That’s it from us too. Thanks for reading, and we’ll be back again tomorrow. Have a pleasant evening.
And that’s that for the evening. The players and the umpire have a quick chat, and they decide to call it and go for a rest. Smashing tennis, and surprisingly the crowd take the decision pretty well. Maybe a few more people will be able to get in for the conclusion of this one tomorrow.
Wawrinka wins the second set!
Dimitrov goes long and wide with a cross-court backhand so Wawrinka wins the tie-break, and is 7-6, 7-6 ahead!
Updated
Enda Murphy emails in, live from Roland Garros, about what was said to Dimitrov a few minutes ago: “Here live. The heckle was ‘come on baby Federer’!”
Dimitrov then takes it to a tie-break with a whistling forehand down the line. If Wawrinka wins this one too, might they stay on for another set?
Dimitrov reacts to someone in the crowd by saying “Do I look like a baby to you?” Would love to know what the heckle was.
Wawrinka holds to go within a game of taking the second set, and tries to whoop up the crowd a little. That may be a factor in the crowd doing a Mexican wave between games. You don’t like to see scenes like that.
Dimitrov, who’s wearing a top that looks like one of Tony Soprano’s polo shirts, holds under some pressure to make it 5-5 in this second set. He’s just tried a ‘tweener’, unsuccessfully and probably quite needlessly, but a few people in the crowd laughed so who’s the real winner here? Remember Wawrinka won the first set 7-6.
Eight games in and it’s still all-square, 4-4 in Wawrinka vs Dimitrov, and everyone has just been startled by the loudest, most aggressive OUT call you’ve ever heard. Luckily for the line judge in question, it was out.
It’s all going to serve so far in Wawrinka v Dimitrov, both players trading terrific blows. It’s a belter so far, but how much more play will we get in tonight? The boos from outside from people unable to get in appear to have stopped, too.
Updated
Konta only took 54 minutes to clean that match out. “I had a lot of things go my way,” she says, rather modestly. She’s the first British woman to reach the last 16 at Roland Garros in 36 years, apparently. Fair play.
Wawrinka wins the first set 7-6
Big Stan takes the first set over Dimitrov, that tie-break dinging and donging but ultimately going the way of the Swiss. Not sure how much more play will be possible this evening, as it’s looking fairly gloomy out there.
Jo Konta beats Kuzmova 6-2, 6-1
That was clinical from Konta, thrashing her opponent and skipping off into the Paris evening. She’ll now face 24th seed Donna Vekic in the last 16, who beat 15th seed Belinda Bencic earlier.
Updated
Konta has broken again, and is now serving for the match. Perhaps she has dinner planned at Brassiere Julien.
The tie-break between Wawrinka and Dimitrov is a super tight one so far: 4-4 with some banging baseline drives exchanged.
Kuzmova wins a game but Konta, possibly furious at her impertinence, flays her to love in the following game and takes a 4-1 lead. Worth noting that she’s had a virus and theoretically isn’t at 100%, although you wouldn’t think it the way she’s playing here.
Wawrinka is now serving to stay in the first set against Dimitrov...and he does, with Dimitrov sticking a backhand into the tramlines and we have a tie break.
I don’t know if Kuzmova is injured, but she’s not looking 100%. Konta breaks in the second game of the second set and holds twice, which the shrewd among you will conclude means she’s now 6-2, 3-0 ahead and on her way to an early night.
Wawrinka comes back, muscling his way to a serve hold and making it 5-5 in the first. Stu Seaman, watching from Court Simonne-Mathieu, tells us that plenty of people are watching from the Chartiere balcony.
Konta wins the first set 6-2
With too much power for her opponent Viktoria Kuzmova, the British No.1 barrels through the first set and looks in very good order to make short work of her match.
Updated
A lot of people might be trying to watch him but things are going south in a significant way for Wawrinka. He’s 5-4 down and Dimitrov goes 0-30 up on his serve...
Hopefully Kevin Mitchell isn’t among the booers. Here’s his verdict on the day’s action so far.
Ah, this seems to be the answer, re: booing and whistling. This match was moved after the fixture pile-up on Lenglen, and the locals appear not to be happy about it. Not like the French Open crowd to get snippy. Although you can see their point this time.
