That, I’m afraid, is us done for the day. To update before I depart, Basavareddy leads Fritz 7-6 7-6 0-2 on serve; Fonseca leads Pavlovic 7-6 6-4 3-1; Stearns leads Kenin 6-3 1-1; Halys leads bellucci 7-3 7-6 2-1; and Tauson leads Snigur 6-3 4-2. Otherwise, enjoy the rest of the weekend and join us again tomorrow. Peace out.
Solana Sierra beats Emma Raducanu 6-0 7-6(4)
She gets there in the end. Raducanu made her fight, but she did just enough and now meets Paolini or Yastremska in round two.
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Or maybe she can? Three excellent backhands earn Raducanu a mini-break back, then two holds means that at 5-4, Sierra is under pressure … whereupon she hammers the backhand of her life cross-court for a winner!
All that hard work and Raducanu finds herself down 1-4, then Sierra smites a backhand winner down the line; surely she can’t fail to close out from here?
But again, she struggles under the pressure, Raducanu making 15-40 then landing a forehand on to the line that Sierra can’t get back. To a breaker we go.
Meantime, Raducanu and Sierra are hammering away, the Brit saving three break points … only to flap a backhand wide with half the court to hit. After a little sit-down, the Argentinian will serve for the match at 6-0 6-5.
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Goodness me, at 5-5 in the breaker, Basavareddy bats back a return, it catches the tape … and drops on Fritz’s side! Set point to the youngster, a big serve is too good, and that’s a 7-6 7-6 lead for the 21-year-old conjurer!
Fritz just can’t read Basavareddy’s drops, foxed again to go down 1-3 in the breaker … but he quickly restores parity at 3-3. This is a blinder of a contest.
Sierra regains deuce but a fantastic volley from Raducanu, having slipped, earns her another shot at levelling the set. She bunts cleverly down the line, the riposte is long, and there it is. We’re back on serve at 5-5 in the second! Meantime, Basavareddy leads Fritz 7-6 2-1 in the second-set tiebreak and Fonseca leads Pavlovic 7-6 6-4.
Sierra makes 30-0, but a monstrous forehand winner from the back gives Raducanu a sliver, a gorgeous drop makes 30-all, and an overhit forehand means break-back point. This is so tense now…
At 30-all. two points from defeat, Raducanu finds an ace, then Sierra nets and that’s the hold which forces her to serve for the match. Can she hold it down?
Raducanu holds for 0-6 3-4 and makes 30-all – this is a pretty decent contest now, and we move to deuce with the match still in the balance, just about. But when Sierra makes advantage Raducanu thrashes long, and at 0-6 35, she’s a game away from elimination. Elsewhere, Basavareddy leads Fritz 7-6 5-4, on serve, and Fonsdeca leads Pavlovic 7-6 4-2.
OK, at 7-6 3-4, 30-all, Basavareddy tempts Fritz to net, and now has a break-back point … which he takes with a drop-volley combo, excellent net coverage allowing him to divert beyond Fritz’s hopeful dive. We’re level at 4-4 in the second, and this is a terrific contest.
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…and Sierra nets, so Raducanu is still in the match, just.
But Fritz then makes advantage and this time, Basavareddy blinks, slapping a forehand long; he leads 7-6 2-3. Elsewhere, Cina has beaten Opelka 6-4 in the fifth, Tauson leads Snigur 3-2, Medjedovic leads Hanfman 6-3 2-2 and a lovely drop from Sierra saves break point against Raducanu; she leads 6-0 4-1, but the Brit has advantage again…
Basavareddy is doing brilliantly against Fritz, cleverly mitigating his relative lack of power with spin, accuracy and disguise; he leads 7-6 2-2, but finds himself down 30-40, a serve out wide backed up with a forehand slammed to the opposite corner.
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And she’s broken again, now down 0-6 1-3 to Sierra. She’ll do well to get out of this one, and though we might argue that, having won a major, she’s done more than anyone ever thought possible, it does feel like she’s letting her career run away from her. A clear run of fitness isn’t something she can control, but settling with a coach and trusting them would, I think, help her a lot.
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Solidarity, Raducanu-style.
He makes his way to net, doesn’t do enough with his volley … and Pavlovic nets! Fonseca leads 7-6!
