking on the big stage, particularly in Davis Cup, but it is consistency that has been his problem.
A ndy Murray tipped him as a potential top-50 player, and Ward is confident he is on the right track.
He said: “I thought I played really well throughout the whole match. A little dip first couple of points in the second set, and then in the third I thought he really controlled the game.
“But I fought hard, got back into the match, and, again, had a couple of chances in the fourth. He’s one of the toughest players to play on clay in the world. I put him up there top five in the last 10 years, so I’m pleased with my efforts.
“Hopefully I can take this sort of form on to the next few weeks.
“Everyone wants top 100. I’m aiming higher than that.
“It’s not going to happen in one week. Even if I made fourth round I wouldn’t be top 100. You’ve got to be realistic and know that it takes a few weeks, a few months, to do. But if you’re consistent and winning more matches, it’s going to happen eventually.”
Ward was supported by his father Jim, a London taxi driver making his first trip to the French Open, and A ustralian coach Darren Tandy.
There were plenty of British fans in the crowd as well on Court 6 as the pair began their match in Parisian drizzle.
Robredo began the better, his exceptional defensive capabilities to the fore, but Ward worked his way back into the opening set and, with the drizzle turning to heavy rain, took his fourth set point with a forehand winner.
With that the covers came on and Ward made a poor start on the resumption by dropping his serve. But he continued to apply pressure to the Robredo serve and got his reward with a break back for 4-4.