Kevin Mitchell's report
As Novak Djokovic departs, so do I. Thanks for following another day at Roland Garros and we will be back tomorrow. Here is a summary of today’s play:
- 7th seed Matteo Berrettini was upset in straight sets by qualifier Daniel Altmaier, who is ranked No 186 and competing in his first ever slam.
- Australian Open champions Novak Djokovic and Sofia Kenin easily reached the fourth round, both improving to 13-1 in slams this year.
- Jelena Ostapenko failed to follow up her win over Karolina Pliskova, losing in straight sets to Paula Badosa. Badosa is also a former junior slam champion born in 1997 but she has had a far more difficult transition to the professional tour.
- Petra Kvitova, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Grigor Dimitrov, Ons Jabeur and Andrey Rublev all reached the second week.
Thrilling tennis by Fiona Ferro!
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 3, 2020
Check out this amazing Shot of the Day by @OPPO.#OPPOxRG20 #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ML61fmK46s
Novak Djokovic comfortably beats Daniel Elahi Galan 6-0 6-3 6-2 to reach round four
Plenty of fun points with a loose Djokovic who amused himself with dropshots and never had to leave first gear, but the gulf between the world number one and the No 153 was far too big. An easy win. Djokovic will face Karen Khachanov in the fourth round.
Novak Djokovic saves two break points to hold for 5-2 in the third set, narrowly avoiding a more complicated set by keeping ahold of his serve. Djokovic saved the first break point with a booming forehand winner and the second with a solid dropshot, just good enough to keep Galan at bay. With some great serving, he now moves to within a game of victory.
Q. You put out a comment on Twitter the other day. Normally you’re pretty reserved and don’t say much politically. What prompted you to make a comment about the Armenian situation?
KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, at the end of the day sometimes you want to express your thoughts, you want to express your feelings. If we talk about what’s happening between Armenia and Azerbaijan, that’s my roots, I always said it. Yeah, it’s really sad to see what’s happening during all those three years, especially right now. People are struggling, fighting. It’s war. It’s the worst what can happen. So I wanted to express my thoughts and my prayers with them.
That’s regarding the first point. Regarding Twitter against Nick, it was nothing personal. I just wanted nothing to say again against Andy, and I totally agree that he deserves full my respects, even more than 100%. I didn’t want actually to argue. I just wanted to tell him to also show respect. Of course, he can express his opinion as well, but maybe more in a nicer way to the guys that you need to show respect. That’s how I was educated. I just wanted to give that point. But that’s it. That was my purpose.
Despite the fact that I was born in Russia, I always say that I have Armenian roots. It hurts to the depths of my soul to look at what is happening in the country, which I love very much.Innocent people and even children are dying!
— Karen Khachanov (@karenkhachanov) October 1, 2020
Stop the war. ARMENIA WANTS PEACE🙏🏻🇦🇲 #NoWar pic.twitter.com/XlNCQzAfkF
The smile. The shot!
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 3, 2020
Take a bow, Galan 👏#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/LUoLMrqvpz
Novak Djokovic tried to raise his intensity again, but this time Galan responded with some decisive tennis himself to secure a good hold. From deuce, Galan produced an excellent wrong-footing crosscourt backhand winner before ending with a big service winner. Djokovic leads 6-0 6-3 *4-2.
On Chatrier, Djokovic continues to easily keep two hands on his break. This time he confirmed the hold to 30 with consecutive aces out wide from the left side. Djokovic leads Galan 6-0 6-3 4-1*. Two games away.
Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the Roland Garros fourth round after Aljaz Bedene retired in their third set match today. In his post-match press conferences he was asked if those press conferences are helpful to him. He had a lot to say:
Q. We ask you questions so that we can write our stories. What do you get out of these post-match news conferences? Does it help you to process your matches? Does it help you to show snippets of your personality?
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I have something interesting to say, I always want to say it. Myself, I was a journalist when I was 11, 12 years old. I had this Facebook page, which I very often updated with news about Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic. The name of it was Tenniscore ITN. I was really into it. Every day after school I would check the results, check the current, latest tennis news. I would update it. It was a lot of fun, I enjoyed doing it.
I really understand journalism and this world. I won’t lie to you, sometimes it’s difficult receiving the same answers, having the same things going on. I kind of find myself repeating the same answers, repetition, over and over again.
I do appreciate journalists that come out a little bit more, I would say, unexpected, ask me some other things that don’t relate or don’t have to do with my tennis match, or maybe have to do with my tennis match but in a way in a deeper sense, and kind of unlock something within me in which I can express myself a little bit more open, provide more information. That’s what it is all about, information, getting the best out of the player, the most out of the player.
Journalism and press and media, I love this a lot. I do understand how it operates, how it works. So for me, you know, I’m a tennis player, and if something works, I’m on the court the next day trying to do the same, trying to do the same thing. For me sometimes there isn’t really much for me to say tactical-wise or match-wise because I’m just trying to follow the things that have been working for me.
I know it can be quite challenging sometimes to come up with something new, new ideas, and new ways to say something. There you have it. It’s a long story. For me personally, yeah, that was a very long answer, which is also at the same time very honest and very blunt.
Novak Djokovic breaks immediately in the third set and he has already established a 3-0 lead.
Galan stood a point from securing a hold at 40-15, only for Djokovic to again crank up the intensity and easily win four points to hold. Djokovic hit two excellent returns from 40-15, immediately forcing two errors from Galan. At deuce, he struck a searing forehand winner. He ended the game by grinding out a backhand error from Galan in a long game. He consolidated the break with a quick love hold. Djokovic leads 6-0 6-3 3-0.
The opening game of the third set was a good representation of the gulf between these two. Djokovic amused himself with a drop shot to lob combination at 15-15, only for Galan to come up with an excellent last ditch passing shot winner. Djokovic then dumped a sloppy, unfocused forehand into the net to face two break points.
Staring down 15-40 and possibly a more complex set, Djokovic tightened up and easily rolled through four points in a row to hold.
