Day three reports
With apologies to Simona Halep, who was meant to be on court today around midday (BST) but still hasn’t appeared for her first-round match against Nastasja Schunk, I’m going to get off now. It’s hometime. But stay tuned for Tumaini Carayol’s day report from Roland Garros. Until next time, goodbye!
A memorable career. @tsonga7 I #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ZY6SOxmFQT
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 24, 2022
Jessica Pegula, daughter of billionaire Terry Pegula (Forbes’ 434th richest man in the world earning a fortune from oil, real estate and sporting investments, including owning the NFL team Buffalo Bills), is in great form at the moment. The No 11 seed reached the final in Madrid and is leading Wang Qiang. She’s one set up and it’s on serve in the second.
Alex de Minaur is in real danger of blowing it against the unseeded Frenchman, Hugo Gaston. After winning the first set, the Australian lost the second set 6-2, with Gaston serving for the match at 5-3 up in the third!
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Both American Jessica Pegula and Tamara Zidansek look like they are safely through to the second round. Both are a set up in their matches against Wang Qiang and Claire Liu, respectively.
Paula Badosa, a real contender for the title here, is on court for her first-round match against Fiona Ferra. The Manhattan-born Spaniard took some time off before the French Open.
“I really needed it,” she said last week. “It’s been a tough year, with a lot of new things: new challenges, expectations, and a lot of things to handle. With all that, came a lot of emotions, to be honest, and I really needed to stop for at least a day or two where I could be on the sofa at home and think about me and how I am right now.
Badosa is already a break up on Ferro. She’s 2-0 to the good in the first set.
Dear @tsonga7,
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 24, 2022
Here's to you.
🧡 @andy_murray, @DjokerNole, @RafaelNadal and @rogerfederer#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Qzc73u0zBl
Thank you for indulging me there, but that was a genuinely touching ceremony after an amazing match we witnessed between Tsonga and Ruud.
OK, back to the live tennis. Andrey Rublev came back from a set down to beat Kwon Soon-woo, while Frances Tiafoe is two set up on Benjamin Bonzi but a break down in the third set.
Mayar Sherif served expertly to come through against Marta Kostyuk, and Halep’s match against Schunk – having seen their match delayed from yesterday and all day today – should finally get underway in a few minutes on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
Now, Tsonga comes to the mic:
“Today is a big day. A day that I say goodbye. I’d like to thank everyone that’s come with me on this adventure. I had the luck and the opportunity to do all of this. It’s been amazing to be part of a wonderful generation of French players.”
He thanks his family, his coaches, the federation, the sponsors.
“I wanted to show resilience from a young age. I’m going to stay the person I am, and stay active, and do that as well as I can. I’ve had fabulous days and some that have not been so good. I’m a French play, I’m a Swiss player, I’m a Congolese player, I’m a black player, I’m a white player.
I’m now standing in front of you without my racket along with my best friends of 30 years. Thank you Noura for being alongside me. My family are now my priority. Thank you tennis. I love you.
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Gilles Simon, who is just about to go out on court against Pablo Carreño Busta, is the next to come out. Simon will also retire today, apparently, if he loses. Now comes Benoît Paire, Gasquet and Gael Monfils. All of them warmly embrace Tsonga.
Now come the video messages from a few familiar faces:
Andy Murray: “I always loved watching you play and competing against you. All the best, mate.”
Novak Djokovic: “Jo is one of the most charismatic players ever to play the game. It’s a big loss for professional men’s tennis. He should be happy about his achievements.”
Rafa Nadal: “I’m sad to see him going but we’re getting old!”
Roger Federer: “Congratulations, Jo. It was a pleasure to play against you, even to lose against you. All the best for the future. Enjoy the moment in Paris with your friends and family.”
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Oh god, here come mum and dad, and his brother and sister. I’ve gone. Lastly, his wife Noura and their two children.
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It seems there will be an official presentation for Tsonga. Amélie Mauresmo, the former grand slam winner and now the French Open director, comes out on court, as do a few of Tsonga’s former coaches, even the ones from his childhood. All of them seem to have a very special bond with the 37-year-old. This is genuinely moving.
