That’s all for our coverage from today. Thanks for following along with us and be sure to check back soon for our full report from day four’s action.
In the meantime, the former NBA player and Guardian columnist Etan Thomas has offered up an athlete’s view of the Naomi Osaka imbroglio.
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The third-seeded Aryna Sabalenka has prevailed 7-5 6-3 in the battle of the Belarusians over Aliaksandra Sasnovich. That sets up a delicious third-round match with No 31 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Pablo Carreno Busta, a two-time French Open quarter-finalist and the No 12 seed, is through to round three after rallying for a 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over Enzo Couacaud. That makes only two Frenchmen left standing in the men’s singles and they’re familiar faces: the 34-year-olds Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet. Busta will face the winner of the Thiago Monteiro-Stevie Johnson match currently unfolding on Court 12.
Serena Williams is through to the third round after a 6-3 5-7 6-1 win over Mihaela Buzarnescu. The 23-time major champion advances to an all-American date with Danielle Collins, who needed only 62 minutes to brush aside Anhelina Kalinina earlier today.
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Williams has sprinted from the gate for a quick double-break lead in the decider. First, Buzarnescu double-faulted to gift the American a break to open the third, then Williams consolidated after being made to fend off a couple of break points. From there, Serena broke a second time in a game highlighted by this sensational 20-stroke exchange:
This made everyone smile 😄
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2021
@serenawilliams x @MikiBuzarnescu#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/b7Qp24wv7g
Mihaela Buzarnescu, the world No 174, has forced a third and deciding set in her second-round match with Serena Williams on Chatrier. Only moments after holding from break point down at 5-5 30-40, the 33-year-old manages to break Williams’ serve – capping it with a sharply angled backhand winner from the corner on set point at the end of a muscular 14-shot baseline rally.
Serena immediately breaks back, then holds for 4-all in the second. But Buzarnescu holds in the next game and Williams is serving to stay in the second set at 4-5. The Romanian has raised her level since that loose service game which cost her the opener; a decider could get quite interesting if she can force it.
Thanks, Daniel. Serena has found herself in a fight on Chatrier. Moments after Buzarnescu holdds from 15-40 down, the Romanian veteran rattles off three quick points on the Williams serve for three break-point chances; her first three of the match. Serena saves each of them, but Buzarnescu hangs in the game and breaks for 4-2.
Elsewhere, a pair of near-7ft American men are through to the third round: John Isner in three sets (and two tiebreakers) over Filip Krajinovic and former Wimbledon boys’ champion Reilly Opelka in four over Jaume Munar.
Isner, the American No 2 in what’s been a bit of a fallow period on the domestic front, will face Tsitsipas next.
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And with that, I’m done for the day, so here’s Bryan Armen Graham to coax you through the end of this match. Thanks for your company – ta-ra.
Buzarnescu retorts with a love-hold of her own and hangs in there when Serena serves to win the best point of the match so far, following the ball to deflect a booming forehand back over the net. So, following a double, Serena holds to 30 instead; the cosmos survives.
Buzarnescu isn’t going away, holding to edge ahead in set two; naturally, Serena responds with another love hold, an adroit drop easing her over the line. She leads 6-3 1-1.
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Couacaud has taken the first set off Carreno Busta [12], 6-2 – they’re 2-2 in set two – while McDonald now leads Garin [22] 6-4 6-4 3-2 (with a break).
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Tsitsipas says he’s grateful for how the crowd treat him and he hopes he’s giving them good stuff to watch. He’s been the best player on tour in 2021 and though he doesn’t see his performance as “super-excellent-outstanding” he’s been consistent and it’ll be a challenge to maintain his position. He then attempts some French – he’s such a schmoozer – mentioning three girls in the stands, then off he smiles. I love him.
Serena’s forehand, perhaps the greatest shot in tennis history, has found it’s range, and a love hold gives her the first set 6-3.
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While Tsitsipas was finishing off, Serena found the returns she needed to break, and is now 30-0 serving for the set.
Tsitsipas [5] beats Martinez 6-3 6-4 6-3
A mass-murderous backhand down the line finishes things off, but that was a really enjoyable match, both players playing with imagination and conviction. I hope Martinez can take it on form here; Tsitsipas certainly will, and meets Isner [31] next.