Ons Jabeur, already the greatest Arab female player in history, has picked up where she left off in her breakthrough year by reaching the Roland Garros fourth round today for the first time with a great three set win over 8th seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Q. Your team is very vocal, and we can hear them as well. In this environment I have to imagine that could be a double-edged sword, sometimes really great, and I’ve seen players telling their boxes to be quiet. How do you manage that?
ONS JABEUR: I like when they scream. I think they know when I want them to scream, when I want them to be calm. I think they’re doing a really good job. Everyone was hearing them on the TV screaming, asking me who was that.
I like working with my team right now. We have really good, like, conversations after the match. I am talking more because I’m not usually the type to talk more about tennis outside the court. When I lose, they don’t blame me right away. They blame themselves. I do the same, I blame them also, which is good (laughter).
No, we really have a good team now. We are trying to have good results.
Novak Djokovic finally decides to break for a second time and he does so with ease, crunching a forehand down-the-line winner to break for 15 and move up 6-0 6-3 against Daniel Elahi Galan. He is one set away from the fourth round.
Djokovic rolls through another service game to hold for 6-0 5-3*. This is such a funny match to watch because the gulf between Djokovic and Galan is enormous and both players know it.
Djokovic’s focus has wavered at times, as it did on break point in the previous game, here as he squandered two points from 40-0 and on the ample drop shots he has attempted today that he normally wouldn’tbother with. And yet here he is one game away from the set.
Galan saves break point to secure another game, closed off with two big unreturned serves in succession. As Galan tossed the ball high in triumph and smiled at his three successive holds, Djokovic looked a bit irritated. Understandably so. He set up a simple backhand down-the-line on break point, then snatched it wide. Djokovic leads Galan 6-0 *4-3.
While Daniel Elahi Galan has had much more luck on his serve in set two, Novak Djokovic is cruising again on his serve. He moves to a 6-0 4-2 lead, sealed with a heavy point-ending inside-in forehand.
Sofia Kenin is now 13-1 in slams this year (W, R4, R4), which is what Novak Djokovic is aiming for with this match. It is doubtful that anyone on the planet predicted that Kenin and Djokovic would have identical slam records by October. Here is what she said about her 6-2 6-0 win over Irina Bara.
Q. A less dramatic day today out on Chatrier. Can you talk through the match. What do you think was the difference in this match compared to your matches previous that were a little bit more tricky?
SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, well, I mean it wasn’t as dramatic, which I’m quite happy about. I kind of was a little bit tired of those dramatic matches. I just wanted to just try to start off well and finish off really well.
But of course, towards the end I just started getting a little bit careless. I started like doing dropshots towards the end, like just for fun. I was like, Why not? Let’s just do dropshots. But then she obviously picked up her game.
Yeah, it’s nice getting like 12 games in a row, I have to admit.
Updated
A multi-tasking Novak Djokovic.
😂#RG20 (🎥@Eurosport_RU ) pic.twitter.com/h6irAPmSPj
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) October 3, 2020
Plenty of laughs had from all as the players wait for the court maintenance workers to toss on some new clay. The crowd started to cheer “olé” with each shovel of clay, which amused Djokovic enough to pick up a shovel himself and jokingly help the workers himself.
After 12 minutes or so, play resumes with Djokovic holding for 6-0 3-1.
There are now puddles on Court Philippe Chatrier and the court maintenance staff have now covered half of the court as the players wait for the roof to close.
The officials could have started to close the roof while it was drizzling. Instead, they waited until the rain was heavy and the court became dangerous to play. They look very silly and Novak Djokovic was right to be annoyed.
Updated
On Chatrier, Daniel Elahi Galan is finally on the board, taking his first game for 0-6 1-2* against Novak Djokovic.
It is raining quite heavily now and Galan just slipped. Djokovic, who had already asked for the roof to be on, immediately stopped playing.
On Lenglen, play has been suspended and the players have been ushered off the court.
Plenty of Spanish representation on Lenglen as Garbine Muguruza breaks Danielle Collins in the opening game for a *1-0 lead.
While Muguruza is being coached by Conchita Martinez, Collins has unveiled the former top 10 ATP player Nico Almagro as her new coach. Almagro retired last year after a great career. Not many people had this down as his next step.
Nico Almagro, Collins' coach at #RG20. pic.twitter.com/1r7dm5vU0U
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 3, 2020
Less a match than a public guillotining , Djokovic is now up 6-0, 2-0 ....
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) October 3, 2020
Winners in the first set:
Novak Djokovic - 10
Daniel Elahi Galan - 0
Djokovic now leads 8-0. Galan has secured first winner of the set, but not much else.
From Tony:
Hi Tumaini, watching the Kvitova v Fernandez match - while it’s great to see fresh young talent coming through, I am irrationally irritated by Fernandez’s ball bouncing between serves...for that reason alone I would want Kvitova to win, but actually, I also want her to win the whole thing to put the tin lid on her amazing comeback from that dreadful assault and hand injury.
Fair points. Fernandez definitely has more tics between points than most players. She jogs on the spot, she shadow swings and she does indeed bounce the ball a lot between serves. Some players can be annoying, but eventually I have come to conclude that different players just need different routines to keep themselves positive and focused. Her energy is really positive at least.
And yes, I think it has probably been taken for granted how quickly Kvitova returned to the top of the sport after the attempt on her life and how she has managed to remain there ever since. Last year, she went to court to testify against the assailant a few days after she played in the Australian Open final. It is still an incredible story and another slam would be the cherry on top.
Kvitova is genuinely one of the nicest players in the game, so there are definitely many reasons for people to root for her.
Things are going about as well as expected on Chatrier. Novak Djokovic takes the first set 6-0 in 25 minutes over lucky loser Daniel Elahi Galan.
It is drizzling in Paris and Djokovic is understandably not amused by the fact they are playing in the rain while there is a retractable roof above their heads.
Jelena Ostapenko fails to back up her win against Karolina Pliskova as she is ousted 6-4 6-3 by Paula Badosa, a 22 year-old finally coming good years after the hype died down.
