Bjorkman turns back the clock at Roland Garros

Updated: June 2, 2007, 1:23 PM ET

Is it possible that Jonas Bjorkman is getting better as he gets older? Greg Garber writes how the 35-year-old Swede remains alive in more than just the men's singles draw at the French Open.

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By Greg Garber
ESPN.com
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PARIS -- Even as Oscar Hernandez' last service return skidded past the baseline, Jonas Bjorkman arched his back, squeezed his hands into fists and screamed as loud as he could.

And then, the old Swede produced his singular, signature celebration: the self-hug. Bjorkman wrapped his arms around himself and, by association, the cheering patrons around Court 7. With joy radiating from his tired, sweat-soaked body, he saluted all four sides. And then, after he had finished blowing kisses to the cheering patrons, Bjorkman bent over in his changeover chair. When he looked up there were tears in his blue eyes.

Thus, for another day, a 35-year-old man defied gravity.

He defeated Hernandez 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 to advance to the round of 16 at Roland Garros -- something he hasn't done in more than a decade.

AP Photo/Michel SpinglerPrior to 2007, Jonas Bjorkman had lost in either the first or second round at the French Open each year since 1997.

"It's only a third round, but for me to be in the forefront in Paris, it's like making the semis in Wimbledon," Bjorkman said. "Because it's obviously a huge surprise for me, for everyone, and I've been amazed.

"I just wanted to give [the Swedish fans] a hug and thank you for the support. It was just a perfect atmosphere out there."

Seriously, how is this possible? How has Bjorkman managed to get older and better?

"Well," he said, "I guess you get brighter. I managed to tactically play, maybe, a little bit smarter than I have in the past. These days everyone is so good on hitting the passing shots, so I'm more patient. Trying to get my opponents to not be aware of when I'm coming to net, trying to take them by surprise all the time.

"Today was a perfect example. I got him to the stage where he was very frustrated. He didn't know when I was coming to net. In the end, I got a lot of unforced errors from him."

In terms of tennis, Bjorkman is beyond ancient. He's the oldest player in either draw and the oldest player ranked among the ATP's top 100 players. It is not a stretch to say that, biologically speaking, he could be the father of Austria's Tamira Paszek (16) or Juan Martin del Potro (18), the youngest players in the women's and men's fields, respectively.

Bjorkman turned 35 back on March 23, but considering the wear and tear on those ligaments that tether the muscles in the daily grind of the game, the amiable Swede is probably pushing 50. Advil, he says, is how he combats the aging process.

And staying in perpetual motion.

In addition to singles, Bjorkman and partner Max Mirnyi are the second-seeded doubles team here and, in theory, headed toward a finals collision with the Bryan brothers. When the joyride in the singles draw ends, Bjorkman and Mirnyi will be eyeing history. They are trying to become the first men's doubles team to win the tournament three consecutive times. Bjorkman and Italy's Francesca Schiavone were the No. 3 seed in the mixed doubles competition, but after his win on Saturday, Bjorkman withdrew.

His singles matches, in particular, would have been taxing for anyone. Bjorkman sent the statisticians scurrying to the archives after he rallied from love-two-set deficits in both his first and second-round matches.

First, he rallied to beat Australian Peter Luczak 6-7 (4), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, then took down Ivo Karlovic (who beat James Blake in the first round), 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-3. According to the International Tennis Federation, it was only the fourth time in the Open era that a player has had back-to-back 0-2 comebacks at Roland Garros, and the first time in 13 years.

It was also Bjorkman's seventh consecutive five-set victory and 12th of the last 13. Bjorkman leads all active ATP players in the category of five-set victories; he's an extraordinary 29-12. Was he upset that Hernandez didn't get off to a two-set lead?

"I don't want to have that experience again," Bjorkman said. "Even though I've been very successful with it, it's still a bit of a lottery when you come down two sets to love. I have a great five-set record, and it's good to keep it that way."

Before last year's Wimbledon tournament, Bjorkman had played in 50 Grand Slam singles events and reached the semifinals once, the 1997 U.S. Open. He actually considered quitting singles and carried a 2-10 record into the grass-court season. And then, inexplicably, he advanced to the semifinals at the All-England Club, making him the oldest Grand Slam semifinalist since 35-year-old Jimmy Connors at the 1987 U.S. Open.

Bjorkman won just four games in his loss to world No. 1 Roger Federer, but he could only marvel at his good fortune. "I played a guy who was as near as perfection as you can play the game," he said. "I had the best seat in the house."

So far, 2007 is tracing a similar trajectory. Bjorkman has had a wretched singles season up to this point. Not including a dead Davis Cup rubber in Sweden's 5-0 quarterfinal victory over Argentina, Bjorkman entered Roland Garros riding a seven-match losing streak. Previously, he had won back-to-back matches only once this season and now he has won three straight.

And now he will play 1998 French Open champion Carlos Moya, who at 30 is a relative child.

"This victory is almost sweeter than some victories when you were 25, because you were so focused on tennis," Bjorkman said. "And maybe you didn't enjoy them afterwards. You just went on the bike and, 'OK, it's another day tomorrow.'

"Now, I enjoy it a lot more."

Greg Garber is a senior writer for ESPN.com.