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The way Tsitsipas runs around his backhand and opens the court to hit corner to corner is ridiculous, and he uses that skill to earn match point...
She probably calls them sneakers or kicks, but here are Serena’s trainers or crep.
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Martinez has earned 15 break points in this match, several in this game – he’s taken three – but found Tsitsipas’ ability to conjure winners too much. So this time he opts to charge in, and the pass goes into the net! Well played young man, well played. Tsitsipas leads 5-3 in the third.
On Chatrier, Buzarnescu is playing well; she and Serena are 3-3.
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After seven and a half hours, email! “It’s good to hear some Barry Davies,” says Richard Hirst, “but I think we need to go back a bit further – or are you saving Dan ‘Oh I say!’ Maskell for Wimbledon?”
I’m pretty sure I deployed one on Sunday, when Andujar beat Thiem. I hope I didn’t offend anyone.
I’m not sure there’s any player I’d rather watch the Tsitsipas these days. He’s a beautiful athlete, but more than that he plays with style, innovation, aggression, fire and risk – it’s a profoundly compelling package.
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Serena and Buzarnescu are away, each holding their opening service game, while Martinez has taken a break back off Tsitsipas. He’s given a really good account of himself here and does brilliantly to rebound from 0-30 and 30-40 in the next game. But he can’t win the two consecutive points that he needs and eventually the weight of sensational stroke-making tells, Tsitsipas sealing the deal with yet another top-spinning forehand cross-court. He leads 5-3 in the third and will shortly serve for the match.
To quote Barry Davies “Ach!”; Martinez has run out of road and Tsitsipas is making him pay, breaking again for 4-1.
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I guess it’s unlikely that Serena, who’s won just the three French Opens, will win that elusive 24th major here – if it’s any consolation, Your Goatness, it’s eluding me too – but if she’s in nick at Wimbledon, she’ll have a great chance.
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Martinez is not long for this competition, and the strain is beginning to show. After breaking him for 2-1, Tsitsipas rushes through a consolidation to 15, cemented with an ace down the middle. And, back on Chatrier, Serena and Buzarnescu knock up.
Oh, and Pavlyuchenkova parlayed that early break into the first set, but Tomljanovic leads 2-0 in the second.
Mackenzie McDonald has taken the first set off Cristian Garin [22] 6-4; we’re on serve in the second.
Oh yes! Forced to deuce, Tsitsipas caresses a loopy forehand down the line on advantage to give him 1-1. Martinez is plying pretty much as well as he can, but everything he tries, yerman knows something just that bit better.
Next on Chatrier: Serena takes on Buzarnescu.
Tsitsipas held to love closing out the first set and he looks set to repeat that in the second, but a fine forehand return puts paid to that plan ... so he bangs an ace down the middle by way of compensation. He leads 6-4 6-4, and though Martinez is playing really well, yerman has another level that he contacts when necessary.
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Nishikori says it was a good match and he tried to be aggressive in the crucial game. It worked well for him, and he’s so good under pressure.
While all that was going on, Tsitsipas’ pressure finally told on Martinez, who’s been broken for 5-4; if he can’t find a response, he’ll be 2-0 down.
Keys [23] beats Fernandez 6-1 7-5!
She faces Azarenka next; make sure you’re by a telly for that one.
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Nishikori beats Khachanov [23] 4-6 6-2 2-6 6-4 6-4!
He only needs one! Nishikori finds a big forehand right when he needs one and Khachanov can’t respond! When he called upon them, his hands didn’t fail him, and with the qualifier Laaksonen next, he’s got a great chance of making the last eight – though Laaksonen played beautifully to beat Bautista Agut.
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Here we go! Nishokori gets to 0-30 then skids into a backhand that draws Khachanov in so he can be passed. Three match points to the best fie-set player of all-time...
Azarenka [15] beats Tauson 7-5 6-4!
She plays Keys or Fernandez next, and assuming the former, that should be an extremely fun ruckus.
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Khachanov finds a monstrous forehand to save break point then eases through deuce, while Martinez battles to another hold and Fernandez breaks Keys.
