PLAY IS STOPPED! Stepanek leads Murray 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 2-4!
Hold that thought. The match has been halted for bad light, so now Murray’s not happy. He’ll have to return tomorrow to try and complete the comeback. He was pretty damn awful in the first two sets - and Radek Stepanek took full advantage thanks to some fine tennis - but the momentum has been with Murray in the past hour. He should win tomorrow. But it’s still in the balance. He’s still got it all to do. That’s all from me tonight. Thanks for reading. Night!
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Stepanek holds to trail 4-2. There was a suggestion that was going to be the final game. But they’re going to continue and Stepanek’s not happy.
Chapeau, Kyle Edmund. He’s through to the second round, beating Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-1! He’ll face either John Isner or John Millman next. Millman leads by a set and they’re locked in a fraught second-set tie-break.
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Murray holds with an ace to lead 4-1 in the fourth set. Can he get this set in the bag before they stop for bad light?
Stepanek stops the rot, holding to trail 3-1 in the fourth set. Meanwhile Kyle Edmund leads 5-0 in the fourth set on Court 6.
Stepanek flickers into life again – but he can’t take a break point at 30-40, Murray holding him off superbly, and a ninth consecutive game goes the way of the world No2. He leads 3-0 in the fourth set.
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How about Kyle Edmund, eh? He might be able to wrap up his match tonight at this rate – he leads 3-0 in the fourth set and he’s closing in on a place in the second round for the second year running. “Mini-Murray-Meltdowns are frustrating, but at the same time they can be so damn entertaining,” says Matt Dony. “Three or four years ago, on this very court, he gave us the frankly magnificent ‘I’m trying my tits off here!’ Tonight’s effort is watchable, but lacks that certain something. (And, let’s face it, he’s going to win from here.)"
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On Court 1, they’ve suspended play with Lucas Puille leading Julien Bennteau by two sets to one. How long has Murray got?
Grigor Dimitrov was knocked out by Victor Troicki earlier. Here was his take on his defeat to the 22nd seed.
“I’ve lost a lot of confidence in myself,” the Bulgarian said. “It’s not easy to come off losing those kind of matches, those close matches. In the past years I’ve been winning those close matches and that gives you a lot of confidence and motivation and everything and overall I’ve lost a lot of that…
“I’ve been there before but this time it’s just kind of different. Sometimes it’s scary of course, it’s just really scary. But I’m positive and happy to come out and work and work and work, that never scares me.
“What scares me is that I’m really not finding a way and usually I’m pretty good at bouncing back, whether it’s from a loss or something else. A lot of losses have always motivated me – just right now it’s not happening.”
Murray’s on a roll now, yapping away after every point that goes his way, and he breaks for a 2-0 lead in the fourth set when Stepanek wafts a tired backhand long. He’s won eight straight games.
What an effort from Kyle Edmund, who was a break down in the third set against Nikoloz Basilashvili, only to stubbornly stay in contention, break back and win it for a 7-6, 6-7, 7-5 lead.
Stepanek has taken as long as possible to get into position. He even made sure to change his shirt just before walking to the baseline, which prompts the umpire to give him a time violation.
Stepanek’s on his way back. Murray’s out to serve.
Murray reckons that Stepanek’s stalling. He’s cooking now! “Keep an eye how long the toilet break is,” Murray tells the umpi
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Andy Murray wins the third set 6-0; Radek Stepanek leads 6-3, 6-3, 0-6
Stepanek nets a backhand and it’s a bagel, wrapped up in 18 minutes. We’ll have a fourth set. Won’t we? There’ll be a nuclear meltdown from Murray if there’s no fourth set tonight. Stepanek has disappeared for a bathroom break.
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“Let’s go, come on,” says Murray, who holds for a 5-0 lead. The thing is, here’s the thing, Stepanek is 37.
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As for world No129 Radek Stepanek, he’s probably writing off the third set now that he’s two breaks down. Murray leads 4-0. Meanwhile Richard Gasquet leads 6-1, 6-3 against Thomaz Bellucci.
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With all the drama on Philippe-Chatrier, it’s easy to overlook that a major upset has just taken place out on Court 2. Forget about world No129 Radek Stepanek for a moment, if possible, and please be upstanding for world no166 Marco Trungellitti, who’s just beaten Marin Cilic 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. That’s a stunning achievement from the Argentinian, even if Cilic is lacin match practice.