Petra Kvitova recovers from 1-5 down to reach the fourth round with a 7-5 6-3 over 18 year-old Leylah Fernandez.
After a difficult start, that was an excellent performance from Kvitova in conditions that clearly do not suit her. Instead of hitting herself out of the match, she searched for solutions, problem solved really well and dragged herself back into the match. We will be seeing a lot more of Fernandez in the future.
Petra Kvitova now leads 7-5 5-3 against Leylah Fernandez on Lenglen. Kvitova ran with the momentum for as long as she could, winning 9 games in a row in total from 1-5 down to 7-5 *3-0.
Things have become much tighter since then, with Fernandez fighting back to take one of the breaks. Despite how difficult this has been, she is forcing Kvitova to win this, and that is encouraging to see from a youngster.
Some signs of life from Jelena Ostapenko, who has found her range with her back to the wall. She was down *4-1 in the second set before recovering one of the breaks. Paula Badosa now leads 6-4 *4-3 with one break and some tense moments ahead.
Novak Djokovic has started very well on Chatrier, breaking in the opening game before immediately consolidating for a 2-0 lead.
A great win for Karen Khachanov, who eventually saw of Cristian Garin 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-2 to reach the fourth round for the second consecutive year.
Garin is one of the most notable performers on clay this year and it took a quality performance to beat him. The problem is that the Russian will probably have to play 50 times better in the next round because he will face Novak Djokovic if the number one sees off No 153 Daniel Elahi Galan.
Novak Djokovic just starting against Colombian lucky loser Daniel Elahi Galan. A great story for Galan, who fell in the final qualifying round, reached the main draw after late withdrawals and then reached the third round, beating Britain’s Cameron Norrie en-route. One would think that this is a step too far for him, but they play for a reason.
Updated
Over on Simonne-Mathieu, Jelena Ostapenko is in a battle against Spain’s Paula Badosa Gibert, of Spain. Badosa now leads 6-4 3-1*.
The pair are the same age, both born in 1997, and they know each other well from the junior circuit. Ostapenko won 2014 junior Wimbledon, Badosa won the junior title at Roland Garros in 2015.
Their divergent paths are a reflection of how tough it is to transition on the main tour and how many talented players slip through the cracks. While Ostapenko almost immediately reached the top 50 and won this tournament aged 20, after a few promising results early in her career Badosa badly struggled as she attempted to reach the top of the sport. She has been open about suffering from depression under the pressure and expectations on her shoulders. Many talented young players don’t bounce back from that, but she has established herself in the top 20 and is slowly finding her way.
Ostapenko was excellent against Pliskova, but it is difficult to call this performance so far a shock. Of course she can produce one big match on a big stage, but how many times can she replicate it?
Team Tsitsipas is growing...@Ons_Jabeur joins the Tsitsi-Mask club!@StefTsitsipas #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/HOXGKs5K0v
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 3, 2020
Fiona Ferro won the battle of Chatrier, recovering after losing the second set against Patricia Maria Tig to reach her first slam fourth round with a 7-6(7) 4-6 6-0 win over Patricia Maria Tig.
Not many people know 23 year-old Ferro, but they will soon enough. She represents the next generation of French tennis and there is plenty to her game: she has weapons, variety and she is a decent athlete. As evidenced by her shaking off the pressure to reach the fourth round of her home slam, there is plenty to like about her mentality, too. She faces Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin next, which will surely also take place on Chatrier.
As that intense set concluded on Lenglen, plenty of other things are happening in Paris. 15th seed Karen Khachanov now leads 20th seed Cristian Garin 6-2 3-6 6-4 2-1*, on serve in the fourth. Garin faced double break point at the beginning of the fourth set but he boldly saved both to remain in the match.
Petra Kvitova moves up 7-5 on Leylah Fernandez, completing her recovery from 1-5 and then two set points down.
Fernandez fought to the end in a long deuce game that swung from three set points to two break points for the Canadian. But Kvitova produced a piece of magic on both break points, drilling two point-ending backhand down the line strikes to scupper the danger. She sealed the set with a third winning backhand down-the-line in short succession.
The surface and conditions do not favour Petra Kvitova at all, but it is nice to see that her ambition remains the same.
Updated
Sadly for Fernandez, she did not react well. After a drop shot error followed by a double fault to bring up 0-40, Fernandez saved two break points before double faulting for a second time on the third break point.
From 1-5 down, Petra Kvitova will serve for the set at 6-5.
With a delicate backhand drop volley, Petra Kvitova wins her fourth game in a row to level Leylah Fernandez at 5-5 from 1-5 down.
Incredible work from Kvitova there. Really, the only thing Fernandez did wrong was miss a routine forehand at 5-4 30-30 in the previous game. Otherwise, Kvitova has problem-solved extremely well in this set and the past half hour has been such high quality from both.
It will be really interesting to see how the 18 year-old reacts to this setback.
Updated
Petra Kvitova has now won three games in a row against Leylah Fernandez to put the match back on serve from 1-5 down.
Really, that was just great play from a champion. Kvitova tried quite a few different things - she came to the net, she hit a couple of drop shots and she hit to bigger targets. Eventually she found her rhythm.
At 3-5, Fernandez did not do too much wrong at all, wrestling herself to set point with an excellent drop shot. From set point down, Kvitova crunched an inside-out backhand return winner, then she fired a point-ending running forehand down the line at deuce. On her fourth break point of the game, she landed a great backhand return at Fernandez’s feet, who could not control it. Just too good.
On Court Simonne-Mathieu, Jelena Ostapenko is back on court after her incredible second round performance against Karolina Pliskova.
She has started as she left off on Chatrier, breaking Paula Badosa of Spain in her opening service game to establish a 2-0 lead.
Unsurprisingly, Petra Kvitova is still fighting and she recovers one of the breaks, saving set point with a lovely drop volley.