I’ve ducked off Raducanu for a moment as Fonseca leads Pavlovic 7-6 in their first-set tiebreak…
She said don’t cry till you finish the tournament but she’s been through a lot this year and this is her favourite surface. At the start, Haddad Maia used her experience, going for stuff and playing more aggressively, but she found her way in, though she reckons she looks like a tomato in the weather. And, er, that’s it.
Raducanu is on the board against Sierra, trailing 0-6 1-1, but forget here for a minute because here’s Fran!
Basavareddy leads Fritz 5-4 in the breaker, and a terrific point, serve-volleyed then finished with a spinning backhand at net, means he has set point … spurned with a slightly wild backhand, swiped long. Oh, but then Fritz opens a lane to go down the line on backhand … overhitting! The 21-year-old leads 7-6, the number 7y seed with a match on his hand!
Oh man, this is awesome. Jones, almost in tears at match point, runs to the crowd and hugs a woman I presume is her mum – imagine the pride and gratefulness here. They’ll have dreamed of this moment together for so many years, all the sacrifices and miles travelled, and in one overwhelming afternoon, she’s made it all worthwhile. Well done both of them.
Fran Jones beats Bea Haddad Maia 1-6 7-6(4) 6-2
Wow! An incredible win for Jones, her first in a slam, and after losing the first set so resoundingly, against a player who’s made the last four of this competition. Next for her: Bouzkova.
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Basavareddy holds to 15, forcing a first-set breaker against Fritz, while Jones has 30-40 and match point against Haddad Maia!
Jones holds quicksmart and is now a game away from her maiden grand slam win; Fonseca leads Pavlovic 6-5 in the first, on serve, as Fritz does Basavareddy.
Sierra closes out a bagel set against Raducanu, who didn’t manage a single winner in it. Can she build on … nothing? Back with Jones, she’s just broken Haddad Maia, now up 4-2 in set three, and the biggest win of her career is but two holds away. Which makes securing it sound much easier than it is.
Raducanu just can’t get it going; she trails Sierra 5-0 in the first, but will know that, though this set is gone, she’s good enough to do something in the second. Back on 14, Jones leads Haddad Maia 3-2 in the third.
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On Court Six, Federico Cina, an Italian qualifier, leads Reilly Opelka, a political philosopher, 4-2 in the fifth, while on Mathieu, Fonseca and Pavlovic are 4-4 in the first.
Raducanu hasn’t played much lately, a lone I should save somewhere, having been ill, and Sierra breaks her, consolidates, then breaks her again. She leads 3-0, but at 0-30, perhaps Raducanu is appearing into the match.
Elsewhere, Fritz leads Basavareddy 4-3 on serve and, as I type, Jones breaks Haddad Maia back for 2-2 in the third.
While we’re here, I’m sure you’ll all join me in celebrating one of life’s great coincidences … or not. Happy birthday Bob Dylan, 85 today, and happy birthday Eric Cantona, 60 today. How lucky we are to live in their time.
She was really happy to play on Chatrier and on day one. She’s practised against Forro a lot, so expected a tough game, and is, of course, “super-happy” with the win.
Sometimes she gets tense, but today told herself that whatever happens happens and even after sending down three doubles, told herself it’s not easy to come back and if her opponent does, good for her. It’s always special to be in Paris and she’s hoping to do better than last year.
I’d not be remotely shocked if Haddad Maia’s consolidation game chugs through numerous deuces but, in the meantime, let’s look at the Mirra.
Mirra Andreeva (8) beats Fiona Ferro 6-3 6-3
She looked great too – against limited opposition, it’s fair to say. Next for her: Bsssols Ribera or Arango.
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Haddad Maia breaks Jones immediately in set three, but then finds herself down 30-40 – no one familiar with her oeuvre will be surprised – nor that she quickly gained deuce with two big forehands.
Fritz and Basavareddy are settling in on Lenglen, the no 7 seed up 2-1 on serve. Clay is far from his favourite surface, and his 21-year-old compatriot will fancy himself – he’s a percentage player, keeping the ball in play because he lacks big power to finish points, which might just work for him in this matchup, on this surface. Other hand, the weather makes the clay more like a hard court, so Fritz’s power could be more effective than is ordinarily the case.
That being the case, I’m going to watch their third set, I’m swapping Andreeva for Fritz v Basavareddy, and I’m also on Raducanu v Sierra.
