And not a bead of sweat on her head. That’s yer lot for the day - it’s been emotional. Thanks for reading.
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Serena Williams wins in straight sets...
...beating Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2, 6-0. That didn’t take very long.
Wonder what the sensation of learning you’ve drawn Serena is. Resignation? The thrill of a challenge? Excited at the chance to observe probably the greatest player of all time at close quarters? 5-0 now.
4-0 in the second set. Gather your belongings.
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Rybarikova hits a shot that takes a big chunk of the net cord, and drops over to win the point. She apologises. Probably no need to worry about that sort of thing, all told.
This second set is going as expected. Williams breaks in the second game and leads Rybarikova 2-0. A less professional liveblog would pack up and go home now, but we have far too much respect for you, the reader, to do that. And in the time it’s taken to type that sentence, Serena holds. 3-0.
It must be a tricky balance, taking your opponent seriously enough to not be careless, but at that same time recognising your so much better than them there’s no much point in playing at full throttle. Williams is managing that so far, and takes the first set with another break, 6-2.
After that blip, some of what you might call normal service. Williams holds then breaks Rybarikova back, taking a 4-2 lead in the first set, and it will be 5-2 very shortly...
Oh. Ah. Hang on. That was a really odd game from Williams, and she’s broken by Rybarikova. She doesn’t look overly concerned, mind.
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Sign of things to come - Williams is already 2-0 up over Rybarikova. Don’t settle in too much for this one.
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Bit of a surprise in the men’s draw - South African No.18 seed Kevin Anderson is out, beaten 6-4, 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 by Frenchman Stephane Robert.
Azarenka retires...
The No.5 seed has done the sensible thing - she genuinely couldn’t move out there, so before doing herself more damage she has bowed out. Knapp goes through.
Serena Williams is just about to start her game, against Magdalena Rybarikova, who is ranked 77 in the world and has never made it past the second round of the French Open. So you would think this won’t last terribly long...
The third set might well be a step too far for Azarenka - she’s 3-0 down, and has pulled up on that knee again. Genuinely screaming in pain, and is receiving more treatment. Surely the sensible thing to do at this stage is bow out....
Johanna Konta is out
And that constitutes a shock - 20th seed Konta is eliminated by world No.57 Julia Goerges, 6-2, 6-3.
Although Tunnocks or no, it’s not looking great for Konta - Goerges is currently serving for the match.
Tunnocks watch.
@TunnockOfficial @NickMiller79 The teacakes have arrived on court 14, let's turn this around! Go Jo!! pic.twitter.com/hzfXAQBllt
— Sarah Gibbins (@gibbinssarah34) May 24, 2016
Remarkable! A few moments ago it looked like Azarenka was toast, that knee seemingly preventing her from effectively moving, but incredibly she wins the tie-break and the second set. It’s 1-1 now.
Over in the oddness, Jo Wilfriend Tsonga has served out the game to win, beating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Updated
Some gumption and skill this from Azarenka - she’s 3-2 up in the tie-break, basically on one leg.
Laura Robson is knocked out
And fairly easily too - Andrea Petkovic beats her 6-2, 6-2.
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Well whadderyernow, Azarenka has broken back. Good lord. It’s now a tie-break in the second set.
Eeeesh - Azarenka is in some pain. She’s currently serving, but has just smashed the clay with her racket in frustration at her injury. Knapp has two break points...the first of which she converts after Azarenka can barely move to intercept a return. She hammers the hell out of her racket again from her chair, and Knapp is now serving for the match.
Updated
Oh, hang on - Azarekna is moving well enough to break Knapp. It’s now 5-5 in the second set, Knapp having won the first 6-3.
Azarenka could well be about to depart - still not moving brilliantly after that injury earlier, and Knapp is serving for the match.
Also, Robson has broken Petkovic...but was immediately broken back. Ah.
It looks like Tsonga is on his way to an unconvincing straight sets victory, if such a thing is possible - he’s just broken Struff and looks a little more comfortable. It’s 3-2 in the third set, Tsonga leads 2-0.
Konta in trouble, to the tune of one set - Goerges has won the first 6-2, and to be honest it hasn’t been particularly hard.
And more woe for the Brits - Robson has been broken at the start of the second set - she trails Petkovic 6-2, 2-1 with the German currently serving.