She then broke serve with a great backhand down the line. A good response from Kvitova, but it also just reinforced how good Kvitova has to be to put the ball past her right now. Kvitova could really do with a first hold here to build some momentum, even if she cannot salvage the set. Fernandez leads Kvitova 5-2*.
This has been a special performance from 18 year-old Leylah Fernandez so far, who has now won 5 games in a row from 0-1 down against Petra Kvitova.
She is so quick on the clay that Kvitova is simply unable to consistently hit through her at the moment. She is returning well and she has intelligently exposed Kvitova’s movement with her forehand, using the entire court.
Serving at 1-4, Kvitova found big first serves on three break points, but Fernandez broke on the fourth with a lovely backhand passing shot.
Updated
From Leylah Fernandez’s press conference after her second round match:
Q. How have you changed as a player and as a person since you won the juniors here last year? LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Well, I don’t think I’ve changed much. I’m still as energetic and as polite, nice as always. Still, like, a pretty young kid trying to make it as a professional. I’m just happy to be here. It’s a big tournament, an honor to be back in a professional circuit, playing in a Grand Slam. Happy to get the win to the third round.
After Petra Kvitova moved up an early break in the opening game, Leylah Annie Fernandez has responded so well, winning three successive games to move up a break on the Czech.
Fernandez is only 5’4 but not only does she have some weight behind her strokes, particularly her heavy topspin forehand, but she is a smart one. She has returned extremely well and she is doing a great job of moving Kvitova around with her forehand. Far too many errors from the Czech, who surely is not enjoying these heavy, slow conditions.
Week One Highlights from Paris.
— Rajeev Ram (@RajeevRam) October 3, 2020
See you in the quarterfinals @rolandgarros 👊🏾 pic.twitter.com/wCaDbWllai
Ons Jabeur enters press wearing a Stefanos Tsitsipas mask. #tsitsipal #RG20
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) October 3, 2020
Over on court 14, Cristian Garin has bounced back from a poor start after losing his serve three times in the opening set against Karen Khachanov.
Garin has been one of the best claycourters in 2020, winning his first ATP 500 title in Rio before reaching the semi-final in Hamburg last week. Khachanov reached the Roland Garros quarter-finals last year. A finely poised match between two 24 year olds who have reached the top 20 but are trying to take the next step in their careers. Khachanov leads 6-2 *2-5.
A really interesting match is underway on Lenglen as Petra Kvitova takes on the highly regarded 18 year-old Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez.
Fernandez won the junior title last year. One year on, she is battling one of the best players in the world on the big stage.
Grigor Dimitrov has officially reached the the second week of all four slams, his spot in the Roland Garros fourth round secured after a retirement from Roberto Carballes Baena while Dimitrov led 6-1 6-3. Carballes Baena had the doctor on after the first set and the reason for his retirement seems to be illness.
A nice little mental block erased for Dimitrov and it sets up an interesting fourth round against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Both players were beneficiaries of third set walkovers today, so both will be fresh as they chase their first French Open quarter-final.
A tough pill to swallow for Carballes Baena after a career best win against Denis Shapovalov in the previous round. Hopefully his illness is nothing major.
Home favourite Fiona Ferro recovers from 4-5* down to secure the first set 7-6(7) against Patricia Maria Tig, a set that lasted 83 minutes.
It also got very testy towards the end. Tig is not at all shy and, annoyed by the crowd, she began to punctuate her victorious points with screams towards the stands. As the French crowds so often do, the small crowd took the opportunity to boo the Romanian.
On the court, Ferro was bold when it mattered with both her drop shots and the times she decided to step in and attack. She was rewarded for that.
Asked if he has ever seen a sports psychologist, Daniel Altmaier says that some inspiration came from an unlikely British place: Anthony Joshua and David Hayes:
“I was able to have some life lessons, I would say. It was not specific psychologist, it was just meeting a lot of people. Doesn’t matter from the side of tennis, business-wise or other athletes. I was able through my partnership with Sky, who is supporting me already for four years, seeing the background of this company, meeting Anthony Joshua, who is unbelievable star worldwide, to have the contact to them. David Haye (phonetic), I had really long talks, who is a huge tennis fan. There were a lot of people who
I was just able to speak to. Everyone, yeah, was able to give me some parts or helping me through difficult times. That’s how I was really able to also enjoy my setbacks. They are part of the game. That’s why I can enjoy probably these moments right here more because I was preparing for this. Also people already were preparing me for this. The right mentality, yeah, is helping hugely to have success in sport or even other businesses, investing money. The mentalities are very similar of success for people.”
The match on Chatrier between Fiona Ferro and Patricia Maria Tig is now deep into a first set tiebreak after Tig failed to serve for the set at *5-4. Tense moments with so much on the line.
This has been a great recovery from Stefanos Tsitsipas after playing two horrendous sets to open his tournament in the first round against Jaume Munar. He has not dropped a set since.
Tsitsipas set scores since falling down two sets to love in round one: 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-1 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-2 3-1 ret.
Despite bursting through on the big stage with a semi-final at the 2019 Australian Open following his win over Roger Federer, the slams have actually turned out to be a big struggle for Tsitsipas. His last fourth round berth was at the French Open last year, which was followed by four consecutive first week losses. This was important.
Tsitsipas will face the winner of the match between Grigor Dimitrov and Roberto Carballes Baena in round four. Dimitrov leads 6-1 2-1 there.
On Court Suzanne Lenglen, 5th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas moves on after a retirement from Aljaz Bedene while the Greek led 6-1 6-2 3-1.
Bedene had the trainer on earlier for his right foot. There did not seem to be much chance of a comeback there.
Updated
Q. Earlier in the week Andy was criticized by Mats Wilander for taking a wildcard for this particular open. Wilander claimed that Andy should not be taking wildcards at the expense of perhaps lower-ranked players. What is your reaction to that and was that unfair to single him out for that criticism?