Now then! I can’t lie, I sort of assumed she was done, but Fran Jones has just levelled against Haddad Maia, winning a second-set breaker to four, forcing a decider in the process.
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Next on Court 13: Emma Raducanu v Solana Sierra.
The men’s no 23 seed has gone, Nuno Borges dealing with Tomas Martin Etcheverry 3,4 and 2. Next for borges: Miomir Kecmanovic.
The highest-ranked seed in Fonseca’s eighth is Djokovic, with Ruud also there; in the section he’d meet the winner of the last eight, there’s Rublev, who he beat in Australia, and De Minaur.
Elsewhere, Joao Fonseca, seeded 28, is under way against Luka Pavlovic, a French qualifier. He’s another ridiculous talent who has every chance of winning a slam one day, and will want to improve on last year’s third round appearance.
And, as I type, Andreeva breaks Ferro to lead 6-3 2-1. She’s nearly there.
Mirra Andreeva, who might face Baptiste in the last eight, has taken the first set against Ferro 6-3, and as ever, the question is whether she’s now ready to push into a grand slam final. She made the last four here in 2024, only to lose 3 and 1 in a winnable match against Paolini – who was then gubbed 2 and 1 by Swiatek in the final – but she’s a more mature player now. Does she, though, have the power, or the smarts to do without the power, to beat the elite when it really matters?
Next on Lenglen: Taylor Feritz (7) v Nishesh Basavareddy.
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Baptiste says it’s not easy to come back when you’re down match points, but it was a mental and physical battle, so she’s really pleased to come through. She knew that being mad with herself or negative isn’t going to help, so her mentality was to do what it took to win the match.
She had to save match points when she beat Sabalenka too, and is using that experience to push her through but, before then, she’s two days off in which she plans to shop, her favourite pastime in any city.
Hailey Baptiste (26) beats Barbora Krejcikova (7)6-7 7-6(6) 6-2
We said this looked like the match of the day and, though it took a while to get going, it did not let us down. Next for her: Xiy Wang.
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And serving for the match, she races to 40-0, pressure resting easily on her very, very serious shoulders…
Krejcikova was an absolutely brutal first-round pull for Baptiste and, up 5-2 in the third, looks set for a statement win. To come from behind, a set and break down, then trailing badly in the second-set breaker, is impressive against anyone, never mind a two-time grand slam champ, and will fortify her with the confidence to unload. I don’t think she can win a major yet, but the draw offers her an opportunity to go deep here, and every match takes her closer to the player she’s going to become.
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Thanks Yara and hi again all. Before we dive back into our lovely tennis, some other action for your delectation:
And Daniel Harris is back to steer you through the rest of today’s action.
Baptiste has found her stride after that second set win and is playing a lot more assertive in this third set, which she leads 4-1. Krejcikova’s unforced errors are wracking up and the American can surely see the end. Knocking out a two-time grand slam winner would be huge for confidence.
Eighth seed Mirra Andreeva has already earned a break and leads 2-0 in the first set against the wildcard Fiona Ferro.
Another break for Haddad Maia, who now leads 2-1 in the second set against Jones.
Hailey Baptiste takes the second set against Barbora Krejcikova after an 8-6 tie-break after Krejcikova netted on her serve. We go to a decider!
Alexander Zverev is also into the second round with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over France’s Benjamin Bonzi. On a scorching Court Philippe Chatrier, Zverev needed just over two hours to see off world No 95 Bonzi.
Zverev broke in the sixth game of the first set to take control. The pair exchanged breaks midway through the second frame, before Zverev pounced on his opponent’s serve to get ahead 5-4, immediately sealing the two-set lead with a clean hold. Zverev then raced through the final frame to book his ticket into the round of 64.
The 29-year-old German second seed will next face Tomas Machac of Czechia, who earlier beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
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Beatriz Haddad Maia takes the first set in a blistering start against Francesca Jones, the 25-year-old Briton. The unseeded Haddad Maia reached the semi-finals of the French Open in 2023 and looks to be in form here three years later after taking her third break against Jones in just under 40 minutes.
On Suzanne-Lenglen, Hailey Baptiste and Barbora Krejcikova are deadlocked at 6-6 in the second set with each getting a break. The first set ended in a tie-break that Krejcikova won; how will the second go?
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Marta Kostyuk dedicated her first-round to her home country of Ukraine, saying the war got “the closest it has ever been to my house” after her family home narrowly avoided being struck by a missile.