Ruud is the first to be interviewed:
A great match. I don’t want to talk about that, I want to talk about Jo. It’s sad for me to talk. You’ve been an inspiration to me and so many other players around the world. Thank you for all the memories.
Ruud is crying as he talks.
He’s such a nice guy on and off the court and a perfect example of how a tennis player should be. It’s been an honour to watch him.
Over a minute’s applause for the Frenchman, who gave the No 8 seed the fright of his life today. Who knows if he would have gone on to serve the fourth set out? Probably, but we’ll never know.
Never forget 🧡@tsonga7 | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/6tzV4FHhzg
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 24, 2022
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Ruud beats Tsonga 6-7 (6), 7-6 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (0)!
Tsonga is out, and his career is over. A hug from Ruud for Tsonga at the net. Tsonga falls to his knees and thanks the crowd. What a moment.
The curtain comes down 😢@CasperRuud98 ends Tsonga's farewell tour with a 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-2, 7-6(0) opening round victory.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/jOA3HxObxG
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 24, 2022
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Tsonga is done. He can’t hit the ball properly. Ruud canters to 3-0 up. This is surely the end of Tsonga’s career. He is battling bravely on, but every shot is hit with a wince of pain. He’s operating at around 30% power. Tsonga even resorts to hitting a shot left handed, such is the discomfort. But nobody is laughing. It’s a desperately sad way to bring the curtain down on this wonderful match, and on a brilliant career. Ruud is ruthless, and gets to 6-0. Six match points. A change of ends. The crowd rise. Tsonga is in tears. I’ve got something in my eye as well.
He’s going to give it a go! Tsonga is back on court, and Ruud takes his place. I forgot to mention, Ruud did win that game, in which Tsonga was injured. So we’re into a tie-break.
Tsonga gets a medical time-out. The trainer rubs some sort of gel into his shoulder. Tsonga is smiling, at least. The tears have temporarily subsided. Ruud has left the court, either to have a hit on one of the practice courts, or to go to the loo. It’s unclear whether Tsonga will continue.
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Tsonga is injured! The trainer is called onto the court. Oh no!
I think Tsonga is injured. He can barely serve. What has happened?! It’s not clear, but something must have gone on that changeover. The court falls deathly quiet. Tsonga bashes his forehead with his palm in frustration. Oh no, this is not the way it should end. Tsonga resorts to an underarm serve, such is the pain he is in. I think it’s his shoulder. What a desperate moment for this to happen, just as he was serving for the fourth set.
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Tsonga breaks! Oh, my days. What is happening?! Tsonga, ranked 297 in the world, is one service game away from a fifth set against the No 8 in the world. This was meant to be jsut a nice farewell. Tsonga leads 6-5 and has a chance to tie the match at two sets all. New balls, and Tsonga picks up a new racket on the changeover. La Marseillaise rings around Chatrier. Goosebumps.
Oh no! At 40-0 up, Tsonga tries another drop shot when a simple forehand winner would have sufficed and Ruud roars back to make it deuce. I’m not certain but I think there are tears in Tsonga’s eyes. Emotions running high in what could be his final game. but then … wow! Two absolute rockets serves sees Tsonga close out his service game for 5-5! Tsonga gestures to the crowd, throwing his arms in celebration. Chatrier is rocking!
Back we go to Chatrier. Tsonga is just about still in this, and rallies to make it 4-4. A few more errors coming into Ruud’s game. We’ve nearly had three and a half hours and if anything, Tsonga is looking the more energised. Can his body hold up, though?
Brit watch: Raducanu’s second-round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich will be first up on Lenglen tomorrow. Cam Norrie will be second on Court Six. He plays Jason Kubler, who you can read about here.
This is not limited to Ruud, but it never fails to amaze me how good professional tennis players are at returning. Like, Tsonga is out here hitting hammers from corner to corner, and Ruud simply scurries around the back of the court, slicing each one back into play. I know not every player moves like Ruud, but still.