David Ferrer has won, and at some pace too - he takes the final set to love, beating Donskoy 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.
Meanwhile Konta is struggling early doors, having already been broken in the first set - she trails Goerges 4-1. Also, it looks like Azarenka’s injury is a right knee problem, rather than a back issue.
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There could be a reason for Azarenka’s troubles - she’s got the trainer on in her match (in which she lost the first set). She was carrying a back injury from the Madrid Open a few weeks ago, so that could be playing up again.
More adventures in Tunnocks here, at Robson v Petkovic (Robson 1-0 ahead in the second set, Petkovic won the first...)
@laurarobson5 @NickMiller79 @TunnockOfficial Hoping for another turnaround with teacakes and Laura -Come on Laura! pic.twitter.com/1WpoVxDuUy
— Sarah Gibbins (@gibbinssarah34) May 24, 2016
In the theatre of oddness, Tsonga serves for the set...and holds, now leading 6-3, 6-4. It’s still an odd old game, but Tsonga is at least showing a little more application.
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Over on Court 20, it’s more Britain, Britain, Britain. Johanna Konta, seeded 20th, is kicking off against Germany’s Julia Goerges.
Oh. That Robson resurgence didn’t last too long. She’s just been broken again and Petkovic is serving for the set.
Oh, hang on - there’s some good play in Tsonga v Struff. A rally that featured some sort of enthusiasm from both men, won with a belting backhand down the line from Struff.
Laura Robson is having a time of it. She was a double break down, but has clawed one of them back and now only trails Petkovic 4-2 in the first set.
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Ferrer is making short work of Donskoy over on Suzanne Lenglen - he’s won the second set in double-quick time, now leading 6-1, 6-2.
And Knapp has won the first set, while Tsonga and Struff continue to play out a strange encounter. It’s 2-2 in the second set (Tsonga won the first 6-3), and neither man is either particularly playing well or looks like they want to be there.
Knapp has broken again, and is now serving for the set against Azarenka. Upset brewing?
Bit of a turnaround on Court One - Knapp has broken Azarenka, and has come back from 3-1 down to lead 4-3.
Meanwhile, David Ferrer has also won his first set, 6-2 over Evgeny Donskoy.
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Tsonga holds, and wins the weird first set 6-3. He does not look comfortable or happy out there, despite being in the lead.
This really is a weird match. Tsonga is serving for the set, and has just played a not especially fantastic drop-shot that Struff makes to go to, stops, then goes for again but doesn’t reach. Weird, weird, weird.
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A couple of games just starting - Victoria Azarenka, the women’s No.5 seed, is already 3-1 up over Italy’s Karin Knapp. Meanwhile Laura Robson is about to get started against 28th seed Andrea Petkovic.
Roberto Bautista Agut is a winner! Which I suppose makes former world No.20 Dmitry Tursunov a loser - the game between the two has just ended 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.
Ferrer has taken the lead over on t’other big court (to give it its full name), breaking to go 4-1 ahead over Donskoy in the first set.
It’s also 4-1 to Tsonga, but he still doesn’t look entirely right. He’s trying to gee himself up, but he does keep making some rather basic errors.
Over on Court Five, Joao Sousa - who as you know is the men’s No.26 seed - has won his first round game against Damir Dzumhur in straight sets - 7-6, 6-4, 7-5.
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Told you it was weird. Tsonga breaks back, it’s 3-1 in the first set and only one game has gone with serve.
This has been a weird game so far, clothing apart. Tsonga ostensibly cruised to a 2-0 lead, but didn’t look comfortable, and now Struff has broken straight back. Could be a curious encounter.
And it serves him right for wearing such rancid threads - Tsonga breaks in the second game and leads the first set 2-0.
This Struff young shaver that Tsonga is playing is wearing absolutely awful duds. They look like children’s pyjamas. Roll on Wimbledon and their policy of forcing people to wear white for no reason, that’s what I say.
John Inverdale's grilling the Slovenian tennis player who switched to GB:
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) May 24, 2016
"WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BRITAIN"
"YES BUT WHAT SPECIFICALLY"
Look at this filth from Rafa Nadal earlier.
Just give Rafa Nadal the trophy now! #RG16 https://t.co/oefC0DL9hO
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 24, 2016
Along with Tsonga, starting around now over on Court Suzanne Lenglen is David Ferrer v Russian Evgeny Donskoy.