I’m incredibly proud of myself today, I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my life. This morning, 100 metres from my parent’s house, a missile fell.
I’m obviously very happy to be in the second round. All my thoughts and all my heart was to the people of Ukraine today. My biggest example are Ukrainian people today.
[My family] feel OK. Obviously very scary, but, you know, it’s not the first very difficult night, not the last, so, you know, they are adapting. Right now, I think it was just the closest that it has ever been to my house, and this what probably makes it the most emotional.
There were obviously times in the match when I would go in back to thinking about it, because most of the morning I felt sick just for my thought that see if it was 100m closer, I probably wouldn’t have a mom and a sister today.
Thanks Daniel and hello all. Roland Garros is back – nothing like it! Before we get to the action on the court, let’s go back to Marta Kostyuk for a second. Hours after a Russian missile hit near her family home in Kyiv, she walked on to the clay. The 23-year-old said she was overwhelmed with anxiety after receiving pictures of the damage close to the house where her mother, sister and aunt were staying. Here are her full quotes …
Another hold for Baptiste means Krejcikova must serve at 4-5 to stay in set two and, let’s be real, impartial though I am, this match demands a decider. I, though, am off for some scran, so let me tell you Bonzi is also serving, at 1-5 in the third, to stay in his match against Zverev, before passing on to Yara El-Shaboury, who’ll chill with you for the next hour.
Nip downstairs and my 12-year-old has left her fish fingers and chips unattended; it’s not a bad old life. Zverev, meanwhile, breaks Bonzi again to lead 2-0 4-1, while a love hold gives Krejcikova 7-6 4-4 and Machac beats Bergs 4, 4 and 3; next for him, the winner on Chatrier.
Krejcikova hasn’t played loads this year, struggling with a thigh injury, and it’s hard not to wonder if she’s wilting under the pressure and in the heat. But from 0-15, she makes 40-30, a big forehand inciting Baptiste to net, and that’s a vital hold given the switch in momentum over the last 10 minutes. She leads 7-6 3-3 while, on Chatrier, Zverev has broken Bonzi for 2-0 3-0.
Haddad Maia breaks Jones immediately for 1-0; Machac leads Bergs 6-4 6-4 5-2; and Borges leads no 23 seed, Etcheberry, 6-3 0-1.
Yeah! A massive return from Baptise is sent back long, another, a backhand down the line, is far too good; Krejcikova then overhits a forehand, and another return, hooked forehand on to the line, seals the break-back to love, just when the match seemed to be slipping away. We’re 2-2 in set two, Krejcikova by one set to love.
Two massive forehands then a glorious drop and Zverev leads Bonzi 6-3 5-4. He’s settled nicely into two weeks he hopes are transformative; if his forehand and net-play are on-point, he can beat anyone.
And to compound her situation, Krejcikova secures a hold in a matter of seconds; work to do for Baptiste. Meantime, Zverev breaks Bonzi for 6-3 5-4 and, at 40-15, has two set points…
Krejcikova forces Baptiste to deuce in game one of set two – well, really, Baptiste does it to herself, overhitting perhaps vexed with herself for not securing the first set when she had a point so to do. And down advantage, she wellies a forehand long, so Krejcikova leads by a set and a break.
Longtime readers will know Haddad Maia is a favourite of this blog, her lefty power-game a lot of fun to watch. I hoped she’d push on after making the last four here in 2023, but other than a last-eight appearance in New York, she’s not done loads at majors. At 29, she’s still got a bit of time, but after a couple of quiet years, she badly needs to recapture momentum.
Next on Court 14: Francesca Jones v Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Alejandro Davidovch Fokina beats Damir Dzumhur (3)6-7 6-3 2-6 7-5 6-3
What a ruckus that was. Davidovich Fokina poses like Wayne Rooney after scoring that overhead against Man City, enjoying a moment he’s fought just over four hours to live; he meets Llamas Ruiz or Tirante next.
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Oh! At 7-7, Baptiste dances in to put away a forehand … and nets! set point Krejcikova, and a deep slice to the baseline is followed by a backhand which breaks the sideline, Baptiste wafting her response long. The Czech leads 7-6, and this is brewing into an epic.
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Just as she looks to have seized a net battle, Krejcikova slams a drive volley into the tape, then another Baptiste hold means that, at 6-5, she holds set point … but a good first serve incites a long, wide return.