Tsonga serve and volleys magnificently to seal his service game. It’s 2-2, this match is by no means done and dusted.
Two matches have just started in the men’s draw: Alex de Minaur, No 19 seed here, is underway against Hugo Gaston (3-1 up to the Australian), while Frances Tiafoe has beaten Benjamin Bonzi to the first set on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
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Massive kick on Ruud’s second serve, as the Norwegian holds for a 2-1 lead in the fourth. The Wilson balls used here have a lot more bounce than the Babalat ones, that were the ball of the French Open until 2020. From memory there was an 8cm differential between Nadal’s average stroke and the height of his stroke last year. That’s a huge deal higher.
Kalinskaya closed out that second set against Keys 6-3. We’re into a third and final set there.
Tsonga’s father, Didier, is having a lovely time in the stands. His smile is as wide as the Seine. He must be very proud of his son.
Tsonga is absolutely leathering the ball with his forehand. A few winners. A lost of errors. Fair play, the lad is going for it but this feels like last-chance saloon. One-nil down in the fourth set, Tsonga saves a break point and closes out the game with a couple of neat volleys to make it 1-1.
Somebody in the crowd has produced a trumpet from somewhere in an attempt to rouse the subdued supporters. Gael Monfils looks on pensively.
Ruud romps to the third set 6-2!
Ruud has taken control of this third set and is now two sets to one up on Tsonga. You have to applaud the way that he’s handled the pressure and the crowd. Tsonga’s footwork and energy has sort of deserted him, and Ruud has been there to pick up the pieces. Steady, rather than spectacular, but his errors have been few and far between.
Kalinskaya has come back into it against Keys. After losing the first set 6-3, the Russian is 5-2 up in the second set.
Should mention, Halep’s match with Shunk has been pushed back to 4.40pm BST, although that’s just an estimate.
The crowd find their voice, and so does Tsonga, now grunting as he powers his way to break point. But another sloppy error lets Ruud get to deuce. That’s 41 unforced errors for the Frenchman, with just 15 to Ruud. Ruud closes out the game nicely with a gorgeous drop shot and another wayward Tsonga forehand. Forty-two unforced errors now. That’s 4-1 to the Norwegian.
Ah. The MBMers’ curse. After saving break point with a smash to get to deuce, Tsonga double faults to hand the advantage to Ruud, and the Norwegian capitalises! Ruud rips an in-out forehand cross court and Tsonga doesn’t have the mobility to get racket on ball! Ruud breaks! He’s 3-1 up in the third.
Tsonga is just out here hitting bombs. Close your eyes, listen to the sound of that heavy forehand and it could just be 2012.
Caroline Garcia bounces into the second round, beating Taylor Townsend in straight sets on Lenglen. Another French player through!
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Tsonga is oscillating between the sublime and the ridiculous. One-nil down in the third, he saves set point with some agile net play, then inexplicably bins one half-way up the net. But a couple of aces later, he squares things up at 1-1. We are level and on serve.
Madison Keys is going great guns against Anna Kalinskaya. The American prepared well for this tournament, in Madrid and Rome (even if results were a little disappointing) and is 6-3 and a break up in the second set against her Russian opponent.
Tsonga leaves the court for a comfort break. Whatever happens here, he can be proud of his performance. He needs to keep being aggressive, and keep the points short. If this goes to five sets, you have to fancy Ruud, with Tsonga having limited preparation for this tournament.
Ruud wins second set tiebreak against Tsonga
Tiebreak: Ruud 7-4 Tsonga. A soft Tsonga forehand into the net gifts Ruud a point on his serve and an even flimsier attempted drop shot drifts out to hand Ruud the break. Ruud then pushes Tsonga all round the back of the court to force an error that gives him two set points at 6-4. He takes the first of them, courtesy of Tsonga’s marginally overhit return, and we’re level at one set all. Will Ruud’s stamina and clay-court smarts give him the edge from here on in? Michael will tell you, as he’s back from his break. See you’se all later.