Venus Williams wins, in straight sets, but it was a close one. Closer than close. Closer than you ever could imagine. She beats Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 7-6, 7-6.
Djokovic is now giving an interview in French, the annoyingly talented sod. Next up on Court Phillipe Chatrier is Jo Wilfried Tsonga v the splendidly named German Jan-Lennard Struff.
Djokovic beats Lu 6-4, 6-1, 6-1
Djokovic plays a drop-shot that Lu moves for, then decides that this isn’t worth the bother and stops. Djokovic then closes out the game with another drop, and he remains decidedly unsweaty. Lu was actually laughing by the end of that, so at least he’s not too demoralised.
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LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME! LU WINS A GAME!
(Djokovic leads 5-1 in the third, will now serve for the match.)
Djokovic is now 5-0 up in the third set. Lu presumably questioning every life choice that led him up to this point.
And that’s a win for Keys - she beats Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-2.
Looks like you can file Venus Williams’ match under ‘ding-dong tussle’ - she won the first set 7-5, and now it’s 4-4 in the second against Anett Kontaveit.
Looks like USA! USA! USA’s! Madison Keys is about to win her match - the 15th seed is serving for the match at 6-3, 5-1 in the second. Meanwhile, Djokovic marches on, basically toying with Lu now. It’s 3-0 in the third and, let’s be honest, final set.
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Djokovic, still without much perspiration troubling his top, has taken the second set at ease, and is cruising towards victory. 6-4, 6-1 the score now. Lu for some reason isn’t sitting in the corner crying at the futility of it all.
Daria Kasatkina, women’s No.29 seed, has just beaten Anna-Lena Friedsam in three sets. La-la-laaaa-laaaa-laaaaa.
On Court Suzanne Lenglen, Ana Ivanovic has dropped the second set, 7-5 - so that’s 1-1 going into the third and final against Dodin.
It appears that Djokovic has yet to break sweat, ensuring UniClo won’t have to send him many fresh shirts after this one. And that Lu is making noises akin to dry-retching when he plays a shot. Not a massive surprise, that - he even can’t get lucky when he gets lucky: Lu plays a shot that hits the top of the net, drops right over it but only a centimetre or so wide. That’s another break, and Djokovic is 4-1 up in the second.
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Hey, there’s another break for Djokovic - the crowd, perhaps expecting or at least hoping for an upset, greet it with a powerful wave of indifference.
O’er on one, Venus Williams has taken the first set against Kontaveit, 7-5 on the tie-break. Meanwhile men’s 26th seed Pablo Cuevas has come from a set down against Tobias Kamke, and is 2-0 up with a break in the fourth - it’s 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 2-0 there.
And there it is. Djokovic wins the first set 6-4. Easy game, tennis. When you’re one of the greatest players to ever pick up a racket.
Well that was fun while it lasted - a third break in a row, as Djokovic nicks serve back from Lu and will now serve for the set.
Oh, hello - Lu has broken Djokovic straight back. Can he win this one? Well, probably not, obviously. Sorry to disappoint all you dreamers out there. But keep on dreaming, man.
And on Court One, Venus Williams is 5-4 up in the first against Anett Kontaveit, but that’s going with serve at the moment.
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Over on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Ana Ivanovic has taken the first set in double-smart time, beating Oceane Dodin 6-0 in that one, and it’s 3-3 in the second.
Hello there. Nick back again. And in a comforting continuation of the norm, Djokovic remains good at tennis, displaying this by breaking Lu to lead 4-3 in the first set.
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So what of Djokovic? Well, it’s fair to say he’s not firing on all cylinders just yet. Take the mid-court ball he’s just fired into the doubles alley. Ordinarily that would have been meat and drink to the smooth-operating Serb, but he overcooked it slightly and gave Lu the chance to clinch another hold, which he did with aplomb. And with that, I’ll hand you back to a refreshed and revitalised Nick Miller.
Meanwhile, out on Chatrier, Lu has made an encouraging start against Djokovic. It’s 2-2, and the contest is going with serve, with Lu showing no sign of being overawed by the enormity of the occasion or the identity of the man on the other side of the net. They’ve no respect, the youth these days.
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I should also mention that Timea Bacsinszky, the eighth-seeded Swiss, came through safely against the Spaniard Sílvia Soler Espinosa, 6-3, 6-1, while 12th seed Carla Suárez Navarro came through in three against Katerina Siniakova.