Krejcikova frames a forehand cross … for a winner. That’s the mini-break back, and a hold takes us to 4-4 in what is a really even contest.
Oooh yeah, Baptise panels a backhand winner down the line for 3-1, and her mahoosive game looks set to carry the day here. On 14, meanwhile, Davidovich Fokina has broken again for 4-3 in the fifth; Dzumhur looks to be flagging emotionally, sat at change of ends with head between legs.
Talking of Bonzi, of course, allows me to post this piece of cheap, “Remember when is the lowest form of conversation,” nostalgia.
But what level of patter is pointing that out?
Baptiste holds for 6-6 in the first and, though I’d almost always back the bigger server in a breaker, Krejcikova’s cunning makes her a live dog. Back on Chatrier, by the way, Bonzi leads 2-1 in the second on serve, Zverev by one set to love.
Baptiste is playing the better, more expansive tennis now, but Krejcikova is so tough and reliable, holding to 15 for a 6-5 lead in the first. I can’t think of too many, if any players like her, a doubles specialist who out of nowhere won two singles slams. I’m not sure how she even processes that – it’s astounding to think of for a rando like me, years later – a career she didn’t even plan that others give up everything to not achieve, hers with plenty of time to spare. That’s got to alter your sense of self in a seriously profound way.
Oh, but Dzumhur stands strong to break back, meaning he and Davidovich Fokina are level at 2-2 in the fifth.
Davidovich Fokina breaks Dzumhur for 2-1 in the fifth then, down break point, he spanks a flat forehand winner – not for the first time. Similarly, Baptiste monsters a one of her own level at 5-5 against Krejcikova, and this match looks like it might come down to a point here and there in a breaker.
Back on Lenglen, Baptiste earns a break point … but Krejcikova saves it with a cunning drop, then closes out the hold for 5-4 in the first. This is getting tense now.
Bonzi isn’t going away, saving two set points from 40-15 – a stone-handed volley from Zverev, a quirk he’s never quite addressed, costs him the second. And though a murderous forehand then raises another, again, he can’t convert … but after securing another, he finally sees it out to lead 6-3.
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Leading 4-3, Krejcikova steps into court to take her returns a bit earlier, making 30-0 all … then Baptiste closes out the hold in short order. So far, these two are cancelling each other out.
Bonzi saves set point with a forehand winner and closes out the hold so, at 5-3, Zverev will now serve for what, so far, has been a routine first set, the break arriving as we knew it would, with very little threat coming back the other way.
Zverev holds easily for 5-2 and looks solid as you’d expect, while Davidovich Fokina calls out the trainer for a massage on his right quad. On Lenglen, Krejcikova is serving at 3-3 in the third, neither she nor Baptiste yet firing – they’re really well matched.
Bonzi has started well against Zverev but, down advantage on serve, he overhits a forehand and that’s the break. At 2-4, he must now find a way to retaliate against an opponent who’s so far lost on two points on his own delivery.
Great stuff dept:
Machac, who I think might get good enough to threaten at majors, leads Bergs 6-4 1-3 … and Davidovich Fokina does indeed hold so will now play a decider against Dzumhur. This one may come down to which of the two handles the heat better.
On Mathieu, Volynets has smashed Burel 3 and 1 – her second-round contest with Kostyuk will be worth watching. Zverev leads Bonzi 3-2 on serve, while Davidovich Fokina has turned it around on 14, serving at 6-5 in the fourth to force a decider against Dzumhur.
Baptiste holds for 1-1 against Krejcikova, and this is a proper test of where she’s up to. She made round four of this competition last year and, a clay-court specialist, will hope to improve on that. In Madrid last month, she beat Paolini, Bencic too, dispatching Sabalenka in a third-set breaker before losing the semi to Andreeva – her putative last-eight opponent here – and if she can reduce the unforced errors, she’s got a great chance of becoming a top player.
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Tremendous work from Davidovich Fokina, who hooks a high backhand cross-court then punches another down the line too secure that break-back. He trails Dzumhur 6-7 6-2 2-6 4-5.
Dzumhur has played well today and he’s broken Davidovich Fokina for 2-1 5-3 … only to go down 0-40 serving for the match. He retrieves two break-back points, though, and a forehand into the net means we’re at deuce. On Lenglen, meanwhile, Baptiste and Krejcikova are knocking up – this should be a bazzer of a contest.