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Tiebreak: Ruud 3-3 Tsonga. A deft drop shot at the net gives Tsonga the first mini-break of the tiebreak at 2-0, but he gives it back when he – just – overhits a forehand to the back of the court. Tsonga responds with a coruscating ace but an unkind net cord in the next point ensures they change ends level.
Ruud holds to love with a minimum of fuss to set up a tiebreak. Meanwhile Marion Keyes is swaggering through the first set against the Russian Anna Kalinskaya on Court 7, leading 5-1.
Ruud needs the morale-boost of an emphatic service game, which he duly gets, holding to love to draw level at 5-5 in the second set. A skimming on-the-line backhand winner sets Tsonga on his way in the next game. A netted forehand gives Ruud a glimpse at 30-15 but strong serving eases Tsonga to a 6-5 lead. Looks like we’re headed for another tiebreak.
Ilya Ivashka has ended Benoît Paire’s comeback, coming back from 5-4 down to take the fourth set and the match to wrap up a 6-3, 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 win. As Tsonga holds serve to move 5-4 up in the second set. Ruud now serving to avoid going two sets down.
Tsonga breaks back straight away! This is a compellin game: a beautiful back-hand pass from the back of the court at the start of Ruud’s service game is a good riposte from Tsonga but the No 7 seed’s response is strong, including a delicious drop shot that drops dead on landing on the other side of the net. A fantastic rally featuring smart drop shots from both players goes Tsonga’s way to make it 30-30. And then it’s Ruud’s turn to be wasteful, walloping a routine forehand beyond the baseline. And Tsonga converts his break point, pushing Ruud around the back of the court before nailing a forehand to the corner. 4-4, second set.
Ruud breaks Tsonga. Two more break points for Ruud, looking as if he’s regained some of his earlier spark, and this time he converts courtesy of an overhit forehand from Tsonga. A frustratingly careless shot. The Norwegian leads 4-3 in the second set.
More Parisien cheers as Caroline Garcia serves out the first set against Taylor Townsend to take it 6-3 but Ivashka has broken back against Paire to pull it back to 5-5 in the fourth set, Ivashka leading by two sets to one.
A bit of bother for Andrey Rublev on Court 14 – he’s lost the first set on a tiebreak against Kwon Soon-woo while Paire is serving for the fourth set against Ivashka.
And Marion Keyes, seeded 22 in the women’s draw, is under way against Anna Kalinskaya and 2-1 up in the first set. No breaks of serve there yet.
A real howler from Tsonga, whacking an attempted winger beyond the corner of an open court, hands Ruud two break points, but Tsonga manoeuvres him round the court well to save the first and saves the second with a gleeful low smash at the net. The Frenchman goes on to hold, and he’s 3-2 and one set up.
Chance missed for Tsonga? Errors have crept into Ruud’s game and two returns into the net dog are followed by a wild netted volley to give Tsonga two break points. Ruud saves them both with emphatic serves, the second an ace, and goes on to take the game and keep the second set on serve at 2-2. Ruud’s serve got him out of jail there.
Thanks Michael. We’re sure going to miss Tsonga’s forceful elegance when he hangs his racket up, and he builds on that demanding tiebreak win by cruising through his first service game in the second set to 15. Ruud eases through his own service game too mind. 1-1 in the second set.
There’s plenty of French interest on the courts at the moment, with Benoit Paire forcing his way back into his match against Ilya Ivashka, romping through the third set 6-1 to reduce the deficit to two sets to one. And Caroline Garcia is 4-1 up in the first set against Taylor Townsend on Suzanne-Lenglen.
You got the feeling that, had Tsonga lost that tiebreak and this momentum, he would have folded completely. But now, buoyed by the crowd, he’s absolutely motoring. A real chance of a sensational upset here.
I’m off to get some lunch, and will leave you in the hands of Tom Davies. Enjoy the next hour or so. Cheers.