JAMIE MURRAY: Well, I think Andy is well within his rights to accept a wildcard at a tournament. I mean, he obviously came here wanting to compete in the event and try to do as well as he can. Obviously he didn’t have any matches going into the tournament and then he played Stan Wawrinka in the first round, another guy who has got three Grand Slams and loves playing on clay. So it was a bit of a disaster draw for him. I think that was unfair criticism. Of course, Andy didn’t play his best match in the tournament, but nobody when they accept a wildcard into a tournament is going in thinking that they’re not going to play their best match. He’s a champion, been at the top of the game forever, three Grand Slams. I don’t think he has to prove anything to anyone
Matteo Berrettini after his shock straight sets loss to No 186 Daniel Altmaier:
Q. It wasn’t your day today. Can you tell us how you’re feeling right now.
MATTEO BERRETTINI: Pretty upset. I was really feeling bad on the court. I’m feeling bad now. Didn’t play well in the big stage. It’s painful. But I guess that’s tennis.
Around the grounds
- Patricia Maria Tig of Romania leads Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro *5-4 and she will serve for the set.
- Stefanos Tsitsipas continues to cruise on Lenglen and he has now established a 6-1 6-2 *2-1 lead against former Brit Aljaz Bedene.
- Grigor Dimitrov is up 6-1 on Roberto Carballes Baena, who just had the doctor on between sets.
- Karen Khachanov leads 3-1 on Cristian Garin, although the Chilean has just regained a break.
- 13th seed Petra Martic is down 3-0 to Laura Siegemund
Thank you, David. Interesting to see Grigor Dimitrov has already moved to a 6-1 lead against Roberto Carballes Baena.
Despite some good results on Roland Garros has historically been a nightmare for the former No 3. Dimitrov has reached the semi-final of all three other slams. At Roland Garros, he has reached the third round five times including this year. He has never passed it.
This is by far his best opportunity and he is taking advantage so far.
And with that, I’ll hand back over to Tumaini Carayol to take you through the rest of Saturday’s action.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has been magnificent so far and he wraps up the second set (6-2) against Bedane in just 28 minutes.
That’s two sets to nil in less than an hour.
No-one will want to run into him later in the tournament if the Greek keeps playing like this.
While Pablo Carreno Busta came out with lots of nice words, the spiky Andrey Rublev caused some anxiety to the French TV directors.
Several times in his post-match chat, the Russian had to be bleeped out, causing lots of nervous laughter from his interviewer.
Some quotes from 17th seed Pablo Carreno Busta after his four-set win over compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut.
You cannot expect an easy match when you are playing Roberto. We spent a lot of time together, in the pre-season, in the Davis Cup, ATP Cup, we practice a lot. I’m playing really, really good, just trying to be aggressive. Finally we have the sun here, and the crowd. It’s very important for us to have people supporting us. After a lot of matches playing in the US without the crowd, it’s a different feeling when you play like this, so thank you very much, everybody.
Back to Stefanos Tsitsipas and the Greek is all business as he establishes a 3-1* lead in the second set.
Bedane has found a little more rhythm but Tsitsipas is relentless.
Is that some sunshine in the skies over Roland Garros now? It’s been a grim day so far and the strong winds have led to plenty of aborted ball tosses.
Ons Jabeur became the first Arab woman to reach the third round of a Grand Slam earlier this week and now she’s revised that stat by reaching round four!
The Tunisian converts her fourth match point - this one the first on her own serve - to beat Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(9) 2-6 6-3.
It took a fraction over two hours for the 30th seed to upset the 8th seed and, on the stats, there was little in it.
Jabeur made 31 unforced errors to her opponent’s 36 and hit 35 winners to 30.
Sabalenka actually won more points (105-100) so the margins were fine.
Aryna Sabalenka has saved three match points on her own serve against Ons Jabeur but is still on the brink at 3-5* down in the decider.
Stefanos Tsitsipas takes the first set 6-1 in 27 minutes.
Bedane did actually force a break point but last year’s Australian Open semi-finalist wasn’t having any of it and won the set with a couple of heavy serves.
Tsitsipas has only made the third round of both Slams this year but surely he’ll reach the last 16 here - just as he did at Roland Garros last year.
Bedane gets some strapping on his right ankle before the second set commences.
Well, the medical timeout did the trick for Aljaz Bedene; he’s on the board.
Tsitsipas (checks spelling for umpteenth time) rolls a backhand winner to get to set point but the Slovenian plays his best tennis of the set - although that wasn’t hard - to win the next three points. *5-1 Tsitsipas.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has raced into a 5-0 lead against Bedene.
They’ve played 23 points and the Greek has won 20 of them!
As if that wasn’t bad enough for his opponent, Bedene is now receiving treatment on his ankle. It would be easy to think that had played a part but Tsitsipas has been on fire, hitting shots that anyone would have struggled to return.
Back on Court 14 and the momentum has swung back in favour of Ons Jabeur.
An early break and she leads Aryna Sabalenka *3-1 in the decider. The 8th seed looks in trouble.
Thanks Tumaini. The attention now switches to Lenglen where Stefanos Tsitsipas, the fifth seed, is taking on Aljaz Bedene.
The latter is hoping to become the first Slovenian to reach the last 16 of any Grand Slam but he’s right up against it here.
Tim Henman, in the Eurosport studio, predicts a straight sets win for Tsitsipas and that’s already looking a good call.
The Greek has powered into a 3-0 lead in the opening set and, so far, this looks a bit of a mismatch.
With that great win for 4th seed Sofia Kenin, I will be off for a quick lunch. David Tindall will be manning the blog until then.
4th seed Sofia Kenin reaches the fourth round with a 6-2 6-0 win over Irina Bara
Two weeks ago, Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin lost 6-0 6-0 to Victoria Azarenka. A few weeks later, Azarenka is out of Roland Garros and she is into the fourth round. Impressive recovery.
Kenin now has a 13-1 record at slams this year. Novak Djokovic will play later, looking to equal that record.
Updated
Aryna Sabalenka quickly levels Ons Jabeur at 6-7 6-2 on court 14.