This makes me laugh:
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Zverev begins his campaign with a love hold.
Mcnally has seen it out against Tomljanovic, a 6-3 third set earning her a round two meeting with Bencic; Dzumhur has broken Davidovich Fokina back in set four to lead 2-1 3-2; and Machac leads Bergs 5-4 on serve.
We watch VT of Zverev talking about his bad back, saying he felt “unbelievable” after seeing the famous German doctor, Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, known as Healing Hans. After a few months, though, things worsened again, so he returned to him after Rome, and is back feeling good.
He’ll know this is a chance for him, with Carlos Alcaraz missing – he has the no 2 seed’s path through the draw, the best player in his eighth Khachanov, with a last-eight meeting against Fritz scheduled and Djokovic his likeliest semi-final opponents. This is a massive chance for him to break his grand slam duck – he’ll not get a better one, which brings with it immense pressure, the kind under which he’s previously wilted.
Next on Lenglen: Hailey Baptiste (26) v Barbora Krejciokova.
Karen Khachanov (13) beats Arthur Géa 6-3 7-6(3) 6-0
Géa played pretty well, especially in set two, but isn’t ready to compete physically at this level and towards the end, it showed. Still, he’s got some talent, and it’ll be interesting to see where he goes from here; Khachanov meets Jacquet or Trungelliti next.
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Alright, Dzumhur has taken the third set 6-2 to lead Davidovich Fokina 2-1 … only to be broken in game one of the fourth. Kecmanovic has beaten Maroszan 6, 3 and 4, so meets Etcheverry or Borges next; Machac ands Bergs are level at 3-3 in the first; and Khachanov now leads Gea 2-0 5-0, the youngster wilting in the heat.
Next on Chatrier: Benjamin Bonzi v Alexander Zverev (2).
Bencic says she was naturally nervous in the first round, but she was so excited when she saw she’d play on Chatrier. This is her second Roland-Garros as a mum, which has changed a lot – Caroline Garcia, pregnant and interviewing her, will soon know the feeling, she says - but she’s really happy she can travel with her family and play lots of beautiful tournaments; she’s open to recommendations as to where they should go on her day off.
Belinda Bencic (11) beats Sinja Kraus 6-2 6-3
A decent workout for Bencic – Kraus, at 24, looks to be hitting her stride – and she’ll face Mcnally or Tomljanovic next.
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Kraus is forced to fight through multiple deuces, but eventually holds for 3-5; Bencic must now serve for the match while, unsurprisingly, Khachanov holds the breaks the flagging Gea to leads 6-3 7-6 2-0.
Also going on:
On Lenglen, Bencic consolidates to lead Kraus 6-2 5-2, and will be really happy with that against an opponent giving her a proper test. The highest-ranked player in her eighth is Svitolina, who she’ll absolutely feel she can beat – but Kenin and Tauson will fancy themselves good enough to stop her getting there.
I wondered if Davidovich Fokina had taken over against Dzumhur … and he has not. The Bosnian leads 1-1 4-1, the no 21 seed in trouble. Elsewhere, Mcnally leads Tomjlanovic 3-0 in the third, Kecmanovic is up a break against Maraoszan at 1-1 4-3, and Wang has beaten Tagger, girls’ champion last year, 6-3 3-6 6-4. Next for her, Sorribes Tormo or Korpatch.
Khachanov races to 6-3, powers down his first ace of the match – yes, it really took that long – to lead 6-3 7-6(3). Gea had proper chances in both set and breaker, but couldn’t stay level enough to make them count. He’ll be better for the experience, though.
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Gea makes the first mini-break, but Khachanov responds immediately, a big forehand to the corner setting up the kind of delicate drop he’s famous for not playing well. Oh, and Gea loses his next service-point too, which is to say the big dog looks like finding sufficient quality to repel whatever comes at home. Khachanov leads 4-2, while Kraus has also wilted, broken by Bencic who leads 6-2 4-2 and, after a decent workout, is almost home.
Khachanov holds for a breaker, and the match is right here. If he takes a 2-0 lead, it’s over, but if he doesn’t, who knows? Meantime, Kraus is still giving Bencic plenty, down 2-6 2-3 and looking pretty solid.