Crazy scenes outside court one. Seemingly the entire Lenglen crowd is outside and booing at the stadium because they can’t see Wawrinka-Dimitrov, which was moved from Lenglen. Barely any room to move.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) May 31, 2019
It’s all going to serve after Konta’s early break on Court Simonne Mathieu, as she leads 4-2 in the first set.
That ding-dong tussle went the way of Dimitrov, so he’s 4-3 up in the first over Wawrinka. There seems to be a load of booing and whistling coming from another court, but I can’t quite figure out which one: so if anyone is at Roland Garros and either knows, or is doing the booing, drop me a line.
Stephens overcomes those iffy patches and has closed our her match, beating Hercog 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, holding serve with a cracking cross-court forehand and pumping her fists towards the crowd.
Well, it’s very rapidly gone wrong for Wawrinka. From 2-1 ahead he’s now been broken back by Dimitrov, the score now 3-3 with a ding-dong tussle in the seventh game. Life does indeed come at you fast.
Konta has started like a train, breaking in the second game against Kuzmova, sealing it with a whipper of a cross-court backhand, now 3-0 ahead in the first. Elsewhere Stephens is flirting with the sticky stuff again, having been broken and her lead pegged back to 4-3, but she holds with a forehand and takes a 5-3 lead, with Hercog serving to stay in the match.
It was noted earlier that Sloane Stephens had made life a little sticky for herself by losing the second set to Polona Hercog, but she has extracted herself from the treacle and is 4-1 ahead and serving for 5-1 in the third. Meanwhile Konta vs Kuzmova is just starting, and a baby is crying on Court 1 where Wawrinka is 2-1 up in the first with a break.
Evening all. The early news from that Wawrinka v Dimitrov game is that the Swiss tank has broken in the very first game of the match. An early sign that this one could be a pretty brief affair, or merely the promise of more surprises ahead. Who knows? Any thoughts or opinions, bung them to Nick.Miller.casual@theGuardian.com.
Leo Mayer has beaten the French scrapper Nicolas Mahut 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6. He finishes it off with a backhand into the wide open court and seals his place in the fourth round. He’ll play the winner of the match between Stan Wawrinka and Grigor Dimitrov, which should be a cracker. Mayer’s victory also means it’s time for Johanna Konta to take on Viktoria Kuzmova. My esteemed colleague Nick Miller will take you through the rest of the action. Bye!
Rafael Nadal beats David Goffin 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Goffin drills a backhand wide and Nadal, who hasn’t lost a set this early since 2013, is through to the fourth round. It’s ten years since the Spaniard lost to Robin Soderling; he’s survived a minor scare this time.
Updated
Rafa Nadal is looking comfortable now. He leads 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 5-2 and David Goffin must hold to keep this going.
Stan Wawrinka’s match against Grigor Dimitrov has been moved from Suzanne-Lenglen to Court 1. There have been a lot of long bouts today and it’s taking a toll on the schedule.
Sloane Stephens has got herself into a pickle. The seventh seed served for the match at 6-3, 5-4, but she wasted match points and ended up dropping the second set to Polona Hercog, who took it 7-5.
Normal service is resumed on Philippe-Chatrier. Rafa Nadal breaks to lead 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 3-1. David Goffin’s had his fun.
They’re going the distance on Court 14. Corentin Moutet has won the fourth set 7-5 against Juan Ignacio Londero.
David Goffin is starting to irritate Rafa Nadal. The Belgian’s aiming for the lines. Nadal will need his best tennis to stop the Goffin surge in its tracks.
Oh dear. Sloane Stephens just served for the match against Polona Hercog. She had match points. She did not take them. She’s been broken. It’s 5-5 in the second set.
Donna Vekic has secured a comprehensive 6-4, 6-1 win over Belinda Bencic. That means the Croatian is through to face Johanna Konta or Victoria Kuzmova next.
Serving for the set, David Goffin comes up with his first double-fault of the match at 15-0. But he’s taking risks now. Punchy tennis makes it 30-15. Then he lashes a short forehand away to earn two set points. Nadal nets a backhand and Goffin takes the third set 6-4! How dramatic! Here, did you know it’s 10 years to the day since Nadal lost to Robin Soderling here? Nadal leads 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, but this just got interesting.