Brit down! Brit down! Naomi Broady is out; she gave it a good go but she’s been knocked out by Coco Vandeweghe, losing 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Mark it down as a big missed opportunity because she had more than enough chances.
But this time Murray consolidates the break to lead 3-0 in the third set. “Let’s go!” he cries. He’s angry. I’m not sure where we’re going. I’m not sure I want to know.
Murray breaks to love in the second game of the third set! It’s a long way back from here. Not least because he broke in the first game of the second set and look how much that helped.
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Meanwhile Naomi Broady is flailing against Coco Vandeweghe. Having led by a break in the third set, she’s lost four straight games to trail 4-2.
Radek Stepanek wins the second set to lead 6-3, 6-3!
The world No129, 37 years old, is two sets up against the world No2! That’s the world No2 who recently beat Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on clay. An increasingly ratty Murray makes error after error to hand Stepanek a set point at 40-30 and the Czech takes it by slamming an ace out wide! We are on the verge of a major shock. Murray has never lost to a player ranked this low in a grand slam before.
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Stepanek breaks! Murray nets a forehand and Stepanek will serve for a two-set lead at 5-3! What on earth has happened to Murray?
Murray scampers on to a drop shot - but he nets his riposte and Stepanek has two break points!
Murray’s swapped his white top for a black one. So you know he means business. Here he is serving at 4-3 down in the second set. He’s also been given a code violation for an audible obscenity during the changeover. Any word from Mauresmo?
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Murray is offering up too many short balls. This isn’t looking too clever for the world No2.
Naomi Broady can’t hold on to her lead in the third set, though, as Vandeweghe breaks back. They’re back on serve at 2-2 in the decider.
Marco Trungelliti is putting in an outstanding effort on Court 2. The world no166 was down a break, I believe, in the third set against Marin Cilic but he’s only gone and won it to lead 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 against the 10th seed and former US Open champion.
If Kyle Edmund loses, he’ll wince at his failure to win the second-set tiebreak against Nikoloz Basilashvili. He had two set points and he couldn’t take either, allowing the Georgian to clamber back into it and level the match at a set apiece on Court 6. Inexperience from young Kyle there.
While Murray continues to grasp for his best form, Naomi Broady is experiencing quite the resurgence. She’s broken early in the third set against Coco Vandeweghe.
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On Suzanne-Lenglen, Richard Gasquet is making rapid progress. The 9th seed has won the first set 6-1 against Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci. Back on Philippe-Chatrier, Murray is shaking his head. A lot. Stepanek holds to lead 6-3, 2-1.
But Murray duffs a drop shot into the net on break point and he can’t consolidate! Oh dear. Stepanek breaks back straight away and Murray is looking frazzled. Meanwhile Naomi Broady has done wonderfully to force a third set against Coco Vandeweghe, winning the second set 6-3.
And here’s the perfect response from Murray, who listens to my advice, gets his head in the game and breaks to love in the first game of the second set. “Come on!” he shouts.
Radek Stepanek wins the first set 6-3!
Nothing’s working for Murray and Stepanek is reaching everything. He dabs a shot down the line and Murray goes for a lob but even that goes long. And that’s one of his favourite shots. If that’s off, you know Stepanek has taken up residence in his head. All of a sudden, Stepanek has two set points, Murray down 15-40. He only needs one, Murray netting a forehand! Stepanek takes the first set 6-3! This definitely wasn’t in the script. Murray needs to get his head in the game. That’s my advice. Get your head in the game, Murray.
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Stepanek inches closer to taking the first set. Murray, returning poorly, can’t break despite taking the game to deuce and the Czech leads 5-3.
In other news...
Checked out the great exhibition #Vogue100 on its last day. 👀 pic.twitter.com/7r59ea7QjC
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) May 23, 2016
I spoke too soon. Vandeweghe has broken back against Broady. There, you see.
Naomi Broady is mounting a fightback against Coco Vandeweghe. She’s broken in the second set. But then again, she broke first in the first set as well and look where that got her.