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In the women’s draw, Francesca Schiavone, the Italian who won so memorably and emotionally at Roland Garros in 2010, has gone out in straight sets to the Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic, 6-2, 6-4. And that’s not the only good news for the home crowd, because Alizé Cornet – winner of the junior title in 2007 and darling of the Bois de Boulogne ever since she graced the front cover of L’Equipe as a teenager – is also through. Cornet hammered the Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-1, 6-0. But there was no such luck for former world No1 Jelena Jankovic, who crashed out in three sets to Germany’s Tatjana Maria, losing 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
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Kevin Mitchell, our man at Roland Garros, has filed his report on the Andy Murray match. Assuming your nerves have settled down sufficiently, you can read it by hitting the link below.
Next up on Chatrier is top seed Novak Djokovic, who takes on the 95th-ranked Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan. Before that gets underway, though, let’s have a quick catch-up on what’s been happening elsewhere. One thing that’s most certainly been happening is Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard may have nine Roland Garros titles to his name, but he isn’t always comfortable against big servers on the red stuff – his 2009 defeat to Robin Soderling is one of only two blemishes on his French Open CV – and they don’t come much bigger than Sam Groth. So did he struggle? Did he heck. Nadal absolutely steamrollered the big Aussie, winning 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in a victory that included an outrageous between-the-legs passing shot that must have left Groth wishing he’d stayed in bed. All in all, not a bad way for Nadal to begin his pursuit of a record 10th title in Paris.
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Afternoon! Les Roopanarine here. His pulse still racing after that nail-biting win for Andy Murray, Nick is slinking off to take a well-earned break.
Here’s the story on Kiki Bertens upsetting third seed Angelique Kerber in the women’s draw.
The sport picture of the day for you here...
Well, that was quite a match. Stepanek was brilliant for about 90% of it, but Murray basically hung in there and got the win after a couple of careless late games from his opponent. Looks like that will be the 37-year-old’s last French Open, and he waves to the crowd as Murray applauds him off. Murray admits he wasn’t in particularly good rhythm, but that was largely Stepanek’s doing. He’s through to the second round, where he’ll play French wildcard Mathias Bourgue.
Murray beats Stepanek 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 5-7
A bunch of people choose this moment to casually wander in, holding up the game to the understandable non-amusement of everyone else present. Stepanek commits another error first up, then plays a backhand slice that clips the very edge of the edge of the line. Stepanek goes for a tired-looking backhand into the net, for some reason asks to inspect the ball but that won’t change that this is match point - Murray goes for a big serve but nets, then goes long with the second! Ooof. Stepanek goes wide with a backhand return setting up another match point...which he converts as Stepanek sticks a volley into the net!
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Fifth set: Stepanek* 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 5-6 Murray (*denotes server) Hello. Stepanek pulls a face, and rightly so after two fairly rancid errors give Murray a 30-0 lead. A superb inside-out backhand finds the corner of the court and gets him out of a little trouble, but then a double-fault hands Murray a couple of break points. Stepanek saves the first thanks to a brilliantly-placed wide serve, but not the second as he again carelessly nets. Murray didn’t quite so much win that game as Stepanek lost it, but the Scot will now serve for the match.
Fifth set: Stepanek 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 5-5 Murray* (*denotes server) You do always hold your breath a little when Murray tries a drop-shot, but that one comes off as Stepanek rather shrewdly decides to conserve his energy by not chasing that one down. A mother of a second serve, skidding past Stepanek’s forehand, nudges Murray ahead, before he spoils things by putting a forehand into the tramlines. Stepanek nets, leading to a primal scream from Murray - that’s 30 unforced errors for Stepanek against Murray’s nine. But Stepanek has played a few belters to level that out too, as he does with a delightful backhand volley which leaves Murray standing. Stepanek loops a lob long, giving Murray the chance to save the game...which he does with another of those monster aces down the middle.
Fifth set: Stepanek* 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 5-4 Murray (*denotes server) Murray is an extraordinary athlete. He very literally falls on his arse near the net on the left, but manages to get up and chase down a shot near the baseline on the right - alas, he then rather carelessly sticks a simple forehand into the net. Stepanek then sends down an ace to confirm the hold, and Murray now has to serve to stay in the match.