Updated
All of a sudden David Goffin, who’s been playing well in the third set, finds himself with two break points at 4-4. He can’t take the first, though, fluffing a return. But he takes the second with a vicious forehand winner to break Nadal for the first time today! The Belgian will serve for the third set.
Updated
Leonardo Mayer is busy annoying Parisians on Simonne-Mathieu. He leads 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 against Nicolas Mahut.
On Court 1 the first set goes to Donna Vekic. 6-4. Belinda Bencic has work to do.
The winner of the match on Court 14 will face Rafa Nadal or David Goffin . Juan Ignacio Londero leads 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 against France’s Corentin Moutet.
Stat!
I wondered when Nishikori last went through the first 3 rounds at a Slam without dropping a set.
— Ravi Ubha (@raviubha) May 31, 2019
Came at the French Open in 2015.
Sloane Stephens gets there in the end, serving it out to take the first set 6-3. She’s a set away from a fourth-round match against Garbine Muguruza. That would be a good contest.
Updated
Polona Hercog is hanging on against Sloane Stephens. The Slovenian saves three set points and holds to trail 3-5 in the first set on Suzanne-Lenglen.
Rafa Nadal leads 6-1, 6-3 against David Goffin. Yeah yeah, well done.
After a long run of men’s matches, attention can switch back to the women. Sloane Stephens, the No7 seed, is already a break up on Suzanne-Lenglen, while there’s an intriguing match between two players who could easily become grand slam champions in the future: Belinda Bencic and Donna Vekic. The latter has an early break on Court 1.
Kei Nishikori beats Laslo Djere 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 4-6, 8-6
After four hours and 26 minutes of topsy-turvy tennis a gutted Djere sends a final backhand long and Nishikori is through to the fourth round. That’s a brutal defeat for Djere, who led by two breaks in the fifth set. But give credit to Nishikori. The game might not be there at the moment, but there’s no doubting his heart. However he’ll need to recover quickly before facing Benoit Paire on Saturday.
Updated
Laslo Djere holds for 6-6 in the fifth set against Kei Nishikori. The Serbian fans are giving him tremendous encouragement on Court 1, where they’ve been going for four hours and 20 minutes.
By the way that was Roger Federer’s 400th grand slam match. Wonder if he’ll make it to 4000.
In other news Rafa Nadal took that first set 6-1 against David Goffin. He’s mauling the 27th seed.
Roger Federer beats Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-1, 7-6
Federer saves a set point with a serve-volley combo. Then he bangs down an ace to earn a third match point. Yet Ruud saves it. On they go. 8-8. But then Ruud makes a crucial error on his serve to hand Federer a fourth chance. This time he finds the mark with a smash to earn his spot in the fourth round. Ruud can be proud of his efforts - he’s smiling as he meets his conqueror at the net - but there was no stopping Federer in the end. He’s yet to drop a set. His Roland Garros return isn’t going badly at all.
Updated
Casper Ruud saves a match point on Roger Federer’s serve. Then he saves another on his own. It’s 6-6 in the tie-break - it was 6-4 to Federer - and the Norwegian upstart has no intention of going anywhere just yet.
Roger Federer comes through deuce to earn a third-set tie-break against Casper Ruud. Elsewhere Rafa Nadal is making mincemeat out of poor David Goffin.
Updated
It’s the Japanese fans who are making all the noise on Court 1 now! Laslo Djere was two breaks up in the fifth set against Kei Nishikori, but he hasn’t managed to hold on to his lead. Nishikori got one back and he’s just broken again thanks to a wild forehand from his Serbian opponent. Nishikori will serve at 4-4 in front of an increasingly boisterous crowd.
Casper Ruud leads 6-5 in the third set against Roger Federer, who needs to hold to force a tie-break. Federer’s not had it all his own way against the Norwegian youngster.
Updated
Nicolas Mahut is a set up against Leo Mayer on Simonne-Mathieu. The French veteran is having a whale of a time this week.
That Nadal chap’s broken already against David Goffin. I’ve got my eye on the Spaniard. Think this could be his year.
Caspar Ruud has been going for broke in the third set and his gutsy approach is threatening to pay off. Yet Roger Federer can always rely on his serve. An ace gets him out of danger when he was facing a break point that would have given Ruud a chance to serve for the set. Federer holds for 6-3, 6-1, 4-4.