Nishokori now leads Khachanov 4-3, on serve, while Azarenka is serving for the match against Tauson, Keys is doing likewise against Fernandez, and Pavlyuchenkova is a break up on Tomljanovic.
Martinez is living to regret the audacity of breaking Tsitsipas, forced to face three break points in short order. But he saves two, yerman shanking a backhand with down the line open. And what a forehand he finds to abolish the third, forced wide on the run ... and dematerialising a winner into the backhand corner! Shot of the championship so far, reckons Annabel, and this is a really good match – both players are chucking heat. That’s not a good place to be against an artist like Tsitsipas, who glides a lush backhand winner low over the net, on the skid; but again, Martinez saves the break and hangs on for 3-2.
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Khachanov is taking a medical timeout; I think the issue is a cut in the webbing of his racket hand.
Khachanov spirits a backhand down the line for 15-30, then drives another into the net; they end up at deuce and Nishikori plays the next two points really well, securing a crucial hold for 3-2. Almost simultaneously, Tsitsipas serves Martinez a large jar of welcome to the real world, snatching his break back with a lovely return, dash, and flick along the cord.
Break point down, Khachanov slams a lekker ace down the middle; that took a lot of moxie, and we’re 2-2 in the fifth. Meanwhile, a forehand down the line is enough for Martinez to break Tsitsipas; he leads 2-0 in the second, having lost the first 6-3.
Looking around the courts, Azarenka [15] is 7-5 2-2 against Tauson and Keys [23], who a couple of years ago looked set to take the next step, leads Fernandez 6-1 3-2 (with a break)>.
Thanks Luke. As I mentioned earlier, Nishikori has the best five-set record in the history of the game and, having won the fourth, has got to be favourite here – though you’d usually lean towards the player with the bigger serve. We shall see...
Nishikori holds his second service game of the fifth set against Khachanov, and it’s 2-1. And it’s time to hand back to Daniel Harris, who will see you through to the conclusion of this match, and the rest of today’s action. Bye!
Tsitsipas wins his first set - 6-3 - against Pedro Martinez, on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
On Court 13, meanwhile, Marcos Giron and Guido Pella are locked at 5-5 in the first set in their men’s singles encounter. Nishikori, meanwhile, holds serve in the first game of the deciding set against Khachanov. It’s been far from flawless, by both players, but it is certainly absorbing.
Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
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Fognini beats Fucsovics 7-6, 6-1, 6-2!
Fabio Fognini defeats Marton Fucsovics in regulation straight-sets style: 7-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Win or lose, it’s good to have fans. ❤️
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2021
Marton Fucsovics bows out in straight sets to No.27 seed Fabio Fognini, but not before thanking the spirited Court 14 crowd. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/jQjOc7m0kW
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Nishikori wins the fourth! Khachanov will be annoyed with that to say the least. A couple of unforced errors allowed his opponent a relatively comfortable break. Nishikori heads for a ‘comfort break’ with the satisfaction of having forced a deciding set. This one is going the distance.
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Azarenka proves her class by taking that first set 7-5 against Clara Tauson over on Court Simonne Mathieu.
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Now Nishikori holds after what was a bit of a sloppy game from his opponent. Nishikori hit one particularly short shot, and Khachanov had the court at his mercy, but he appeared to fail to make a decision and ended up patting a forehand harmlessly wide. The Japanese player is 5-4 up, and the Russian needs to hold serve to stay in the fourth set.
Azarenka breaks Tauson! She’s 6-5 up now and serving for the set. Keys wins her first set, against Fernandez, by a comfortable margin of 6-1.
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Now it’s Khachanov’s turn to save his bacon on his own serve. He smashes a big wide serve to make it 4-4, and treats himself to a demonstrative fist-pump.
Krajinović is fighting against Isner, and has made it 4-4 in the third. Davidovich Fokina, meanwhile, had gone a break up on Van de Zandschulp in the deciding set in their second-round match.
Keys leads Fernandez 5-1, while Azarenka has forced it to deuce in the first set against Tauson, having held serve for 5-5.
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Nishikori holds on to go 4-3 up! That was a captivating game - if a little error-strewn on Nishikori’s part. Khachanov nearly forced his way through, but the 31-year-old Japanese player showed plenty of bottle to save several break points, and battled to find a way in the end. Can Nishikori force a deciding set? We are about to find out.