Murray holds but Stepanek still has the break at 4-3. “Evening Jacob,” says Simon McMahon. “It’s not that long ago I wouldn’t have been able to send, or you read, this email with a straight face, but Murray is a live contender for the French Open. He appears ready to graduate after his long, long apprenticeship on the dirt. Either that, or he’ll crash out early in a blaze of unforced errors and self-loathing. You just never can tell with Andy.”
Murray’s not making much of an impact on Stepanek’s serve at the moment. The Czech holds for a 4-2 lead. On the bright side, the skies are clearing.
Roberta Vinci’s French Open swansong hasn’t gone to plan. The seventh seed has been sent on her merry way, a 6-1, 6-3 loser against the delighted Russian, Kateryna Bondarenko.
Maybe we’ll get an upset on Philippe-Chatrier instead. Because Radek Stepanek has started at his most mischievous against Andy Murray and he’s broken for a 2-1 lead against the world No2. Early days, of course, but Stepanek has looked sharper so far. It’s not the start Murray was looking for.
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Marin Cilic was down a set and a break not so long ago. Now he’s taken the second set off plucky Marco Trungelliti, winning it 6-3. Where’s the romance?
While Andy Murray tries to get to grips with the wily Radek Stepanek, there’s good news for those of a British persuasion on Court 6: Kyle Edmund wins the tie-break 7-4 against Basilashvili and the youngster is up a set. Can he push on? Developments on Court 4 aren’t quite as promising, however, with Coco Vandeweghe winning the first set 6-4 against Naomi Broady.
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Naomi Broady is in trouble against Coco Vandeweghe, who’s serving for the first set at 5-4, while Kyle Edmund has gone to a first-set tie-break against Basilashvili.
A fist pump, laughs with #DutraSilva at the net, and applause acknowledging the crowd for @GillesSimon84 after 1R win 7-6(5) 6-4 6-2. #RG16
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2016
Andy Murray and Radek Stepanek are about to get going. They went three sets in Madrid recently. Murray will be hoping to finishing this one quickly to ensure he doesn’t have to come back tomorrow. “I think they will easily finish tonight if the weather holds; can’t see Stepanek doing much,” says Adrian Fowell, tempting fate.
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Here comes Radek Stepanek, the 37-year-old Czech, the oldest player in the draw. And here comes Andy Murray, the world No2. For some reason, he’s wearing a cap. There’s no sign of the sun. But he’s always done things his way.
Radwanska’s speedy win means that Andy Murray will be on court against Radek Stepanek soon. I doubt they’ll be able to finish this one tonight.
Agnieszka Radwanska was beaten in the first round here last year. Not this time. That could hardly have been more straightforward for the second seed, a 6-0, 6-2 win over Bojana Jovanovski on Philippe-Chatrier. Elsewhere Caroline Garcia has beaten Lesia Tsurenko 6-3, 7-5.
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The 10th seed finds himself in a sticky situation on Court 2. Marin Cilic has lost a first-set tie-break against Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti, the world No166, and he’s going to have to do it the hard way.
Roberta Vinci, the seventh seed, has made a dodgy start in her final French Open. She trails 4-1 in the fourth set against Kateryna Bondarenko.
Two Brits are in action on the outside courts. Kyle Edmund is locked on serve at the start of the first set against Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili and Naomi Broady has just got going against the USA’s Coco Vandeweghe, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon last year.
Life’s going swimmingly for Gilles Simon now. In an entertaining match on Suzanne-Lenglen, he leads Rodrigo Dutra Silva 7-6, 6-4. In other French news, Caroline Garcia is trying to close out her match against Lesia Tsurenko. It’s 5-5 in the second set.
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Jovanovski has won a game! Unfortunately she’s a break down in the second set.
Back on Philippe-Chatrier, Agniezska Radwanska swept away with the first set against Bojana Jovanovski, winning it 6-0. Andy Murray could be with us soon. Meanwile Elena Vesnina has beaten Madison Brengle 6-2, 6-3 and Tsvetana Pironkova has upset 16th seed Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3.
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Heather Watson speaks! “It was very difficult actually. I think the conditions suited her game style more than mine and it was a really long day yesterday. I got to the club at 9am and left at 8pm and had to come back again today. I just had to accept the conditions and adapt my game plan. When it’s wet and the ball gets heavier and it’s harder to hit because the ball just stops but today was very different.