Khachanov is serving Gea a strong dose of welcome to the big show … but as I type, the youngster makes me look silly, saving three break points then looping a forehand that the Russian thinks is going out … only for it to catch the baseline. He muast now serve to stay in set two, leading 6-3 5-6.
On Mathieu, Volynets leads Burel, a domestic wildcard, 3-0; Bouzkova, the no 27 seed, has beaten Bronzetti 3 and 1 and meets Jones or Haddad Maia next; Kecmanovic has levelled against Maroszan at a set apiece; duckworth has beaten Diallo 6-3 4-1 retired; AND wang leads tagger 5-1 in the decider.
And Mcnally takes it to five, so to a decider we go.
On 7, Tomljanovic and Mcnally are playing a second-set tiebreak so I’m on to that – it’s 4-4.
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Down 0-30, Gea finds an ace … only to follow it with a double … and a netted backhand. That was, I’m afraid a tame subsidence, but he still leads Khachanov 5-4 in the second, having lost the first.
A lovely drop at net saves Davidovich Fokina, serving for 1-1, a break-back point at 6-7-5-3, but Dzumhur then punishes a backhand winner down the line to restore deuce from set-point down. Oh, and have a look! Gea forces break point against Khachanov and it’s saved, but he immediately earns another and when a forehand goes long, he has a 5-3 lead in the second! The home crowd chant his name, but he can he serve it out? Davidovich Fokina can, levelling at a set apiece with Dzumhur, 6-7 6-3.
Back to Kostyuk, I’d really fancy her to go deep with a different draw. Should she get to meet Swiatek, she’ll be in rhythm given her likely opponents, but I don’t think she’s quite ready to beat her on this stage. At 23, though, she’s got plenty time, and in a year’s time I’d hope to feel differently.
Davidovich Fokina has taken over against Dzumhur, leading 5-2 in the second having lost the first on a tiebreak, while Bencic has served out to lead Kraus, who’s playing pretty well, 6-2.
That being the case, I’m back with Davidovich Fokina, who trails Dzumhur 6-7 3-2 on serve. And I’m still on Chatrier, ready to take a closer look at Bencic, who leads Kraus 4-2 in the first.
Next on Mathieu: Katie Volynets v Clara Burel.
It just goes to show, really – we wondered why she was struggling more than expected when it came to finish sets, and why she looked so emotional at the end. Well, now we know, and it’s a reminder that you never know what’s going on in someone’s life beyond the obvious stuff that can be seen.
Kostyuk is really proud of herself, saying this was one of the most difficult matches of her career – and this is why. Earlier this morning, 100m away from her parents’ house, a missile destroyed a building – Kostyuk is Ukrainian – and she didn’t know how she’d handle things having spent the morning crying. She doesn’t want to talk about herself today, she says, holding back tears. She’s pleased to be in the second round, but all her thoughts and all her heart goes to the people of Ukraine. It’s important to keep going, though – her biggest inspiration is the Ukrainian people and she woke up today looking at them living their lives despite being in need. She knew there’d be Ukrainians supporting her and she has friends in the crowd, so thanks them, then the rest of the crowd – it seems all interviewers are contractually obliged to force that.
Otherwise, she’s off – what an excellent woman she is.
Marta Kostyuk (15) beats Oksana Selekhmetova 6-2 6-3
Sealed with a kiss an ace. Kostyuk, who beat Pegula, Noskova and Andreeva, among others, whole winning Madrid, moves on and looks more emotional than you’d expect. Next for her: Volynets or Burel.
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…both saved, Selekhmetova finding decent second serves when she needs them and holindg; Lostyuk will no serve for the match again at 6-2 5-3. Back on Lenglen, meanwhile, Khachanov is forced to save a break point against the growing Gea, closing out a hold to lead 6-3 1-1.
Selekhmetova isn’t going away, securing that break to trail 2-6 2-5 … then three unforced errors donate two match points.
Back on Mathieu, Kostyuk is racing away with set two, leading Selekhmetova 6-2 5-1. Again, though, she’s struggling to serve out, finding a brutal backhand to save a break point and force deuce. On the one hand, this is a decent workout for her, playing herself into stroke without having to fear elimination; on the other, is she showing the same frailties that have held her back until now?
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Bencic, of course, reached the last four at Wimbledon, only to no-show against Swiatek – until the match was almost over. If she can manage her nerves, she can give anyone aggro – in the last eight, she binned Mirra Andreeva – but lacks the power and weapons to win majors.