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Madison Keys is 3-1 up on Leylah Annie Fernandez in their second-round encounter. Azarenka is fighting against Tauson, 5-4 down and serving to stay in the first set.
Over on Court 14, Fognini has taken the second set 6-1 against Fucsovics, a more one-sided affair after he won the first set on a tie-break. So it’s 2-0 there. Now Khachanov forces deuce with a deep forehand, in our ‘featured game’, then gets a break point, but Nishikori bravely wins it with a serve-volley point. But now Nishikori double faults! Another glimmer of light for Khachanov. But again, Nishikori saves the point and we’re back to deuce.
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Nishikori forces a break point from deuce, but Khachanov wins the point with a classy forehand down the line. This is a very well-matched encounter to say the least. Khachanov wins the game, and Nishikori will serve at 3-3 in this pesky wind.
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It’s business time for Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Game face on a game face 😷
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2021
No.5 seed @steftsitsipas meets Pedro Martinez for the first time on Lenglen.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/zgibQYr63w
A bit of hustle and a booming forehand here and there, and Nishkikori does extremely well to save that break point, and then take the game. He leads 3-2 in the fourth. Davidovich Fokina and Van de Zandschulp are into a fifth set, meanwhile, and Isner is cruising to victory against Krajinović, two sets up and 2-1 up in the third.
In the women’s singles, Azarenka is 3-2 down to Tauson in the first set, over on Court Simonne Mathieu.
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Khachanov and Nishikori are locked at 2-2 and deuce in the fourth ... big point coming up ... and Khachanov takes it for a break point!
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Thank you Daniel and good afternoon, everyone. You can email me here, if you so desire, during my one-hour stint at the Roland Garros MBM coalface.
Righto, I’m off to scran and school run. Luke McLaughlin will coax you through the next hour.
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Those first-set breakers look like hey were crucial; both Isner and Fognini are ahead in their second sets against Krajinovic and Gucsovics, 5-1 and 3-0 respectively.
At 1-1 in set four, Nishikori finds himself facing break point only for the umpire to pause play while the wind blows clay about. Khachanov then sets about things, two punishing backhands enough to see him in front! He’s looking good at 2-1, 2-1.
Elsewhere, we’ve got some action at haitch cue, which you can follow with Rob Smyth.
Hercog says Garcia is a big challenge, moving well and hitting well, noting she was 0-4 against her. “It’s not the same sport playing without the crowd,” she says (when prompted of course), and winds it up a touch by saying they inspired her to fight back in the first set. She’s never done better than the round of 16 at Roland Garros, and is “really looking forward to the next challenge”, but notes that “everyone has plans”.
Next on Lenglen: Tsitsipas [5] v Martinez. If you insist.
Hercog beats Garcia 7-5, 6-4!
She’s delighted with that, hollering and bouncing in the face of some partisan home support. She meets Vondrousova next – that should be decent.
Khachanov only needs the one go, taking the third set against Nishikori 6-2. I’ve no idea what’ll happen next, though, because neither man has played that well for that long so far.
Back on Lenglen, Hercog – with the help of a beautiful lob – earns three more match points, all of them saved by Garcia to the thrill of the crowd. She salutes them, then gets broken again, and Hercog will have her second shy at closing out.
Nishikori nets a backhand which gives Khachanov the double break; he’ll have his first go at serving for set three in a minute. Elsewhere, Fognini and Isner won their first-set breakers against Fucsovics and Krajinovic respectively.
Now then! On Lenglen, Hercog has just served for the match against Garcia, and though she’s got another break with which to play, she won’t be ecstatic at having served a double on match point. The crowd, on the other hand, are going wild for the local girl, who is now serving at 4-5 in set two.
It’s pretty windy at the moment, and it’s also looking a bit dark. I’d not rule out the possibility of rain, but hopefully it won’t bother. We do, though, have a roof on Chatrier, so if it happens we’ll have enough to keep us going.
After narrowly avoiding being broken at the start of set three, Khachanov has broken Nishikori and consolidates well enough; what this match needs is for both men to play well at the same time, but at the moment they’re taking it in turns. Khachanov 6-4 2-6 3-1 Nishikori
Hercog has nearly done for Garcia, leading 7-5 4-1; elsewhere, Fognini and Fucsovics, and Krajinovic and Isner and playing breakers in set one.