Some exhibition of ballstriking from Sabalenka, with 12 winners and just 2 unforced errors. With all her power and weapons, very few players in the world have any chance in a set with only 2 unforced errors from the Belarusian.
There is other tennis taking place around the world right now. Not all of it is going well.
Meanwhile at the Barcelona Challenger... pic.twitter.com/m4CK6c4NBw
— Lee 🏳️🌈 (@yelnats_eel) October 3, 2020
Aryna Sabalenka may not have won the important points, but she has used the momentum established at the end of the first set to burst into the second stanza.
With 7 winners and 0 unforced errors in set two, the Belarusian is up a double break. Jabeur leads Sabalenka 7-6(7) 1-4*
In a match between two consistent and durable Spaniards, Pablo Carreno Busta was the player willing to change directions down the line and take a few more considered risks in these rare pleasant, sunny conditions. He escaped Roberto Bautista Agut with 65 winners and 51 errors.
Pablo Carreno Busta trailed 2-4 15-30 in the fourth set and looked well on his way to a final set after leading by two.
On that point, he changed things up with a sweet serve and volley and eventually escaped the game. He used that forward momentum well, reeling off four consecutive games to nab the win in four, 6-4 6-3 5-7 6-4 in 3 hours 22 minutes.
After standing a set away from his first slam final against Alexander Zverev at the US Open, Carreno Busta has reached the fourth round for a second consecutive slam. He faces Daniel Altmaier next.
On court 14, Ons Jabeur finally takes the first set after the most remarkable sequence filled with ridiculous momentum shifts.
Jabeur led 6-5 40-0 before losing 10 of the next 11 points to fall down 5-1 in the tiebreak. Then she dug herself out of the hole she made for herself, with help from a wicked backhand slice at 5-1 and then some Sabalenka unforced errors.
From 1-5 down, Jabeur won 5 points in a row to reach set point at *6-5, only to set up the point and then miss an easy forehand. It took two more set points, but finally Sabalenka sent a backhand wide to give her the set. Jabeur roared, and for good reason.
In one of the most interesting matches of the day, the rising Ons Jabeur held a *6-5 40-0 lead on her serve against 8th seed Aryna Sabalenka but she could not see it out.
Momentum has swung and she is now fighting to remain in this set, down 5-1 in the tiebreak.
After most were predicting something approaching a marathon on Lenglen, for a short period it seemed like the all-Spanish match between Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta was heading for a fairly quick conclusion as Carreno Busta established a two set lead.
However, the elder Spaniard has fought back well and he has now broken in the fourth. Carreno Busta’s lead is under threat: 6-4 6-3 5-7 *2-4.
A nice and easy win for US-UK pairing Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury, the third seeds and Australian Open champions. They cruised into the men’s doubles quarters with a 6-3 6-2 win over 14th seeds Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin. This may have been a nightmare for British tennis in the singles, but Britain’s top doubles players are doing well.
On Court Suzanne Lenglen, 10th seed Roberto Bautista Agut has handed himself a lifeline by nabbing the third set 7-5 against the in-form Pablo Carreno Busta. The pair are still on serve in set four. Carreno Busta leads Bautista Agut 6-4 6-3 5-7 2-1*.
Let’s put Daniel Altmaier’s life-changing win over 7th seed Matteo Berrettini into context.
Altmaier is 22 years old and ranked 186. As noted earlier, he was previously considered a decent young player but then he went through a tough period in 2018 after reaching a career high of 210 at 18. He picked up a series of injuries and was off for almost a year.
Altmaier returned in February 2019 unranked and he had to slowly build his ranking again, first going through ITF events with a total of $15k prize money. He only started competing in ATP challenger events from this year, reaching the top 200 after a series of semi-final results. Finally, he reached a slam qualifying draw for the first time in Paris.
- Before September he had one career top 100 win, which came against #93 Victor Estrella Burgos, a clay courter, on grass. He had never faced a top 20 player.
- He has now won six matches over the past two weeks. He lost only one set in qualifying and has so far lost zero in the main draw.
- In the main draw, Altmaier has three consecutive top 60 wins and a first top 10 win today over Berrettini.
- His career prize money before this week was $173k. This week alone, he has won $221,390.
- He will now rise to a career high ranking of around 121.
This has been a life changing week for Altmaier. Between this and other results from Hugo Gaston, who beat Stan Wawrinka, and Martina Trevisan, victor over Maria Sakkari, it shows just how much ability there is outside of the top 100. Under the right circumstances, so many players can thrive.
Around the grounds:
- 19 year-old French wildcard Clara Burel is level at 2-2 with Zhang Shuai.
- Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut are deep into a third set, with Carreno leading 6-4 6-3 *5-5.
- Aryna Sabalenka is up 2-1* against Ons Jabeur.
- 3rd seeds Rajeev Ram and Britain’s Joe Salisbury are rolling through 6-3 *2-0 on Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin.
It should be noted that the final game was appalling from Matteo Berrettini, who seemed to mentally check out as soon as he lost his serve.
Daniel Altmaier is no John Isner, but he lost just three points in his last three service games. The German was understandably very nervous at 5-4 and made two errors but Berrettini provided the antidote to those nerves with four sad unforced errors.
Even the best take bad losses from time to time, but that is not how a top 10 player should go down in the third round of a slam.
“Nice to meet you,” says Daniel Altmaier to open his on-court interview. That is one way to announce yourself on the big stage.
Updated
Qualifier Daniel Altmaier upsets Matteo Berrettini 6-2 7-6(5) 6-4 to reach round four
What a shock. A sublime performance from Altmaier, ranked just 189. He stuck to his game, mixing things up, remaining proactive and trusting his lovely single-handed backhand. In the final set, he served extremely well to serve it out. This was his first time in Roland Garros qualifying. Now he is in the fourth round without dropping a set in the main draw.
Daniel Altmaier will now serve for the biggest win of his life by a mile at 6-2 7-6(5) *5-4 against 7th seed Matteo Berrettini. No pressure.
Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski beat 2nd seeds Granollers/Zeballos 6-3 4-6 6-4
Sealed with a trademark delicate angled volley winner from Jamie Murray at the net, the British pair finish off a very big win with a love hold to reach the Roland Garros quarters.
Daniel Altmaier eases through another hold, sealing it to 15 with an ace. As gutsy and brilliant as the German has been, there was again plenty of bad returning along the way from Berrettini, who is now a game from a bad loss. Altmaier 6-2 7-6(5) 5-3* Berrettini.
As Berrettini cleans up a simpler hold to keep himself to within a break of Altmaier, Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski will serve for the match against the No 2 seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos at 6-3 4-6 *5-4.
Matteo Berrettini’s response to falling down two sets and a break was quite sad. With some solid serving, Daniel Altmaier strolled through to a love hold to win his 10th point in a row from *2-2 deuce. Altmaier 6-2 7-6(5) 4-2* Berrettini.
Updated
We’re inching towards a huge shock on Philippe Chatrier as Daniel Altmaier breaks to lead 6-2 7-6(5) *3-2 on Matteo Berrettini.
Much of the work for Altmaier was done in the previous service game where he saved break point with an unreturned serve out wide.
After escaping with a hold after more great serving and a couple of searing single-handed backhands, he opened Berrettini’s service game by nailing a great angled forehand passing shot. Apparently, with Berrettini so far from his top level, that was enough. The Italian crumbled afterwards, throwing in three errors to hand over his service game to love.
Around the grounds
- 19 year-old French wildcard Clara Burel faces Zhang Shuai next on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
- Roberto Bautista Agut is up a break in the third set but he trails Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 6-3 *2-4.
- Daniel Altmaier saves break point to level Matteo Berrettini at 2-2 in the second set. He leads 6-2 7-6(2) 2-2*.
- Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski lead 2nd seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-3 4-6 4-2. This would be a huge win on the clay.
Andrey Rublev is now 32-6 (84%) since the end of last year with four titles over the past 12 months and he has reached four consecutive slam fourth rounds, including a quarter-final at the US Open last month. He has a great chance of advancing further next week as he faces the winner of Marton Fucsovics and Thiago Monteiro next. On the horizon is a possible quarter-final rematch with Stefanos Tsitsipas if they both make it there.
Other young players receive much more hype and attention, but the 22 year-old is the only one who has figured out how to perform week after week with no lapses. His relentless baseline aggression can be exposed as one-dimensional by the right player, so the question is how deep he can go now that he is in the second week.
Andrey Rublev strolls into the Roland Garros fourth round with a 6-3 6-2 6-3 win over Kevin Anderson.
Rublev had never won a match at Roland Garros before this year. He has done a good job of rectifying that this week.
Not unlike the way French wildcard Hugo Gaston rose to the occasion to topple Stan Wawrinka last night, this performance has been a delight from Altmaier.
His single-handed backhand is both lovely and vicious, and he is so good at injecting sudden pace into rallies with it. He has returned very well and he has been creative throughout, mixing things up by moving to the net and throwing in drop shots when he can.
Across the net, this has been an ugly performance from Berrettini. He threw in a poor service game at *5-4 in the second set and then he made a couple of unforgivable errors in the tiebreak, including an early missed second serve return and a netted drop shot at 4-5.
This is far from over though and Berrettini opens set three with a quick hold for 1-0.
Updated
An incredible story developing on Court Philippe Chatrier as qualifier Daniel Altmaier moves up 6-2 7-6(5) on 7th seed Matteo Berrettini.
Berrettini wrestled back the mini-break with a great angled backhand passing shot winner for 4-5. But after a great move to the forecourt, he netted an easy forehand drop shot as Altmaier stood far behind the baseline.
Berrettini saved the first set point with a big serve, but Altmaier coolly found an unreturned serve on his second set point to take the set.
Daniel Altmaier leads Matteo Berrettini 4-2 in the tiebreak. After an excellent forehand passing shot from the German to level at 2-2, Berrettini missed a routine second serve return.
At 3-2, Altmaier connected with a great backhand return, pushing the Italian back, moving forward and finishing the point with a lovely angled drop volley. Nice.
From 0-30 down, Matteo Berrettini arrests Altmaier’s momentum to hold for a second set tiebreak at 6-2 6-6.
That could have been really problematic for the 7th seed. After flipping the game from 0-30 to 40-30, he missed a sitter of an overhead to drag himself to deuce. Instead of seething, he managed to laugh it off and hold serve. A big tiebreak coming.
The momentum has shifted on Chatrier. Altmaier consolidated the break back by serving well and securing a quick love hold. Altmaier 6-2 6-5* Berrettini.
So much of tennis is about asking the opponent the right questions: retrieving the last ball, remaining close in the score even when down, imposing pressure whenever possible. After losing his opening service game of set two, Altmaier has done all of that with aplomb. As he served out the set, Berrettini finally faltered, allowing the German to break for 5-5.
On the break point, Altmaier found an excellent deep backhand return. When Berrettini tried to attack his forehand and move forward, the German slotted a slick forehand passing shot down-the-line to break.
Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski are going very well against 2nd seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, now leading 6-3 *2-3.
On Chatrier, Daniel Altmaier just held for 4-5 against Matteo Berrettini, who will serve out the first set.
This has been impressive from the German after dropping serve in the opening game of set two. He has not gone anywhere, challenging the Italian to keep his focus.
Andrey Rublev did indeed serve out the second set and is now cruising 6-3 6-2 over Kevin Anderson.
Pablo Carreno Busta continues to roll with his momentum, establishing a 6-4 2-0 lead on Roberto Bautista Agut.
Total rallies over 9 shots today:
Berrettini vs Altmaier - 5/89 (5.6%)
Bautista Agut vs Carreno Busta - 31/77 (40.3%)
Anderson vs Rublev - 6/88 (6.8%)
An illustration of how different the match between Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta is compared with the other two singles matches in play.