Updated
Laslo Djere comes up with a magnificent pass to break for a second time in the fifth set against Kei Nishikori. He leads 4-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 3-0, and the Serbian fans on Court 1 are loving it.
Laslo Djere has landed the first blow in the fifth set against Kei Nishikori. The 31st seed has broken in the first game of the decider.
A man called Rafael Nadal has arrived on Suzanne-Lenglen. Apparently he’s won a few trophies here. Will try to find out more about that. Might be worth keeping an eye on how he gets on against David Goffin, then.
The reason I called news of Federer being broken “mildly diverting” is because I expected him to break back straight away. And he has broken back straight away. It’s 2-2 in the third set.
Shock! Horror! Kei Nishikori has been dragged into a fifth set by Laslo Djere. I’ll try to contain my surprise. That’s so unlike Nishikori.
Meanwhile Casper Ruud has broken at the start of the third set against Roger Federer. That’s a mildly diverting development.
Garbine Muguruza beats Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-3
A big backhand earns Muguruza two match points. She wastes the first with a double-fault. She takes the second, though, and sails into the fourth round in very convincing fashion. The former champion will play Sloane Stephens or Polona Hercog next.
Updated
Garbine Muguruza is starting to wallop that tennis ball. She’s mainlining winners. Always a great sight. She’s brilliant when she gets going, though that might not be a view shared by Elina Svitolina at the moment. The Ukrainian led by a break in the second set, but she’s been under pressure for a while. Serving at 3-4, she finds herself down two break points and concedes the second with an errant backhand. Muguruza will serve for the match.
Lovely tennis from Garbine Muguruza sees her cancel out a break for Elina Svitolina midway through the second set on Philippe-Chatrier. The Spaniard volleys smartly to make it 6-3, 3-3. Elsewhere Roger Federer is into a two-set lead over Caspar Ruud. He leads 6-3, 6-1.
Roger Federer just did a double-fault! Not that it matters. A crisp serve on the next point is enough for him to hold for 6-3, 5-0.
Casper Ruud’s father played in the French Open when Roger Federer made his main draw debut back in 1999. Twenty years ago! Makes you think, right? Sort of. Anyway Ruud Sr’s son isn’t faring well against the king of tennis, who has a handsome 6-3, 3-0 lead on Suzanne-Lenglen.
Garbine Muguruza is seeded 19th, Elina Svitolina ninth. It feels the rankings aren’t entirely reflective, though. Is Svitolina really a whole ten places better than Muguruza, the winner of two grand slams? Svitolina’s never even been in the final of a major. Ultimately it tells you a lot about Muguruza’s inconsistency. Svitolina’s a good player, especially on clay, and could win this tournament one day. But it’s really hard to accept Muguruza being so low down the rankings. She isn’t doing herself justice.
Don’t be so modest, Will. You did great.
This is great banter, it really is.
Anyway, what else is going on? Garbine Muguruza, the 2016 champion, won the first set of her match against Elina Svitolina 6-3. Kei Nishikori is 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 up against Laslo Djere.
Jacob has returned from lunch, which is great news for all. Bye.
Federer gets inside the baseline on the second serve, allowing him to get on top of it early to bash a forehand past Ruud. The Norwegian is an aggressive hitter, which is causing Federer problems. The game is taken to deuce thanks to a wayward backhand from Ruud across court. Federer picks up the advantage but whacks one into the net when under little to no pressure. Ruud gets ahead but Federer finds the line with a lovely sweeping forehand to take us back to deuce. After a few times of asking, Federer takes the set with a smash. He leads 1-0.
New balls do not bring good fortune to Federer as he whacks one long and then another into the net. He levels it at 30:30 after a complete mishit of a bouncing ball from Ruud. Federer then finds the net again after a fierce rally. The break point is quickly annulled as Ruud can only find the net. The new balls certainly have some bounce. Deuce goes the way of Federer. Federer leads 5-3.
Updated
Federer goes into a 30:0 lead on Ruud’s serve but the Norwegian bounces back by probing his more senior opponent’s backhand before moving onto the forehand. Federer gets the chance of a break, he takes a win lovely backhand from the baseline which the stretching Ruud cannot reach. Federer leads 4-3.
Updated
Federer knows he is in a game here but he is certainly the best at managing tough occasions like this. He nails his second ace of the game and it sets the tone for the game, as he levels things at 3-3.