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Laaksonen beats Bautista Agut 6-3 2-6 6-3 6-2!
What a win that is! Laaksonen had never made round three of a slam and to do so here he had to qualify then save three match points in round one. But he was superb today and Bautista Agut let him play his game, so it’s he who goes on to meet either Khachanov or Nishikori.
Laaksonen sends a backhand winner spinning cross-court and Bautista Agut turns with a look of furious resignation; it’s not meant to be like this, but he can’t stop it being like this.
Laaksonen really has played beautifully today, going for his shotS and generally being the more unpredictable of the two. Bautista Agut has struggled to get anything going since winning the second set, and two huge winners from Laaksonen take him two points away....
Khachanov has made a miserable start to the third set, disbursing a variety of unforced errors. But on break point, he finds as many large forehands as he needs to force Nishikoi to net, then pounds one to the corner when facing another ... and another. He holds, while, Laaksonen – who’s kept Bautista Agut guessing all match – immediately retrieves his double-break! In a moment, he’ll serve for the match!
Hello! Out of nowhere, Bautista Agut breaks to love, Laaksonen driving a forehand long, and this might not be over quite yet. Laaksonen 6-3 2-6 6-3 4-2 Bautista Agut
Hercog has just taken the first set against Garcia 7-5, while Bautista Agut has just saved another double-break point. He can’t hold out though, a forehand down the line putting Laaksonen very close to round three; he leads 4-1 and by two sets to one.
Facing a break-back point, Laaksonen fids a ludicrous backhand drop, from well back and at shoulder-height, the ball skittering away at quite the angle once it bounces. He’s absolutely loving this, while on Chatrier, Nishikori’s forehand earns him a second break of serve and the second set against Khachanov.
Laaksonen is giving Bautista Agut all he can handle here, forcing him through a succession of deuces just to stave off the double break. In the process, he plays one divine forehand cross-court, and if he can sustain this hit streak for just a little bit longer, he’ll be into round three.
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Khachanov loses concentration, near enough handing Nishikori a break to love. He leads 3-0 in set two, Khachanov having taken the first 6-4.
Laaksonen is playing the match of his life here; he arranges another break point, and a loopy forehand to Bautista Agut’s backhand corner allows him to scurry in for the drop! You’d not back against him now! Laaksonen 6-3 2-6 6-3 1-0 Bautista Agut
On Lenglen, Hercog – who had a great win against Bertens in round one – is underway against Garcia. It’s currently 3-3.
Bautista Agut gets himself a break-back point but Laaksonen confiscates it from him before closing out! He now leads by two sets to one, and a won for him would be a massive shock.
Meanwhile, after playing a really good set Laaksonen is facing deuce in the process of serving for it and Delbonnis has beaten Andujar; it’s Fucsovics or Fognini next for him. They’ve just started.
Power is beating finesse at the moment, Khachanov holding to 15 to take the first set against Nishikori 6-4. I remember a UFC fighter called Sam Stout whose nickname was “Hands of Stone” even though he didn’t have knockout power, which reminds me of Brad “One Punch” Pickett, so called because he wanted his opponents to think he could take them out with a single shot, although he couldn’t.
Nishikori holds for 4-5, so Khachanov will now serve for the first set.
Khachanov and his stone hands are playing nicely – he leads Nishikori 4-3 – while Laaksonen is 4-1 in front against Bautista Agut. Talking of things made of stone reminds me of the Stone Roses song, one of very few whose title only appears as its final words. Squeeze’s Up the Junction is another as is U2’s Running to Stand Still.
While I was watching the end of that, Khachanov broke Nishikori and leads 3-2, while a zipping forehand, cross-court, on the run, and only just over the net, arranged Laaksonen a break point. Bautista Agut saved it, but couldn’t do likewise with the next – he’s not coping well with the Swiss’ power.
Siniakova beats Kudermetova [29] 7-6(7) 5-7 7-5!
What a match that was! Kudermetova served for it at 5-4, but Siniakova hung in there then played a terrific game to get home, consecutive blistering forehands sealing the deal. She meets Zidansek next, and that should be a lot of fun.