Fifth set: Stepanek 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 4-4 Murray* (*denotes server) Tim Roth is in the crowd. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge the two extremes of his career.
Anyway, the tennis. Another fairly simple hold for Murray, and yet it still seems like the set and the match is even, even, even.
Fifth set: Stepanek* 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 4-3 Murray (*denotes server) After a simple hold for Murray, it looks like it’s going to be a simple hold for Stepanek, but a couple of careless shots allow Murray back into it. Murray saves a game point with a brilliant cross-court backhand, then Stepanek puts an overhead away before staring straight at Murray and pumping his fist. Another brilliant game, which Stepanek eventually holds, sending Murray to all corners of the court.
Fifth set: Stepanek 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 3-3 Murray* (*denotes server) After a couple of minor epics, Murray puts away a straightforward hold to love, featuring a couple of rather average shots from Stepanek.
Fifth set: Stepanek* 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 3-2 Murray (*denotes server) A careless error gives Murray the lead in the game, but he doesn’t make the most of it by attempting a frankly rather ambitious and slightly needless lob when a pass down the line was on, with Stepanek at the net. Stepanek saves a break point with a brilliant serve-volley combo, then an extraordinary point that involved Murray nearly slipping over twice, doing a full 360 turnaround, a flick off a net tape that Stepanek just gets to but can only loft high in the air, which Murray puts away, apologising in the most half-hearted manner possible. Then Stepanek holds a lengthy game after Murray nets an attempted backhand pass down the line. We could be here for a while.
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Fifth set: Stepanek 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 2-2 Murray* (*denotes server) This is quite the encounter. Murray, one of the most relentless players of his generation, against a 37-year-old who possibly knows this is his last chance. They’re pulling each other all over the court, seemingly unchaseable drop-shots chased and returned by both players. Lovely stuff. It’s a hard-fought game, but Murray just about saves, as Stepanek tries to roar the crowd onto his side again.
Meanwhile, Alan Evans has been crunching some numbers: “If Murray beats Stepanek, it will be his ninth victory from two sets down, which will move him either level with or ahead of Federer, depending on whether you credit Federer with one victory that came through his opponent retiring.
“Either way, Murray’s record when 2-0 down is easily the best of the Big Four at 8 from 24 (25%), followed by Federer with 8 of 32 (20%) – at least in completed matches. Djokovic and Nadal are a little way behind: Djokovic has won 4 of 20 when two sets down (17%) and Nadal 3 of 17 (15%). Not sure what this really tells us, other than that Murray is quite resilient, but I thought it was interesting.”
Fifth set: Stepanek* 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 2-1 Murray (*denotes server) More superb reactions from Murray, after failing to put away a smash, then Stepanek tries to pass him at the net but he steps across and deflects the volley home. But Stepanek comes back with a ripper of his own, again after Murray doesn’t convert an overhead, whipping a cross-court backhand past Murray at the net. Stepanek holds as Murray nets a relatively straightforward forehand, but this is a cracking set so far.
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Fifth set: Stepanek 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 1-1 Murray* (*denotes server) A woof of a return from Stepanek, running into a backhand as if he’s trying to break down a recalcitrant door with his shoulder, destroying the ball down the line for an emphatic winner. Nevertheless, an increasingly fired-up Murray holds with a couple of cracking forehands, closing out with an ace down the middle.
Meanwhile, someone is keeping the Scottish end up...
@andy_murray @NickMiller79 @TunnockOfficial
— Sarah Gibbins (@gibbinssarah34) May 24, 2016
The teacakes are in the stadium Go Andy!#tunnockteacaketurnaround pic.twitter.com/RbtaS3DgSA
Fifth set: Stepanek* 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6, 1-0 Murray (*denotes server) Stepanek goes 40-0 up, but Murray plays a terrific shot dashing into the net from a drop-shot that Stepanek seems to admire, the Scot flipping the ball cross court. He then sets up break point after reacting brilliantly to a shot that hit the net tape, then showing superb reflexes at the net. There’s then a back and forth as the players exchange deuces and advantages, before Stepanek just about holds on, largely thanks to a brilliant drop-shot after which he tries to whip up the crowd. He even gets a few cheers for that. Roland Garros is changing.