Tsonga beats Ruud to the first set! He wins 7-6 (6)
Ruud misses a simple forehand, and it’s a third set point for Tsonga. What an uncharacteristic error from the No 8 seed! Tsonga serves for the set … he’s done it! What a story we have here. Ruud is one of the best clay court players in the world, and Tsonga, all 37 years of him, has completely bossed the end of that set, closing it out with a smash at the net, after some booming groundstrokes. The crowd go crazy. Scenes!
Ruud claws it back to 5-4 … these are two huge serves for Tsonga to take the first set! A sharp volley gives him two set points … but Ruud saves them both. The first is a complete misjudgement by Tsonga who lets a shot go at the net, the ball bouncing just inside the baseline. Ruud is brave to save the second: coming into the net and expertly volleying past Tsonga to take it to 6-6.
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Four-two up, and Tsonga double faults! Ooooooo, his first of the match, and what a time to do it. Tsonga mutters to the sky, lets hope that doesn’t throw him off. No! The Frenchman comes motoring into the net, and forces the error from Ruud. We’re at 5-3!
This is magnificent stuff. Tsonga is bossing every point and finding the lines. Ruud has no answer to it, as Tsonga moves to 3-1 up in the tie-break.
Tsonga sends a clumsy drop shot down the middle but whips a forehand down the line to earn an early mini-break to go 1-0 up. He bins one in the net for 1-1. A nice unreturned serve out wide sees the Frenchman take a 2-1 lead over Ruud in the tie-break.
Another Tsonga service game, another 0-30 deficit. But a first serve gets him out of trouble for 15-30 and a booming forehand levels things up at 30-30. This is ELECTRIC tennis. Tsonga seems to throw every ounce of himself, and there are a few of them, at every forehand, and his power is too much for Ruud. Tsonga closes out the service game, we’re going to a tie-break!
Elsewhere, No 7 seed Andrey Rublev has got underway against Kwon Soon-woo.
It’s fairly quiet on the women’s draw, with just Ekaterina Alexandrova in action against Greet Minnen.
To be fair to Ruud, he’s holding serve with ease, and increasingly becoming wise to Tsonga’s drop shots. The Norwegian moves into the lead at 6-5 in the first.
This is exhibition stuff from Tsonga! He’s making things difficult for himself, getting himself 0-30 down on his own service games, but comes roaring back every time with some huge forehands and cute play at the net. The crowd are absolutely loving it, I reckon Chatrier is full now. It’s 5-5 in the first, with the pressure is on Ruud.
Gasquet is through! He beats Lloyd Harris 6-1, 6-3, 6-4!
The sun has come out. Tsonga is really taking this all in, looking high up into the stands and smiling knowingly. He’s loving it out there.
Tsonga showing brilliant feel at the net! He’s banging down big serves and finishing things nicely up by the tape. He levels things up at 3-3 after a brilliant pick up off his toes.
We’ve got quite a game on our hands between Arantxa Rus and No 16 seed Elena Rybakina, with the latter winning the first set, before losing the second 7-5. Rybakina currently a break up in the third.
I mentioned Gasquet earlier, owner of the best backhand on tour, and he’s currently on Lenglen, beating Lloyd Harris comfortably. It’s 6-3, 6-1, 3-2 in favour of the 35-year-old.
Tsonga passes up two break points before Ruud holds to take a 2-1 lead. It’s on serve. The big Frenchman is moving well!
Not strictly a tennis update, but true nonetheless.
Cold from the BBC News ticker pic.twitter.com/PIRbj2tTOs
— James Dart (@James_Dart) May 24, 2022
Tsonga holds his first service game. It’s 1-1! The crowd are up for it, they can have a big part to play. The stands are still only half full. That’s disappointing. Alongside Monfils and Gasquet, he’s one of the best French players in the past 15 years, and you’d think the home crowd would be pouring in to pay tribute to him. Alas.
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Ruud wins the opening service game to love. Tsonga is moving like a heavily-built 37-year-old should be moving … gingerly. But there’s no denying the quality of Tsonga’s groundstrokes if he can get it going. Tsonga needs to be aggressive and keep the points short. If he’s passive and does a lot of running, this could be a swift end to his career.