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Ruud is now two sets and a break up against Majchrzak; that one won’t be going much longer.
Delbonnis and Andujar are playing a final set and as I type that, Delbonnis – who won the fourth to level the match – breaks at the first time of asking.
On 14, Kudermetova was broken serving for the match, so she and Siniakova are 5-5 in the decider.
Yeah, time’s up. Bautista Agut is all over Laaksonen now, and an ace gives him the second set 6-2; it’s hard to see how he doesn’t win from here.
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Back to Khachanov, “Stone hands,” returns Calvin. “He like to stand at the back and club away. Also, Nishikori has the best five-set record of anyone, ever.”
That one Murray lost to him at Flushing Meadow in 2016 was the most significant of his missed opportunities, I’d say.
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Khachanov and Nishikori are away and Calvin Betton, our resident tennis coach, messages to say that the former has huge weapons but the smarter players think they can get to him because he lacks touch and dexterity. Currently, Nishikori is serving at 1-1 while, on Mathieu, Bautista Agut has consolidated his second-set break. Laaksonen 6-3 2-4 Bautista Agut
Cirstea beats Trevisan 6-4 3-6 6-4!
She meets Kasatkina next; I’ll look forward to that one because though Kasatkina is the better player, the form Cirstea is in, it should be a decent tussle.
Bautista Agut has woken up, the consistency of his groundstrokes persuading Laaksonen to net; he now leads by a break in set two, though the qualifer leads by one set to love.
Kudermetova is nearly there against Siniakova, serving for 5-1 in the decider, while Cirstea is serving for the match against Trevisan.
Zverev [6] beats Safiullin 7-6(4) 6-3 7-6(1)!
That is a brilliant breaker, but don’t sleep on how well Safiullin played today – he’s only 23 and has a lot to look forward to. Zverev meets Kecmanovic or Djere next; currently, Kecmanovic leads 2-1 but Djere is a break up in set three.
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A majestic backhand from Zverev steals a point that Safiullin was dominating and although it’s for a hold I wonder if we’ll see it as the key moment in this breaker; shonuff, a netted backhand hands over the mini-break, a delicious topspun backhand doubles it, and at 4-1 it’s nearly curtains.
From 0-15 down Zverev powers through a hold – sealed with an ace as Jason Donovan (and Bobby Vinton) once sang. We’ll now have a second breaker of the match.
Have a look! Laaksonen has just taken the first set against Bautista Agut, 6-3, so I’m switching to have a closer look at that while we wait for Khachanov and Nishikori (and by the time they start, Zverev and Safiullin might be done).
They reckon it’s not as hot now as an hour ago, so the court and balls are playing a bit slower, which is to Zverev’s disadvantage. But he powers through a service-game all the same and it’s now 5-5 there, while on 14, Kudermotova has broken Siniakova and leads 2-1 in the decider, and on 13 Andujar leads Delbonnis 2-1.
On Mathieu, Laaksonen – a qualifier - leads Bautista Agut, the number 11 seed, leads 4-3 with a break. Meanwhile, Trevisan has made it one each against Cirstea and it’s now 3-3 in the decider; Kudermetova has done likewise against Siniakova; and Ruud is a set up on Majchrzak.
Zverev has broken back and is now asserting his way through a hold, which he concludes with a drive at the bod. It’s now 4-4 in set three.
Coming up next on Chatrier, we’ve got Khachanov [23] v Nishikori, which might well be the match of the day.
Vondrousova says it was tough to play against the crowd – that seems a reach – but she’s glad the crowd are back and to win her first match on Chatrier.
Vondrousova [20] beats Tan 6-1 6-3!
She looks really pleased with herself and well she might – this was a total deconstruction, and she meets Hercog or Garcia next.
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On Chatrier, Tan hangs in there well to save a match point then hold, but Vondrousova will now serve for the match at 6-1 5-3.
My computer crashes, returning in time for me to hear that a loose game from Zverev has handed Safiullin another break. On the one hand, to be put under pressure is no bad thing, but on the other, carelessness of that ilk is one reason he rarely beats players ranked higher.
