The French Open continues today as the Grand Slam tennis action ramps up at Roland Garros.
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Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek arrive in Paris as the respective defending singles champions, and it is the men’s side of the draw where there appears to be more players with realistic hopes of major glory.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have each had injury issues in recent weeks and Djokovic has questions to answer over his form, giving the likes of Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud hope of making a deep run.
Sadly, Kei Nishikori called it quits ahead of starting the third set due to a shoulder injury – thereby ending his first Grand Slam appearance in almost three years.
Next for US rising star Shelton in the third round will be Canadian 21st seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Henri Squire in four sets earlier today.
Sadly, we've got the covers back on the outside courts in Paris — although the heavy rain has eased off.
Which means we're down to just one live game, that being on Court Suzanne-Lenglen as last year’s beaten finalist and seventh seed, Casper Ruud, takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. This one is five games in and has so far gone with serve.
Even if the rain continues to fall, there will be another game on Court Philippe-Chatrier when Lorenzo Musetti (30) takes on French favorite, Gael Monfils. But that one won’t start for another 45 minutes.
OFNER 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-5 7-5(5) BAEZ
It’s been an epic on Court 3. Argentine 20th seed Sebastian Baez won the first two sets, only for Austria’s Sebastian Ofner to take the next two and force a decider.
That went all the way to a deciding tiebreak, where Ofner took control early and came through 10-5.
A remarkable match and result, which takes Ofner into a third-round match against the winner of Corentin Moutet vs Alexander Shevchenko. Moutet is currently two sets to the good, but a break down in the third.
Let’s have a quick catch-up on some of the action on the outside courts, now we’ve got sunshine in Paris:
17th seed Liudmila Samsonova made light work of US outsider Amanda Anisimova, winning 6-2, 6-1.
Samsonova’s opponent in the third round will be Elisabetta Cocciaretto, who has just beaten Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 6-4.
US 11th seed Danielle Collins is out, suffering a shock loss to Ola Danilovic 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4.
Frances Tiafoe (25) is also out, losing to Denis Shapovalov 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
VOLYNETS 6-0 1-6 4-6 VONDROUSOVA
This was another match that felt like it went on for days but after a scare, fifth seed Marketa Vondrousova is through at the expense of US challenger, Katie Volynets.
Both players exchanged breaks in the decider, but it was Vondrousova who piled on the pressure in the final game with two winners to take advantage of a rare Volynets double fault.
On her third match point, Vondrousova got it done and the Czech will now face French outsider Chloe Paquet in the third round.
Paquet won an epic against another Czech, Katerina Siniakova (32), on Court 7 a little earlier today. That one finished 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(6).
Madison Keys (14) has a beaming smile after pocketing that win over Mayar Sherif in straight sets. Speaking on court, Keys said:
💬 “She really raised her level in the second set. I had a few chances to break but couldn’t do it. Had I done, things might have been different. But I’m really happy to get things done in two sets.
“I missed the beginning of the season and felt some pressure trying to catch-up with everyone in Miami. But once I got some momentum in Madrid, it’s been so far so good. I’m just really happy with how I’m playing and that I get another match here.”
It’s a day off tomorrow for Keys, who said she will try to find an indoor court to practice despite the weather – but if she doesn’t manage it, she’s happy to rest too. That sounds like a lovely place to be.
Madison Keys (14) was dominant in the opening set but the second was very different on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
A brief exchange of breaks mid-set was led by Mayar Sherif, who then earned three set points in the tiebreak. But Keys dug in, saved them all and then took her one and only shot at match point to reach the third round.
Keys will now face either Sara Errani or compatriot and 22nd seed, Emma Navarro in the third round.
DJOKOVIC 6-4 1-0* CARBALLES BAENA
That was a pretty competitive first set from Roberto Carballes Baena against the world No 1 after those early exchanges, but Novak Djokovic knows exactly how to navigate these things.
With the Spaniard serving to stay in the set, Djokovic ups the ante and pockets the first of two break points to nick the opening set.
It remains difficult to see anything other than a straight sets win here for the top seed, but we’ll see.
The covers are coming off
Better news from the outside courts too at Roland Garros, with the covers off and umbrellas put to one side.
Here's hoping we'll get a clear afternoon of play from here on in. There's a lot of catching up to do.
And remember, that includes an earlier start on Friday when play will begin an hour earlier than has been the case this week.
The covers are coming off
Better news from the outside courts too at Roland Garros, with the covers off and umbrellas put to one side.
Here's hoping we'll get a clear afternoon of play from here on in. There's a lot of catching up to do.
And remember, that includes an earlier start on Friday when play will begin an hour earlier than has been the case this week.