Pablo Carreño Busta retires against Benoît Paire
Carreño Busta is forced to call it quits due to injury.
Ruud not getting many first serves in and it costs him with a double fault to level things at 30:30. He does not let it affect him, taking the next point with a great forehand across court. Ruud takes a 3-2 lead thanks to a confident shot past Federer’s forehand.
The umpire gets out of her chair to rule Federer has gone long but he quickly recovers to earn the advantage with some smart hitting around the court. Both are hitting it well from the back of the court, maybe Federer is little more composed at the moment, proved by a winning drop shot to take the game and level it at 2-2.
Ruud has hit quite a few long already. It looks like he is really trying to put pressure on Federer, which is the right thing to do, at the baseline but he is yet to find his accuracy. Federer hits a couple into the net to aid the Norwegian, who completes the job with a big serve the Swiss can’t return. Ruud leads 2-1.
Updated
Federer’s first service sees Ruud smack a through long and then the Swiss picking up an ace. He wins it to love. Easy peasy. All level at 1-1.
Ruud gets us going but sends one very long to gift Federer the first point of the match. He quickly settles and moves Federer around, allowing him to smash a forehand into space to level it. A good rally is finished off by Federer whacking one out of Ruud’s reach. The Norwegian is certainly hitting it well but he will need more than that to stay in this but it gets him to serving for the opening game, winning it with a great backhand. Ruud leads 1-0.
The players are warming up, while a man is getting the fans going with some cracking chat in French. Everyone appreciates it, so I’ll assume it was all very positive.
Ruud and Federer are out on court. It’s pretty warm out there, so Federer will be looking to keep this game short and certainly will have a plan. Ruud is coached by his dad. My father used to practise rugby scrummages against me. Needless to say, the result was not me becoming a professional.
Martin Klizan beats Lucas Pouille (7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 9-7)
An impressive win for Klizan who gets the better of Pouille at his home Grand Slam. It went all the way but Klizan just about had enough.
Updated
Ahead of Konta’s match later ... have a read of this:
Casper Ruud is yet to drop a set in this tournament but I have a sneaky feeling Roger Federer might put an end to the Norwegian’s record.
If you do not want to be nice, though, feel free to send your abuse to the details provided above.
I’m going to grab some lunch and leave you in the hands of Will Unwin. Be nice to Will.
Anastasija Sevastova beats Elise Mertens 6-7, 6-4, 11-9
Sevastova, hitting the ball ferociously now, thumps a volley away for three match points. She’s fought so hard to get to this point and she clambers over the line when a devastated Elise Mertens, who was denied by Sevastova brilliance on all her five match points, fires a forehand wide.
Updated
Elise Mertens is the first to blink! After failing to take five match points there’s a feeling of inevitability about her losing her serve. Anastasija Sevastova, spiky and stubborn, breaks to lead 6-7, 6-4, 10-9 and will serve for the right to play Marketa Vondrousova in round four.
Lucas Pouille is out. The Frenchman, seeded 22nd, has lost 7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 9-7 to Martin Klizan, the world No55.
Sevastova survives another hold for 9-9. The 5 match points saved: Insane forehand winner on the line, forehand drive volley winner, great drop shot, unreturned serve, backhand winner on the line.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) May 31, 2019
They’re past the three-hour mark on Suzanne-Lenglen. Elise Mertens leads 9-8 in the third set. They’re past the four-mark on Philippe-Chatrier. Martin Klizan is serving to go 8-7 up against Lucas Pouille.
Updated
Pablo Carreno Busta has levelled it up on Simonne-Mathieu. He’s taken the second set 6-4 against Benoit Paire. Tense times for French fans, who will also be alarmed to hear Lucas Pouille is serving to stay in the tournament on Phillipe-Chatrier. Martin Klizan leads 7-6 in the fifth set.
Over on Court 12, an epic has ended. Lesia Tsurenko, the 27th seed, has beaten Aleksandra Krunic 5-7, 7-5, 11-9 in a match that took three hours and three minutes to settle. Elise Mertens and Anastasija Sevastova could be heading the same way on Suzanne-Lenglen. It’s utterly brutal now. Sevastova is serving to stay in at 6-7 in the third set.