Safiullin has stabilised, opening set three with a pair of holds; he leads 2-1. Elsewhere, Bautista Agut [11] and Laaksonen are just away on Mathieu, while on seven, Ruud [15] is a break up against Majchrzak.
On 14, Kudermetova has taken Siniakova’s break back – the latter now leads 7-6 4-3 – and on 13, Andujar has done likewise to Delbonnis, so they’re one set all and on serve.
Tan has nothing for Vondrousova, who’s playing better shots but also reading her. She leads 6-1 3-0.
Yup, there we go. Zverev rushes through a love hold to make it five games in a row, and he’ll feel that he’s broken the back of this match now, two sets in front. Zverev 7-6(4) 6-3 Safiullin
Zverev gets 0-30 and eventually finds himself with a break point thanks to two sizeable forehands; Safiullin saves it, but another crushing blow earns him a second ... but forced wide, he unloads the suitcase at one down the line that’s plenty wide. No matter, he racks a third and this time the forehand does the trick, forcing yerman wide, and he nets. Zverev 7-6(4) 5-3 Safiullin
Delbonnis has got himself going, taking the second set against Andujar 6-1, then opening a 2-0 lead in the third.
Vondrousova has Tan on strings, and Tan is finding it hard, flapping a backhand volley into the net and ceding the first set in the process, 6-1.
Zverev knows that ultimately, he’s got too much for Safiullin, and two big forehands convert the second of two break points. They’re 3-3 in set two now.
With the end of the Kasatkina match I’ve switched to Vondrousova, and she’s all over Tan, 5-1 up.
Zidansek beats Brengle 6-4 6-1!
She’s looking very nifty indeed and will fancy herself to go deep now she’s got the number six seed’s path. Next for her is Siniakova or Kudermetova; currently, the former leads by a set and a break.
Kasatkina beats Bencic [10] 6-2 6-2!
That’s a fine performance from the Russian, which she ends with the exclamation mark of an ace. I really enjoyed watching her today – she varied spin and pace beautifully, and meets Cirstea or Trevisan next. Currently, Cirstea leads by one set to love but is a break down.
Updated
Meantime, Safiullin consolidates well, and given how he’s served today, he’ll fancy himself to hold it down. Zverev 7-6(4) 1-3 Safiullin
Bencic fights through a hold, so Kasatkina will now serve for the match at 5-2. There were signs in that last game that Bencic was finding some range – she delivered two colossal forehands – but she’ll need to find the consistency that’s eluded her thus far.
Zverev sends down an eighth double, hammers his racket into the court – that’ll learn it – and at 1-1, Safiullin has a break point ... which he converts when Zverev dumps a forehand! He looks extremely displeased on his way to sit down.
Bencic forces Kasatkina to deuce, but Kasatkina is grooved and consolidates for 5-1. Meanwhile, Siniakova has taken her breaker against Kudermetova 9-7, while Vondrousova is now a break up on Tan at 2-1.
You’ve got to laugh. Bencic saves three double-break points, then facing a fourth, Siniakova’s backhand clips the net cord, leaps over her racket and drops in. At 4-1 in the second set, this looks very close to over.
We’re away on Chatrier now, Tan taking the first game against Vondrousova – who played really well to come back and beat Kanepi in round one.
Zverev cedes one of his mini-breaks via careless forehand, but a booming ace out wide preserves the other and secures the set. Zverev 7-6(4) Safiullin
This is excellent from Zverev, his serve firing and a precise overhead giving him 5-2. Surely he’ll close out this time?
Updated
Have a look! Two doubles, some poor shot-selection, and Safiullin breaks Zverev! Or, in other words, I am a idiot. They’ll now play a breaker, and they way the Russian has served so far, it’s no gimme.
Kecmanovic, who played so well in beating Dan Evans on Monday, has taken the first set against Djere; Andujar served out for 6-4 against Delbonis; Cirstea broke to do likewise against Trevias; and Siniakova and Kudermetova have gone to a breaker.