Murray wins the fourth set
Fourth set: Stepanek 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6 Murray* (*denotes server) Phenomenal volley from Murray, who runs into the net then has to rapidly adjust his feet as Stepanek puts a good drive at his toes, but he not only manages to dig it out but plays a delicious shot just over the net, spinning about a yard over the net and gives Stepanek no chance. Murray then sets up two set points...and takes the second as Stepanek is fooled by a kicked second serve, misjudging the bounce before lunging a backhand into the net.
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Fourth set: Stepanek* 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-5 Murray (*denotes server) Sun’s out in Paris, and Stepanek celebrates the clement conditions by holding, despite going set point down to Murray. Both players seem ever so slightly tentative, just feeling each other out as the game gets back into the swing of things, but Murray will now serve for the set.
Fourth set: Stepanek 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 2-5 Murray* (*denotes server) Ropey first couple of points for Murray, including a careless forehand into the net after seemingly being distracted by a noise in the crowd. Stepanek then sets up a break point, which he squanders by slicing a double-handed backhand carelessly wide, and Murray eventually holds with a big ace down the middle. Not flawless, but a hold nonetheless.
Updated
The warm-ups are nearly done - Murray and Stepanek is imminent.
Over on 14, Britain’s Bedene is 3-1 up with a break in the fourth set, leading 2-1.
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Rafa Nadal is also about to start on Suzanne Lenglen, as Murray and Stepanek are out on court to resume their game.
Just a reminder - next on Phillipe Chatrier is one Andy Murray, resuming at 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 4-2 against Radek Stepanek. We’ll be going game-by-game for that one, coming up shortly.
Here’s that brilliant shot from Kerber, although in the end of course it meant little...
Sensational shot* from Angelique Kerber at match point!
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 24, 2016
(*she still lost) https://t.co/XKkeKxYp9A
Meanwhile in the men’s draw, both Berdych and Tomic have won their matches, beating Pospisil 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 and Baker 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 respectively.
Bertens beats Kerber 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Wonderfully disguised drop-shot from Bertens starts things off, then Kerber goes long with a drive down the line. Another unforced error goes long, setting up two match points for Bertens...one of which is saved by the shot of the match, a running forehand that Kerber did well to reach, never mind whip it over the net for a winner, and the second goes as Bertens sticks a fairly straightforward forehand into the tramlines. Bit of tension starting to appear in Bertens now - she hoys a double-handed backhand wide, then is lucky Kerber doesn’t covert a break point with a missed drop-shot.
But here’s another match point, as Kerber nets a forehand...and that’s it! Kerber nets a backhand drop-shot and the third seed is out! Well stone the crows...
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Kerber holds, in vaguely wobbly fashion, and now Bertens is serving for the match.
It’s 5-2 in the third now to Bertens - Kerber is serving to stay in the match.
On court four, the comeback is well and truly on - Jankovic has broken in the second set, and leads 5-2, still 1-0 down. Also the 2010 champion is out, as Francesca Schiavone falls 6-2, 6-4 to Kristina Mladenovic.
Meanwhile, Murray (on after Kerber v Bertens) isn’t the only Brit in action today - Aljaz Bedene has just gone 5-3 up in the third set against Gerald Melzer (brother of Jurgen), with the score 1-1 from the first two.
Kerber does seem to be heaving a little at some of her forehands, and goes 4-1 down in the final set after an absolutely horrendous stuff up in which she misses a completely open court, then is put away in a long rally by Bertens. The Dutch underdog only has to hold her nerve now.
Kerber is back out, to a smattering of applause. Berdych has taken the second set and is well on his way in the third too, breaking Pospisil in the first game to lead 6-3, 6-2, 1-0.
Kerber has called for the physio, who comes out with an absolutely colossal backpack to attend to the German. Looks like she could have a full massage table, plus all oils, in that thing. She’s getting some attention to her left shoulder, which might explain why she’s not been on her game. She hasn’t shown any visible signs of discomfort before, but obviously that doesn’t mean she hasn’t been feeling it. Kerber goes off the court for some further attention, and everyone now must hang around for a bit.
Including Andy Murray, who rather curiously is prowling around in the tunnel, as if this match is just about to finish. Which of course it might be.
Simple hold for Bertens, who now leads 3-0 in the final set. Meanwhile Jankovic is fighting back a little - it’s 2-2 in the second set against Maria, while Tomic has taken the second set against plucky ol’ Baker.