Updated
Anastasija Sevastova saves another match point and holds for 6-6 in the third set. It’s intense on Suzanne-Lenglen. Elise Mertens will leave with a lot of regrets if she loses this one.
Updated
Kei Nishikori’s extra class has told on Court 1. The seventh seed has won the first set 6-4 against Laslo Djere.
Serving at 4-5 in the third set, Anastasija Sevastova saves a match point with a huge forehand. She’s pumped up now. Moments later Elise Mertens suffers a heavy fall at the back of the court. Thankfully she’s not hurt. On they go.
The locals are enjoying themselves on Simonne-Mathieu. Benoit Paire has won the first set 6-2 against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain.
Updated
It’s very unpredictable on Suzanne-Lenglen. They’re back on serve, with Sevastova serving at 3-4 in the third set.
Lucas Pouille was a break down in the fourth set when they resumed on Philippe-Chatrier. But the 22nd seed has just rattled through four straight games to force a decider. What did Martin Klizan have for breakfast? A full English?
It’s entertaining on Suzanne-Lenglen. Elise Mertens and Anastasija Sevastova are trading blows and breaks. Mertens is a break up in the third, but the drop-shotting Sevastova is threatening to get back into it.
Updated
The next match on Philippe-Chatrier is that one had to be called off because of bad light last night. It resumes with Martin Klizan leading 7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 3-2 against Lucas Pouille, the 22nd seed.
Marketa Vondrousova’s fourth-round opponent will be Elise Mertens or Anastasija Sevastova. They’ve gone to a third set on Suzanne-Lenglen. Sevastova just won the second 6-4.
Karolina Pliskova’s exit ensures Naomi Osaka will still be the world No1 after the French Open. Given she won the Italian Open earlier this month that’s a huge disappointment for Pliskova. Yet Petra Martic has been in excellent form on clay. This is the third time the 31st seed has reached the fourth round at Roland Garros. She’s a dangerous customer on this surface.
Marketa Vondorousova, the 19-year-old Czech, is through to the fourth round of the French Open for the first time. She made the last 16 at Flushing Meadows last year and now she’s done it at Roland Garros after an excellent 6-4, 6-4 win over Carla Suarez Navarro. Vondrousova’s win-loss record is 24-5 since February. Not bad.
Updated
Petra Martic beats Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-3
Serving for the match, Martic finds herself down 15-30 as Pliskova goes on the offensive. Pliskova senses nerves in her opponent, some passivity, and she earns two break points with a crushing forehand winner. Martic saves the first, Pliskova sending a backhand return wide. Then Pliskova lets her off the hook on the second. Martic is at the net after a poor drop shot, but Pliskova doesn’t do enough with a forehand, allowing the Croatian to force deuce with a granite volley. This is tense. Pliskova earns a third chance with another vicious forehand. Martic comes up witha good serve out wide. Pliskova stops, thinking it was wide. Martic ignores her and wins the point with a forehand for deuce. Soon Martic has a match point after a late call on an errant Pliskova forehand. What next? An ace, that’s what! Martic has knocked the second seed out. A lot of people had Pliskova down to win this tournament, but it was an erratic performance from the Czech.
Updated
Petra Martic breaks again! She leads 6-3, 5-3 and will serve for the match.
Er, Petra Martic breaks back. A clever spinning backhand unsettles Pliskova, who nets a forehand on the run. Three-all in the second set.
Petra Martic is going through a bit of a slump at the moment. A 6-3, 2-0 lead is no more. She’s lost three straight games and finds herself a break down in the second set. Elsewhere Anastasija Sevastova, who lost the first set on a tie-break, is 3-1 up in the second set against Elise Mertens.
On Suzanne-Lenglen a dominant tie-break - only three points given away - helps Elise Mertens take the first set against the No12 seed Anastasija Sevastova. Meanwhile Marketa Vondrousova has battled back to win the first set 6-4 against Carla Suarez Navarro.
Petra Martic lets her level dip at the moment. Karolina Pliskova breaks straight back. Martic leads 6-3, 2-1.
Petra Martic is loving this. She’s tormenting Karolina Pliskova, who has no idea how to handle the Croatian. Facing two break points, Pliskova tries a drop shot, but Martic is there to knock a backhand down the line for a 6-3, 2-0 lead.
Updated
Sniff.