Tsonga and Ruud are out on court, with plenty of goodwill cascading from the stands toward the barrel-chested Frenchman, who is now ranked 297 in the world. He’s up against it today, against Ruud, although the Norwegian has never gone past the third round here. Sorry to say that Chatrier is only half-full at present, although I expect it will fill up when the match gets underway.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is next up on Philippe-Chatrier. This is a very special match, with the Frenchman announcing this will be his final appearance at Roland Garros before retiring. So, against the No 8 seed Casper Ruud, could be his last match. There might be a delay as it is tipping it down in Paris. They are going to have to close the roof, so expect the atmosphere to be piping hot.
The 37-year-old twice reached the semi-finals here, in 2013 and 2015, and had this to say before the tournament.
I feel both relieved to know that it’s the last, because I still have my mind and my body telling me it’s time to stop, and at the same time very excited. I’ve always loved playing here at Roland Garros, It has always been a very important moment in my career. Today, I want to go on the court. I will meet a player who is very good, who is very consistent. I know it will be a tough game ahead. I’m happy to be able to experience this and whatever happens, it will be a celebration for me.”
Pliskova beats Andrianjafitrimo in three sets!
That was a little hairy for the Czech, who was battered in the first set but really stepped it up in the third to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Shapovalov is out!
Eeeeeeeeeesh.
19yo Holger Rune upsets 14th seed Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(4) to reach the second round in Paris.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) May 24, 2022
This is Rune's second top 20 win (also d. Zverev) and first at a slam. Disaster for Shapovalov, who hit 53(!) unforced errors in 3 sets.
Alizé Cornet, the home favourite who is unseeded but reached the quarter-final of the Australian Open earlier this year, beats Misaki Doi in straight sets Philippe-Chatrier, coming to the net to sweep a cross-court winner inside the baseline for match point.
“This is my favourite court in the world. I hope to be back on in for the second round.”
She will play Ostapenko in the next round.
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Medvedev is interviewed after the match, thanking the crowd and talking about how his body feels good. He had a hernia operation earlier this year and admitted before the tournament here that “clay for my body is the most dangerous surface. For me it’s clay courts—every time, every year I have some problems where I cannot be 100%. I don’t play my best tennis on clay.”
With that, he can be pleased with his day’s work. The Russian trots into the second round.
Medvedev beats Bagnis 6-2, 6-2, 6-2!
A formality, in the end. On match point, Bagnis skies a forehand into the crowd, and that is that.
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Medvedev is just a game away from victory, while Pliskova is a break up in the deciding third set against Andrianjafitrimo.
I like the look of that ‘quiet room’ …
A place to relax between practice and matches 💅😴
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 24, 2022
Visit the player-only areas at #RolandGarros with @Matryochka. pic.twitter.com/5i5FQOVNel
The weather at Roland Garros is very changeable. Sunshine one moment, rain the next. Medvedev and Bagnis are battling through the latter currently, with the Russian a break up in the third and en route to an easy straight-sets win.
Pliskova takes the second set against Andrianjafitrimo 6-3!
We’re into the third and final set on Court Simonne-Mathieu. The Czech looks like she has woken up.
Two results from the women’s draw to update you on:
Danielle Collins and Jelena Ostapenko are both through to the second round after straight-set wins over Viktoriya Tomova and Lucia Bronzetti, respectively.
Medvedev romps to the second set against Bagnis. 6-2, 6-2!
The Russian closes it out with an ace down the T, in a game that also included the deftest of drop shots and a chat with the umpire (in French, Medvedev is fluent, owing to him living full-time in the south of France).
Pliskova has recovered in the second set against Andrianjafitrimo. The No 8 seed is 4-1 up as she attempts to level the match by taking the second set.
Something you may have missed from yesterday was a shock loss for Stan Wawrinka to local wildcard Corentin Moutet, which was notable as a five-set epic but also because of comments Wawrinka made to the umpire about the temperature of the water at Roland Garros.