She’ll face former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round. “I can’t remember if I’ve ever played her but she’s obviously a great player, a grand slam champion, and it’s going to be a very tough match,” Watson says.
Heather Watson wins 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the second round of the French Open! She played on her opponent’s nerves when they came back out and although she began a break down in the decider at the resumption of play, she simply responded by winning the next five games to send Nicole Gibbs tumbling out. She’ll be feeling very good after that. She’s clearly enjoying herself as she signs autographs for her supporters.
Nope, she can’t. Watson thrashes a forehand volley away for deuce, then wins the next two points to hold for 5-2. She’s so close.
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But now Watson’s edgy. A break point for Gibbs. A chance to level. Can she take it?
If Heather Watson could play all her matches in 20 minute bursts, she might win the title.
— Russell Fuller (@russellcfuller) May 23, 2016
Another fast start gives her a 4-2 final set lead
Watson’s on fire*! She storms into a 0-40 lead and then wallops a backhand return down the line to lead 4-2 in the third set! She’s been excellent.
*Not literally.
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What should be an easy hold for Watson becomes a struggle. 40-0 becomes deuce. She looks troubled, anxious. But she just about manages to hold Gibbs off. Two straight games for the British No2 and she leads 3-2 in the third set.
Heather Watson has broken straight away! They’re level at 2-2 in the third set on Court 3. Nicole Gibbs is chuntering.
Are you good enough to be a line judge? This is a brilliant interactive.
A wobbly first set for Gilles Simon, but the Frenchman has taken it on a tie-break against Rodrigo Dutra Silva, who’ll be kicking himself about his failure to win that. He was dominant for a long time but he couldn’t capitalise.
Heather Watson and Nicole Gibbs are out to finish their rain delayed match on Court 3. Gibbs is up 2-1 in the decider and she’s serving at 40-30.
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A hugely impressive performance from Simona Halep, who’s stormed to a 6-2, 6-0 win over Nao Hibino, who was utterly overwhelmed by the Romanian. Halep’s looking good. Meanwhile Sara Errani’s first-round draw looked tricky on paper and so it’s proving at the moment, with the 16th seed a set down against Tsvetana Pironkova.
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The match was stretched out over two days but Kei Nishikori hasn’t taken long to get the job done against Simone Bolelli. The fifth seed, a potential quarter-final opponent for Andy Murray, beats the Italian 6-1, 7-5, 6-3. Next on Philippe-Chatrier: Agniezska Radwanska against Bojana Jovanovski.
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Another early exit from a grand slam from the increasingly disappointing Grigor Dimitrov, who’s been beaten 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 by 22nd seed Victor Troicki. With that marathon match over, Britain’s Heather Watson will resume her battle with Nicole Gibbs on Court 1 next. Gibbs is 2-1 up in the decider there.
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“Probably of more interest to the US, but I missed why Jack Sock was booed so much at the end of his match and win?” asks Olga. “I know he was playing a Frenchman.”
I believe he screamed in Hasse’s direction during the match.
Simona Halep is in a hurry. She’s taken the first set 6-2 against Nao Hibino in no time at all. Is this going to be the Romanian’s year?
There are some interesting quotes from Andy Murray in L’Equipe in response to Amelie Mauresmo’s comments about his on-court behaviour.
Sometimes I am embarrassed. You have to try to understand that, on the court, a lot of things are happening to us.
The way in which you react is not necessarily linked to what you really think, on reflection. That’s sport. It’s tough, there’s pressure, it’s not perfect.
And then, when I say what I say, just because I am speaking in the direction of my box, it doesn’t mean it’s against my coach or my team.
It’s very often self-criticism. I am abusing myself. But I’m not resigning myself to this being unchangeable. I’ve been working on it for years, I am trying to be better.”
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Former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova advances, winning her rain interrupted match 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 against the tricky Kazakh, Yaroslava Shedova.
Gilles Simon got himself back on serve against Dutra Silva. But it’s a patchy performance from the Frenchman so far and now he’s done 4-3 in the first set.
Grigor Dimitrov is fading fast – he’s down 3-0 in the fifth set against Victor Troicki. Meanwhile Simona Halep, the sixth seed, is up an early break against Nao Hibino on Court 2.