Bit of shadow play on Chatrier...#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Yylr40H6Oa
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 3, 2020
Andrey Rublev’s stat line so far:
- 15 winners
- 10 unforced errors
- 32/38 service points won
- 45% return points won
- 0 break points faced.
He now leads 6-3 *5-2 and will serve out the second set. This man is in a hurry.
Things are moving much faster on Simonne-Mathieu as Kevin Anderson dumps a forehand into the net, handing Andrey Rublev a 6-3 *4-1 lead with a double break.
After 47 minutes, Pablo Carreno Busta will serve for the first set against Roberto Bautista Agut at* 5-4.
He sealed it exactly how anyone would expect from these two: with an exhausting 32 stroke rally. Carreno chased down a big Bautista forehand, then an overhead and then a drop volley before slipping a backhand past the elder Spaniard as he stood helpless at the net.
This one could be very long.
Updated
There were many question marks surrounding Andrey Rublev coming into this event, but none were down to his form.
As the first round action in Paris was nearing its 5th hour on Sunday, Rublev recovered from 3-5 down to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas and win his first ATP 500 title in Hamburg. Both he and Tsitsipas had to immediately rush to their hotels, fly to Paris, adjust to completely different balls and conditions on Monday and then play their second round matches on Tuesday. Both Rublev and Tsitsipas understandably found themselves down two sets in their opening round matches - Rublev was down two sets and 5-2 to big server Sam Querrey - but they recovered.
It seems that the Russian has been able to slowly adjust to the conditions and find a rhythm over the past week. He is playing great, relentlessly destroying his forehand from on top of the baseline and he now leads Anderson 6-3 2-0* with a set and a break.
Andrey Rublev’s love service game to hold for a 6-3 lead against Kevin Anderson is a good measure of his confidence right now.
The sequence: ace out wide, searing point-ending crosscourt forehand, unreturned serve, ace down the T.
Andrey Rublev has been strolling on serve since his early break, but now he will attempt to serve out Kevin Anderson at 5-3. Let’s see if any nerves surface.
On Chatrier, Berrettini immediately breaks Altmaier to start set two.
A big story is potentially already brewing on Philippe Chatrier as No 186 Daniel Altmaier takes the first set 6-2 on Matteo Berrettini.
Altmaier isn’t particularly physically imposing, but he has been so proactive in these early exchanges. He has a sweet single-handed backhand, which he has uncorked up the line a few times now. He has tried to mix things up with a couple of net forays and dropshots, and he is returning extremely well. It is working.
Across the net, Berrettini looks a bit frazzled. From 40-30 up at 5-2 to Altmaier, Berrettini sprayed a routine forehand wide and then dumped a simple drop shot into the net. On set point, Altmaier pounced with an excellent return which forced a Berrettini error.
Updated
Andrey Rublev is rolling early on against Kevin Anderson. He leads 4-1* with one break.
Pablo Carreno Busta has already pulled back Roberto Bautista Agut early break, with the elder Spaniard up 3-2* on serve.
An interesting start on Chatrier as German qualifier Daniel Altmaier, ranked 186, leads 7th seed Matteo Berrettini by an early break at 4-1*.
Altmaier is an interesting story. He is a year younger than Zverev and he was considered a decent young talent. But he spent 2018 injured and he was unranked last year when he returned.
He has had to build step by step since last Febuary, first playing a large amount of ITF events [Futures], then moving consistently to ATP Challengers this year, culminating in his first ever slam qualifying event.
It is very unusual for a player to qualify and reach the third round in their first slam qualifying, but here he is and he looks comfortable so far.
The Spanish derby on Court Suzanne Lenglen between 10th seed Roberto Bautista Agut and 17th seed Pablo Carreno Busta promises to be an exhausting affair and it is already delivering. Carreno just saved a break point in a tough 17 stroke rally. Two gruelling exchanges later, the 10th seed has broken in the opening game.
Updated
On Court Simonne-Mathieu, 13th seed Andrey Rublev versus former top 5 player Kevin Anderson is about to begin. Eurosport commentator Frew McMillan on Rublev’s anger: “He’s the sort of chap, I don’t know, maybe having a shower and the soap slips from his hands, he’ll crack the wall next to him because he’s so upset that he lost the soap”
Updated
Preamble
Hello! Welcome to day 7 of Roland Garros as the second half of the men’s and women’s singles third round draws commence. We start with three men’s matches on the main courts as 7th seed Matteo Berrettini takes on German qualifier Daniel Altmaier, 10th seed Roberto Bautista Agut faces US Open semi-finalist Pablo Carreno Busta in an all-Spanish derby and Andrey Rublev will Kevin Anderson, who has quietly pieced together a resurgent week on his worst surface. Later, Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, men’s number one Novak Djokovic, Petra Kvitova and Stefanos Tsitsipas will be in action. Here is the full order of play on the singles courts:
Court Philippe Chatrier
Daniel Altmaier vs [7] Matteo Berrettini
Irina Bara vs [4] Sofia Kenin
Fiona Ferro vs Patricia Maria Tig
[1] Novak Djokovic vs Daniel Elahi Galan
Court Suzanne Lenglen
[10] Roberto Bautista Agut vs [17] Pablo Carreno Busta
Aljaz Bedene vs [5] Stefanos Titsipas
[7] Petra Kvitova vs Layla-Annie Fernandez
Danielle Collins vs [11] Garbine Muguruza
Court Simonne-Mathieu
Kevin Anderson vs [13] Andrey Rublev
Clara Burel vs Zhang Shuai
Roberto Carballes Baena vs [18] Grigor Dimitrov
Paula Badosa vs Jelena Ostapenko
Court 14
[6] Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut vs Vasek Pospisil/Jack Sock
[8] Aryna Sabalenka vs [30] Ons Jabeur
[20] Cristian Garin vs [15] Karen Khachanov
Court 7
Kaitlin Christian/Giuliana Olmos vs [2]Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic
Marton Fucsovics vs Thiago Monteiro
[13] Petra Martic vs Laura Siegemund