On 14, Dzumhur has taken the first set off Davidovich Fokina 7-3 in the tiebreak, a match I’m no longer watching as I’ve moved to Chatrier, where Belinda Bencic, seeded 11, meets the Austrian qualifier Sinja Kraus.
In fairness to Gea, he improved significantly after going 4-0 down – which makes sense given this is his debut in the competition. He’s starting to attack the ball and, though Khachanov has seen off better, this match isbn’t over yet.
Khachanov has reached the last eight of this competition twice – Wimbledon likewise – and the last four of the other two slams. That tells us he’s got an all-court game, with the eye-test advising that he lacks the power-augmenting finesse go further. He does, though, have Gea’s number … so of course, as I type, the young Frenchman flat-bats an incredible pass cross-court to save set point. For all the difference it makes, Khachanov closing out from there to lead 6-3.
It looks a lovely day in Paris, by the way – which isn’t always the case. It’s going to be seriously hard work for those involved in tight matches, given clay-court rallies and soaring tempteratures.
Going around the courts, Tomljanovic leads Mcnally 6-3; Bouzkova is up 6-3 on Bronzetti; Kecmanovic and Maroszan are level at 5-5; Wang leads Tagger 6-3; and Duckworth has taken the first set off Gallo, 6-3.
Davidovich Fokina is another who’s come closer to finding his top level in recent times – though it’s lower than Kostyuk’s. He’s just broken Dzumhur for 6-5 in the first, but now trails 0-30, while Kostyuk has broken Selekhmetova back and held to lead 6-2 2-1.
On Lenglen, Gea has gone off for a bathroom break – it seems he’s an upset stomach – with Khachnov poised to serve at 4-2 in the first. Meantime, Selekhmetova breaks Kostyuk immediately in set two to trail 2-6 1-0.
Kostyuk is one of those players I think can push into the top 10. She struggled with pressure earlier in her career, but has worked hard on herself and now looks ready to exploit her prodigious technical skill and athletic prowess. She does, though, have Swiatek in her eighth – the two are seeded to meet in round four – and there are some decent players standing between her and that, Leylah Fernandez and Jelena Ostapenko among them.
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Kostyuk doesn’t convert, but then, on game point, Selekhmeteva misses a pass she ought to have made, and from there the set is taken from here. Kostyuk leads 6-2.
OK, Selekhmeteva – who I can’t say I’ve seen play before, so that’s exciting – nabs back a break off Kostyuk, but then finds herself down set point, on serve. Though she’s found her lefty game the last few minutes, she’s got to be more consistent and take more risks to tax a player as good as her opponent. Gosh, and a seventh double of the game means she’s now down advantage.
So what matches to watch? Let’s start with Karen Khachanov, the no 13 seed, who leads Arthur Gea, a qualifier, 4-0; Marta Kostyuk (15), who leads Oksana Selekhmeteva 5-1; and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s tussle with Damir Dzumhur, currently 3-4 on serve.
Preamble
Salut et bienvenue à Roland-Garros 20126 – jour un! Notre été starts here, and it’s going to be a jazzer – or, to keep on theme, le jazzeur.
It’s fair to say we’ve a strong idea of how the men’s tournament might resolve, but the fun in getting there means we can ignore the inevitability for now and the women’s even promises a royal rumble for the ages. The top four seeds will fancy their chances: Aryna Sabalenka is the best player in the world; Iga Swiatek is a four-time winner who’d won three in a row prior to last year; Coco Gauff is the defending champ; and Elena Rybakina is on the surge, at one with her easy power.
And of course there’s a cast of other brilliant players – Mirra Andreeva, Elina Svitolina, Victoria Mboko, Karolína Muchova, Naomi Osaka and others – good enough to sort any of them on a good day. Or, in other words, we’re talking about what is now the most competitive, highest-level sport in the world.
So it’s no surprise that today’s likeliest classic comes on the women’s side, where Hailey Baptiste, the no 26 seed, meets Barbora Krejcikova, the winner in 2021 – and at Wimbledon in 2024. But that is not the size of things. Taylor Fritz’s meeting with Nishesh Basavareddy looks tasty, Alexander Zverev meets Benjamin Bonzi, Francesca Jones takes on Bea Haddad Maia, and Emma Raducanu, Mirra Andreeva and João Fonseca all get under way.
Alors on y va!