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Sixteenth seed Gilles Simon has made a poor start in front of the home fans on Suzanne-Lenglen. The Frenchman is down an early break against Rogerio Dutra Silva in the first set.
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Over on Court 3, meanwhile, Victor Troicki has dragged it into a fifth set against Grigor Dimitrov after winning the fourth set 7-5. The tension’s rising there. Who’ll blink first?
But it’s over now! Lukas Rosol scraps for all he’s worth at the back of the court but he’s fighting a losing battle, miles behind the baseline, and he’s toast when he hangs a high ball up for Wawrinka to crack a backhand volley away for a 4-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win. The champion survives by the skin of his teeth. Phew. What a match. Relief for Wawrinka, heartbreak for Rosol. But Wawrinka will have to be much better if he’s going to defend his title.
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In keeping with a strange afternoon, Wawrinka has just wasted another match point, dragging a forehand long when it was harder to miss. It’s still not over.
And Rosol holds. Wawrinka will have to serve for the match at 5-4. Is there to be another twist?
With Rosol serving to stay in it at 5-3, Wawrinka whistles a forehand wide on match point.
In a match that started yesterday before the rain forced them to come back today, Jack Sock, the 23rd seed, has beaten Robin Haase 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-7, 6-2.
Lukas Rosol is keeping Wawrinka honest. He holds to stay in the fifth set – but Wawrinka still leads 4-3.
It’s all over on Court 1 and home favourite Jeremy Chardy has slain Leonardo Mayer. The Argentinian’s been beaten 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
You can’t always play well. But it helps if you can win when you play badly – and that’s what Stan Wawrinka looks like doing. Rosol, deceived by the flight of a ball that lands just inside the baseline, nets a backhand and Wawrinka breaks for a 2-1 lead in the fifth set.
On Court 6, Adrian Mannarino has beaten Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Over on Suzanne-Lenglen, meanwhile, fourth seed Garbine Muguruza has played badly and won. The Spaniard lost the first set and seemed determined to make life as difficult as possible for herself but in the end she’s knuckled down to beat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
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Stan Wawrinka draws on all his champion qualities to stay in the French Open and force a deciding fifth set, battering down an ace on set point to take it 6-3. He was almost out of it when he was down two break points earlier in the fourth set but he kept battling and you have to fancy him to win from here.
Wawrinka breaks to love! At long last, his backhand clicks into gear as Rosol approaches the net and the champion will serve for the fourth set at 5-3.
Did you know that the defending men’s champion has never lost a first-round match at Roland Garros? I think the last time it happened in a slam was when Lleyton Hewitt lost to Ivo Karlovic at Wimbledon in 2003. Incidentally Karlovic is still going strong - the veteran Croatian is a set up against Albert Montanes on Court 16.
Rosol has drop-shotted to his heart’s content today. It’s been beautiful to watch. Wawrinka hasn’t had an answer . Yet.
Wawrinka saves two break points and holds to lead 3-2 in the fourth set. Rosol would have been on the cusp of victory if he could have taken just one of those chances in that game.
Grigor Dimitrov leads 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 against Victor Troicki, a seed in peril. But 30th seed Jeremy Chardy is up 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 against Leonardo Mayer.
Milos Raonic is safely through to the second round. There was some impressive resistance from Janko Tipsarevic in the dying stages, the Serbian clinging on and forcing a tie-break when Raonic served for the match, but the Canadian was too strong, wrapping up a comprehensive 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 win. He’s a threat.
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And wouldn’t this be a fine achievement?
If Rosol pulls this off, he will have beaten the 2012 champ in his next Major (Nadal at WB) and the 2015 champ in his first match defending
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) May 23, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWM0kF6XMZQ
Rosol clings on to his serve, seeing off four break points. Is this the moment when he really starts to believe?
Wawrinka isn’t going anywhere without a fight - but he’s squandered four break points in the first game of a tense second game in the fourth set. It’s not been his day so far.
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Assuming he makes it to the semis, it would be a big bonus for Andy Murray if Lukas Rosol can finish off Stan Wawrinka here. Murray’s seeded to face Wawrinka in the last four and he’s not always relished playing him.