It is not normal at a grand slam,” said the 2015 French Open champion. “Is that normal? Do you think it is normal? So you call someone. It has been three changeovers, I asked you for some water that is not fucking freezing! Because it is not good. You are at the French Open and you cannot get normal water! You think it is normal?”
If this sounds like a bizarre complaint, it is actually something that tennis players care quite a lot about. This is from Novak Djokovic’s book, Serve to Win. The Serbian drinks only warm water on court, apparently.
“When you drink ice water, the body needs to send additional blood to the digestive system in order to heat the water to 98.6 degrees. There’s some benefit to this process - heating the cold water burns a few additional calories. But it also slows digestion and diverts blood away from where I want it - in my muscles.”
Hang on, Bagnis sends a forehand down the line and he has won a game! 4-1 down in the second set, the comeback is on!
Bagnis is not moving well at all. This is turning into something of a procession for Medvedev, who has won the last eight games. He’s 6-2, 4-0 up. Bagnis is limping, but appears determined to pick up his prize money! The Argentinian can barely get off the ground when serving.
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Denis Shapovalov is down both a set and a break against the unseeded Holger Rune, who has converted three of his four break points to lead 6-3, 3-0!
Andrianjafitrimo closes out the set against Pliskova 6-2!
What a start from Andrianjafitrimo, who is only here after receiving a lucky loser place after losing a Morocco Open final to compatriot Kristina Mladenovic last week. Pliskova has it all to do.
Medvedev beat Bagnis to the first set 6-2
Well, that was quick. A combination of Medvedev stepping up his game, and Bagnis struggling with that calf injury sees the Russian run away with the first set. Eurosport commentators are speculating that Bagnis is unfit to continue but hanging on a little to collect the first-round prize money. Not sure if I agree with that, although the Argentinian is certainly not 100%. If he retired early from this first-round match, he would only collect half of the €62,000 prize money, which equates to about a quarter of his earnings this year.
Pliskova is continuing to have a bit of a howler against Andrianjafitrimo. She’s 5-1 down, and struggling against the French player. We have an upset on our hands here.
Australian Open 2022 finalist Danielle Collins has roared through her first set with Viktoriya Tomova. Six-love, a morning donut for the Bulgarian.
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Excited to see Simona Halep later. The 2018 French Open champion is on court at 2.35pm BST against Nastasja Schunk as she makes her way back from a calf injury, with the 30-year-old also taking some time out to get married. She’s ranked 19 here, but most certainly a top-10 player on her day. However, there are some hurdles to overcome for the Romanian.
“I had the biggest injury of my career, and I didn’t know how to manage it at the start,” she told CNN in a revealing pre-tournament interview. “I was scared and had low confidence because I felt my body didn’t hold anymore. I really suffered and I didn’t see any light outside of the tunnel.”
After a couple of breaks from both Medvedev and Bagnis, we’re on serve on Suzanne Lenglen. Bagnis has looked lively and bring the Russian to the net with a sumptuous drop shot. Medvedev is one of the best movers on tour, but can only bunt it back over the net for an easy Bagnis finish. Lovely stuff.
Preamble
Welcome to the third day of the French Open at Roland Garros! The second seed in the men’s draw, and soon-to-be Wimbledon absentee, Daniil Medvedev, is first up on Suzanne Lenglen, against Facundo Bagnis. Ranked just outside the top 100, Bagnis has a heavily strapped right calf – this should be fairly straightforward for the Russian. But we’ve already seen some upsets this year in Paris. Medvedev receives a warm welcome from the French crowd. He reached the quarter-finals last year after four previous first-round exits.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Denis Shapovalov gets going against Holger Rune, while home favourite Ugo Humbert is underway against Emil Ruusuvuori.
Interestingly, on Court Simonne-Mathieu, No 8 seed Karolina Pliskova is currently 2-0 down in the opening set to Tessah Andrianjafitrimo, while Danielle Collins and lead Jeļena Ostapenko have early leads in their first-round matches against Viktoriya Tomova and Lucia Bronzetti respectively.
If you want to catch up on yesterday’s goings on, have a little gander below:
Let’s get into i
Let’s get into it!