Updated
Just as it looked like Kerber was settling down a bit, she’s broken in the second game of the third set - Bertens races 40-0 ahead, and despite Kerber clawing things back a little Bertens closes it out with a lovely drop-shot, passing combo. Kerber just looks frustrated out there now. 6-2, 3-6, 2-0.
The first completed game of the day - in the women’s draw, Timea Babos has beaten Samantha Crawford in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0.
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Kerber wins the second set
And that’s level. The German No.3 seed makes it 1-1 (6-2, 3-6), closing out the set after a brilliant rally which ends in Bertens netting.
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Well that’s better from Kerber. She’s been gradually improving throughout the set, and breaks in the eighth game in order to set up the chance to serve for the set. 6-2, 3-5 currently.
Life isn’t getting any better for Jankovic - Maria has broken in the first game of the second set, currently leading 6-3, 1-0. It’s still on serve between Kerber and Bertens in the second, Bertens having won the first set 6-2.
On Court One Berdych has clinched the first set, while Bernard Tomic has bagged one against world No.662 Brian Baker of the USA! USA! USA! Some effort to even be at this stage, that.
Over on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Mladenovic has taken the first set against Schiavone - winner here in 2010, of course - 6-2.
It’s even worse for Jankovic over on Court Four - she’s currently 5-0 down in the first to Maria. In the men’s draw, Berdych was well ahead but Pospisil has broken back - it’s now 4-3 with the latter serving.
Kerber loses the first set to Bertens
Shock on the cards here. Bertens is most certainly no mug, but she makes short work of the third seed Kerber, closing out the set with an efficient service game to take it 6-2. Woof.
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But that form disappears in the next game, as Bertens breaks to 30, closing out the game by prowling into the net and sticking away a treat of a drop volley. Double break, 5-2 in the first, and Kerber is in a big honking pile of trouble.
Kerber recovers some form to take the sixth game to the wire, but Bertens still holds on to maintain the two-game lead. 4-2 in the first.
Elsewhere the day has started in rather more routine fashion for the sees - women’s No.26 Kristina Mladenovic is 3-1 up with a break over Francesca Schiavone, while No.7 in the chaps draw Tomas Berdych is making short work of Vasek Pospisil, already 3-0 up in the first.
Oh, having said that, Jelena Jankovic, 23 in the women’s draw, is 3-0 down to German 111 in the world Tatjana Maria.
Bertens holds without much drama, and Kerber is taking a while to get warmed up here. 3-1 in the first.
Ticklish start for the third seed in the women’s draw - Kiki Bertens has broken Angelique Kerber to love in the third game of the match. In double-quick time too, and it’s 2-1 to the Dutchwoman in the first.
Preamble
Morning world. Andy Murray does not do things by halves, of course. Talk about his on-court temper has been around since the start of his career, so firstly it therefore seems rather unlikely he’s going to stop hooting and howling now, and secondly it sometimes seems as if he needs a fire lighting under his bottom to get going. Radek Stepanek did that yesterday by going 2-0 up, then taking his sweet time about things and irking an already on-his-way-to-being-irked Murray. The state of play there is 2-1 to the Czech, with Murray 4-2 up in the fourth set.
But that won’t be underway for a short while yet. That game is on the Philippe Chatrier court after third seed Angelique Kerber faces Kiki Bertens, so presumably Murray will be up in a couple of hours (not before 11.30 BST), depending on how that one pans out.
Plenty of other juicy stuff to keep you entertained today too, so stick around, why don’t you?
Order of play
Philippe Chatrier Court
3-Angelique Kerber (Germany) v Kiki Bertens (Netherlands)
2-Andy Murray v Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic)
1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v Lu Yen-Hsun (Taiwan)
Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) v 6-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France)
1-Serena Williams (United States) v Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia)
Court Suzanne Lenglen
Francesca Schiavone (Italy) v 26-Kristina Mladenovic (France)
4-Rafael Nadal (Spain) v Sam Groth (Australia)
Oceane Dodin (France) v 14-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia)
11-David Ferrer (Spain) v Evgeny Donskoy (Russia)
Court One
Vasek Pospisil (Canada) v 7-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic)
9-Venus Williams (United States) v Anett Kontaveit (Estonia)
Karin Knapp (Italy) v 5-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
12-David Goffin (Belgium) v Gregoire Barrere (France)
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