Temper temper; do people still say that? Kasatkina puts Bencic under more pressure, hitting to her forehand at 15-30 and inciting the error; Bencic duly introduces racket to clay. She then saves the first break point, but a tame backhand into the top of the net puts her in all sorts. Kasatkina 6-2 2-1 Bencic
Updated
Zverev turns it up, a succession of bousting groundstrokes, mainly down the middle, turning 15-30 into 15-40. Safiullin has served really well so far, but two humungous forehands from Zverev, inside-out onto the sideline, then cross-court to the corner, earn him the break. Hell now serve for the set at 6-5, and this looks a lot like class telling.
We’re at the various business ends now. On Lenglen, Zverev is serving at 4-5 ... and it’s now 5-5; Cirstea, conqueror of Konta, leads Trevisan 5-4, on serve; Andujar, triumphant over Thiem, leads Delbonis 5-4 with a break; and Siniakova has broken Kudermetova back so they’re now at 4-5.
On seven, Brengle fought her way back against Zidansek, only to be broken once she’d got level, losing the set 6-4 in the process.
Down 2-5, Bencic improves a little with the new balls, fighting her way to deuce. But Kasatkina serves out to take the first set 6-2, and the number 10 seed has a pack of graft to get done.
In commentary, they say that someone – Yevgeny Kafelnikov I think – reckons that of all the women on the tour, Kasatkina has realised least of her potential, which is to say she’s very good. And Bencic is feeling it, broken again – this time to love. Kasatkina leads 5-2 and is serving for the set.
I said earlier that Zverev looked comfy out there; behold his rig. He’s also just deployed the monster-serve to save a break point, quickly closing out thereafter.
Out on court seven, Tamara Zidansek – who played brilliantly in outlasting Bianca Andreescu, the number six seed, in round one – has carried on her good form. She leads Madison Brengle 5-1, while on 14, Kudermetova – seeded 29 – is 4-1 up on Siniakova.
Annabel Croft reckons it’ll be Tsitsipas who makes the final from the bottom half of the draw which also features Zverev; that seems fair enough to me, and I’m sure he’s chuffed that Djokovic and Nadal are in the top. They’ll likely meet in the semis, and what an epic that could be. Anyway, we’re getting ahead of waselves; currently, Safiullin is playing nicely and leads 3-2 on serve.
Yep, Kasatkina is a player, and she puts Bencic’s serve under pressure with a booming backhand down the line that earns break point ... which she then converts thanks to a double. Kasatkina 2-1 Bencic
It’s only 1-1, but Zverev looks really comfy out there. Thing is, we know he’s a reliable eliminator of inferior opponents, problem is he rarely beats those ranked higher.
I’m also watching Bencic v Kasatkina. Bencic, the number 10 seed, had a decent win against Podoroska in round one, but Kasatkina is a player and has reached the last eight if this competition before. She does really well to survive a break point in her first service game; it’s now 1-1.
Zverev had a tricky opening encounter, forced to come from two sets down to beat Oscar Otte. But he did so in grand style, taking the three that he won 2, 2 and 0; I didn’t see that match, but it looks a lot like he took time to settle, then imposed himself as you’d expect.
Sascha Zverev, then. Will he ever win a major? Er, if I’m going to answer my own question I’d say that the answer is no because there’ll always be someone better, but his win at the Madrid Open, featuring wins over Thiem and Nadal, hinted at a better tomorrow. I’d be surprised if he sorted things this time, but as long as he keeps improving there’s always a chance.
Order of play on the show courts
Chatrier
Tan v Vondoursova [20]
Khachanov [23] v Nishikori
Williams S [7] v Buzarnescu
Paul v Medvedev [2] (evening session)
**
Lenglen
Zverev [6] v Safiullin
Hercog v Garcia
Tsitsipas [5] v Martinez
Sasnovich v Sabalenka [3]
**
Mathieu
Kasatkina v Bencic [10]
Laaksonen v Bautista Agut [11]
Azarenka [15] v Tauson
Couacaud v Carreno Busta [12]
Preamble
Morning! And welcome to another sizzling day of Roland-Garros goodness. Sticking out a mile, we’ve got Karen Khachanov [23] v Kei Nishikori – they’re up second on Chatrier – but there’s plenty more besides. Sasnovich v Sabalenka [3] looks a belter, and we’ve also got Vondrousova, Serena, Zverev and Tsitsipas – among others. On y va!
Play: 11am local, 10am BST (and 12pm local, 11am BST for Chatrier)