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Garbine Muguruza may well be back on track at last against Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova, levelling her match on Suzanne-Lenglen after winning the second set 6-3. And Muguruza, who beat Serena Williams here two years ago, has built on that by breaking in the first game of the third set.
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The third set goes to Rosol! He rasps a backhand cross-court for two set points and Wawrinka balloons a backhand past the break point on the first! Rosol leads 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 and he’s a set away from knocking out the champion, who’s looking decidedly rattled now. Dearie me, Wawrinka has been poor. I know he’s unpredictable but this is ridiculous.
Wawrinka roars after a Rosol error makes it 15-30. But the Czech maintains his composure and holds to 30 for a 5-2 lead in the third set. The particularly bad news for Wawrinka is that his backhand’s betraying him.
Rosol grittily holds for 4-1 in the third set. I suppose it’s only two years since Wawrinka was knocked out in the first round by Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. Maybe this isn’t such a shock, then. Meanwhile Barbora Strycova, the 30th seed, has beaten Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 7-5.
A good win for Sloane Stephens: the young American, seeded 19th, beats Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan 6-4, 6-3.
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Lest we forget, Wawrinka had a tough match against Lukas Rosol in Geneva a few days ago. He came through that semi-final in three sets, having dropped the second, and it’s a similar slog for the Swiss today.
Farewell, Sabine Lisicki. World No161 Veronica Cepede Royg has taken all of 59 minutes to knock the former Wimbledon finalist out, beating the German 6-2, 6-2.
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Winning that second set so convincingly doesn’t seem to have done much for Wawrinka, who gives up a woeful, error-strewn game to hand a break to Rosol at the start of the third set. The Czech has a 2-0 lead.
A glimpse into the inconsistency of Grigor Dimitrov: he took the first set 6-2 against Victor Troicki and he’s dropped the second 6-3. Will he ever fulfil his potential? Meanwhile Leonardo Mayer has closed out the second set 6-3 against Jeremy Chardy to level it up on Court 1.
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Crisis over for Garbine Muguruza? Not quite. She broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set, but Anna Karolina Schmiedlova has broken straight back.
They’re all level on Philippe-Chatrier, Wawrinka wrapping up the second set to the tune of 6-1. You’d have to fancy him now. Stan’s stirred.
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Milos Raonic is cruising against Janko Tipsarevic, winning the second set to lead 6-2, 6-3. No drama there. Meanwhile Wawrinka has woken up; he breaks again in the second set to lead 5-1 against Rosol, who’s in dire need of a second win now.
Quite the turnaround on Court 17, where Christina McHale took the first set on a tie-break against Myrtille Georges, who’s responded by winning the second 6-0. Oof.
Jeremy Chardy and Grigor Dimitrov both took the opening set against Leonardo Mayer and Victor Troicki respectively. But the second set isn’t going to plan for either man; Mayer leads 4-1, while Troicki is up a break at 4-3.
A mammoth fourth game in the second set, full of missed opportunities from both men, ends with Wawrinka breaking for a 3-1 lead over Rosol. Is he finding his feet at last? “Allez,” he yelps, really belting it out and prolonging the cry. It feels like a pivotal moment.
I’m back, armed with leek and potato soup, ready to tell you that Garbine Muguruza is a set down against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, who’s won the opener 6-3 against the fourth seed. Interesting. Very interesting. Meanwhile Sabine Lisicki is sinking fast, a set and a break down against Veronica Cepede Royg, while America’s Sloane Stephens has just won the first set 6-4 against Margarita Gasparyan and Jeremy Chardy is a set up against Leonardo Mayer.
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I’m just going to grab some lunch. Back soon.
Looking to serve out the opening set, Rosol coolly rattles into a 30-0 lead. But back comes Wawrinka, ominously winning the next two points. He’s not moving too sharply, though, and Rosol winds up a big forehand, wrongfooting the Swiss to earn his first set point. He takes the risky move of approaching the net, with the ball bouncing up invitingly on the Wawrinka backhand – the ball fizzes past Rosol but when he turns to look over his shoulder, he’s delighted and relieved to see it flash past the baseline! The first set is Rosol’s, 6-4, and Wawrinka is in a spot of bother. Meanwhile Grigor Dimitrov is looking impressive on Court 3, winning the first set 6-2 against an underwhelming Victor Troicki.