.@Simona_Halep hugs Juan Martin del Potro in the press conference room in Paris after she had to wait for his TV interview to finish pic.twitter.com/IBWnDwBJpw
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 30, 2019
Petra Martic, such a good player to watch on her day, earns a set point with a gorgeous backhand lob that Karolina Pliskova can only watch and admire. Pliskova saves it with a brilliant drop shot. Martic carves out another chance with a stinging backhand return. The Croatian takes this one. Pliskova is in big trouble.
Back comes Vondrousova, getting it back on serve against Carla Suarez Navarroo. That’s a task that’s eluding Karolina Pliskova at the moment. The second seed remains a break down to Petra Martic and is serving to stay in the set at 3-5.
Updated
Over on Court Simonne-Mathieu the highly promising Marketa Vondrousova is a break down in the first set to the experienced Carla Suarez Navarro. Big things are expected from Vondrousova in the future, but the 19-year-old Czech is being outplayed by the wily Spaniard at the moment.
It was all going with serve here, helped by Pliskova walloping an ace that Martic gets nowhere near. Martic opens up her body for a forehand smash but sends it well wide. Pliskova hits one long and then another wide to bring Martic back into the game, kindly accepting as she takes it to deuce. Pliskova does not like that and fights back to get advantage but things are straight back to deuce. Pliskova offers up a break with a wide shot across court and then smashes one into the net. Martic leads 4-3.
Updated
Martic herself is very comfortable on her serve, forcing Pliskova into a few little mistakes. Pliskova, though, is really hitting it well and pulls it back to 30:15 with a cracking backhander down the line but she is done by Martic smashing one across court, which just bounces on the line and then taking the game. All square at 3-3 here.
Pliskova is looking pretty impressive on her serve and Martic cannot really cope with it, as Pliskova moves 3-2 thanks to some fierce striking.
Martic does not given an inch in her service game to level things up at 2-2.
Updated
Pliskova is very much in action at Roland Garros and it is going with serve against Martic. Currently Pliskova is 2-1 up in the opening set.
Preamble
Hello. If there’s one thing that’s been missing from the men’s tour in the past two years, other than a fit Andy Murray, it’s a fit Stan Wawrinka. The man with the brutal, beautiful backhand has found it tough since reaching the 2017 French Open final and losing to Rafa Nadal in three sets. A knee injury has taken its time to heal and the sport has suffered as a consequence. Tennis needs Wawrinka. When he’s in the mood and he’s hitting the lines and finding those outrageous angles, there’s no one with a better chance of taking down your Federers, your Nadals and your Djokovices.
The good news is that there have been glimpses of the Wawrinka who beat Djokovic in the 2015 French Open final this week. Up to 28 in the rankings after an encouraging run of form, he looked awesome against Cristian Garin on Wednesday and is likely to take some stopping when he faces former future Roger Federer Grigor Dimitrov in the last match on Suzanne-Lenglen today. Dimitrov had a good and surprising win over Marin Cilic in the second round, but he lost in the first rounds of Wimbledon and the US Open to Wawrinka last year. It should be entertaining. It should be a Wawrinka win.
If it is then that opens up the tantalising possibility of the Swiss facing rising Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round. Drool. But first Tsitsipas has to beat Filip Krajinovic on what promises to be a busy day in the men’s draw. It’s hard to know where to look, you know. Before Stan meets BabyFed Mr Dimitrov, there’s Roger Federer against Casper Ruud, Rafael Nadal against David Goffin, and Kei Nishikori against Laslo Djere. Exciting!
Meanwhile our main focus on the women’s side will fall on Johanna Konta, with the British No1 set to face Slovakia’s Viktoria Kuzmova. Konta had never won a match at the French Open before this week, but the 26th seed has a good chance of reaching the fourth round for the first time. Kuzmova, remember, made it through after Kiki Bertens, the fourth seed, retired early from their second-round match with stomach flu.
Elsewhere Karolina Pliskova, the second seed, will need to be careful against Petra Martic, Sloane Stephens faces Polona Hercoq and there’s an intriguing match between Garbine Muguruza, the 2016 champion, and Elina Svitolina, who’s excellent on clay. Svitolina has a 5-1 record over Muguruza, but there are doubts over the Ukrainian’s fitness. Conclusion: anything could happen.
Play begins at: 10am BST, 11am in Paris.