Wawrinka holds. He’s hanging in there. But Lukas Rosol will serve for the first set at 5-4.
It’s so often the case: Milos Raonic’s dominance on serve means that he only requires one break to take the set. He wins the opener 6-3 against Janko Tipsarevic and the No8 seed will be anticipating an easy ride from here.
Victor Troicki breaks back against Grigor Dimitrov. And then loses his serve to love. Ah. That wasn’t the plan for the 22nd seed. Dimitrov leads 4-2 on Court 3. I wonder if the rain delay is affecting certain players.
On Court 1, Jeremy Chardy, the 30th seed, leads by a break against Leonardo Mayer. Thought you’d like to know. On Suzanne-Lenglen, meanwhile, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova has broken early on against the 4th seed, Garbine Muguruza. Could we be in for a day of shocks?
And Rosol holds for a 4-2 lead. Wawrinka is all over the place at the moment.
“Come on!” chirps Wawrinka, looking to rouse himself out of his torpor, and he responds by carving out a break point with some thunderous hitting. Rosol saves it with a superb forehand winner down the line, though, and it’s deuce.
Sabine Lisicki doesn’t really like the red stuff. The former Wimbledon finalist is already struggling on Court 15, a break down against Paraguay’s Veronica Cepede Royg.
Pure brilliance from Rosol seals the first break! The underdog keeps his cool to attack a Wawrinka second serve and then catches his Swiss adversary out of position with a deft drop shot for a 3-2 lead in the first set. Is an upset on the cards? Wawrinka is out of sorts so far. It’s early days, mind you.
Milos Raonic is in charge on Court 2. The robotic Canadian breaks for a 3-1 lead over Janko Tipsarevic. On Philippe-Chatrier, Lukas Rosol is pushing for a breakthrough. Wawrinka is looking sluggish. He staved off a break point in the first game and he’s struggling on serve in the fifth game. It’s deuce and Rosol has seen one break point come and go...
Elsewhere Grigor Dimitrov is playing 22nd seed Victor Troicki on Court 3. Dimitrov, who was closing in on a top 10 place two years ago, isn’t even seeded this time. But the 25-year-old Bulgarian has made a promising start today, an early break setting up a 2-0 lead in the first set.
An intriguing contest on Court 2, where the rising Milos Raonic is taking on Janko Tipsarevic, whose career was put on hold by a foot injury that could have led to retirement. I say foot injury - he had to have a benign tumour removed. Tipsarevic has been a top 10 player in the past and it’s been a long road back for the Serbian. He’ll probably just be delighted to be playing a grand slam. It’s unlikely he’ll be sharp enough to cope with Raonic today. But what a story it would be if he does beat the Canadian.
Play has begun on the show courts and the outside courts. Wawrinka, remember, warmed up for this event by beating Marin Cilic in the final of the Geneva Open. But his results have been a little patchy this year. He was beaten by Juan Monaco in Rome and by Nick Kyrgios in Madrid. Still, he’s off to a decent start here, saving a break point to win the first game on Philippe-Chatrier.
Tok! Tok! Tok! Under grey skies, they’re knocking up.
The following matches have been cancelled because of the inclement weather today:
Cancelled matches (1/2)
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2016
Cornet-Flipkens
Ivanovic-Dodin
Svitolina-Cirstea
CSN-Siniakova
Jankovic-Maria
Rodionova-Konjuh
Zheng-Cibulkova#RG16
Cancelled matches (2/2)
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2016
Cuevas-Kamke
Townsend-Hesse
Nara-Allertova
Wang-Andrianjafitrimo
Chung-Halys#RG16
Here come the players! Lukas Rosol – I don’t need to tell you about his biggest achievement to date, do I? – is on Philippe-Chatrier and he’s followed by Stan Wawrinka, the defending champion. There aren’t many people in the stands yet, so the players are only greeted by a smattering of applause. But maybe the fans are disappointed that Wawrinka isn’t wearing his pyjama shorts this year.
Tournament director Guy Forget has been chatting to the press. “It’s urgent to build a roof by respect for our audience,” he says, before revealing that red tape is getting in the way of all that. Ah.
The covers are off. The ball kids are getting ready. It’s almost time.
“Dustin Brown is clearly the greatest showboater on the tour. an utter genius when he’s on form, check this out from yesterday,” says Pete Jones.
That’s rather spectacular.
Slowly, slowly, wonderfully, the covers are coming off. We might have some tennis soon! If so, it will be followed by more rain.
It appears that there’s some movement at last. Keep scrubbing!
This is what we like to see! Bring it on. #RG16 https://t.co/q3Rf0oeYN9
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2016
This is absolutely magnificent. Carlos Berloq loses it after losing the second point of the match.
Berlocq puts some serious importance on making a good start to the match. This is the 2nd point! (Via @service_box) https://t.co/GyJe9DsdWd
— Calvin Betton (@Calvbetton) May 23, 2016
Kevin Mitchell isn’t optimistic about the chances of play starting any time soon.
#weather Right now the weather in Paris, France is Light Rain and 53° #RG16 say 1pm start. @weatherchannel says I don't think so...
— kevin mitchell (@kevinmitchell50) May 23, 2016
The latest weather update indicates that there will be no play before 12pm BST (1pm in Paris). Il pleut. Il pleut beaucoup! Gah.
Pas de match avant 13h // no start before 1PM #RG16 🌂
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2016
“As a fan from the US, has tennis become more popular in the UK due to Murray’s success?” says Olga. “That does not seem to be the case in the US. ESPN is reducing its coverage of tennis, NBC’s coverage is embarrassing. In terms of favourites, Djokovic has to be the favourite, but Murray has a real chance. I would place Stan and Rafa at the next level. Sleepers could be Nishikori, Thiem, and Kyrgios. The weather looks bad most of the day. Why are there no lights at least in Paris? I would love to see Rafa win La Decima, but sadly don’t see it. Andy’s win would be great too.”
I’m not sure if tennis has become more popular because of Murray. After all, who can forget the thrill of watching Tim Henman lose in the semi-finals of Wimbledon year after year, before watching Tim Henman lose in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon year after year, then the second round, and finally the first round? Admittedly, though, the emergence of Murray has allowed us to discover things like the Australian Open and the French Open and the US Open and the Davis Cup and the Olympics and Masters events, tournaments that most Brits who weren’t alive in the 1930s had never heard of before, say, 2005.
In the spirit of open journalism, can anyone recommend a summer coat for me?
Nick Kyrgios. He loves a tweener. Here’s one from the little scamp’s victory yesterday.
Vous l'avez manqué hier? @NickKyrgios a régalé le court n°1 d'un "tweener". A t-il remporté le point? #RG16 https://t.co/Iw9pL3eoyE
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2016
Updated
The Guardian’s tennis correspondent, Kevin ‘Kev’ Mitchell, is living it up in Paris at the moment. That’s not news. But this is: his preview of today’s rain-soaked action. In a disappointing development, Wawrinka yesterday resisted the temptation to start a war of words with Djokovic, instead saying that the world No1 is the favourite to win this title. Djokovic is due to face Rafael Nadal in the semis, having crunched the nine-time champion in the quarters last year. Would you give a revived Nadal any hope against the best player in the world this year?
Current mood:
💤💤😲😲🌨🌨💧💧☔️☔️👎👎👎
— Kei Nishikori (@keinishikori) May 23, 2016
While we wait, let’s relive the greatest weather forecast of all time.
Preamble
Look, I could begin by trumpeting Andy Murray’s chances of winning his first French Open. The world No2 was victorious against Novak Djokovic in Rome last week and begins his campaign against the veteran Czech, Radek Stepanek. We could move on to defending champ, Stan Wawrinka, who will be taking on Lukas Rosol. Heather Watson returns a break down in the third set of her match against Nicole Gibbs, who’s serving at 2-1. We could have matches involving Kei Nishikori, Garbine Muguruza, Kyle Edmund, Agniezska Radwanska, Milos Raonic, Simona Halep, Roberta Vinci, Grigor Dimitrov and Sara Errani to look forward to. But it’s raining, the covers are on at Roland Garros, Eurosport are showing a repeat of last year’s men’s final and play isn’t due to start until 11.30am BST at the earliest. Bah!
Updated
