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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

French Open: Daniil Medvedev eases through but Denis Shapovalov crashes out in opening round

Daniil Medvedev made a comfortable start to his French Open campaign as he eased past Facundo Bagnis in the first round.

The world number two, who will not be playing at Wimbledon next month due to a ban on Russian players, beat Bagnis 6-2 6-2 6-2 to set up a second-round clash against Laslo Dere.

It was just the second match Medvedev has played in almost two months, after hernia surgery kept him off the court following the Miami Open in March. He lost his comeback match against Richard Gasquet in Geneva a week ago but looked back in form here, against an opponent in Bagnis who himself appeared to be struggling with injury.

Denis Shapovalov, the 14th seed, crashed out though, continuing his incredibly poor record at Roland Garros.

The Canadian has reached at least the quarter-finals at all of the other three Grand Slams but has never made it past the second round in Paris, and that run was extended as 19-year-old Holger Rune secured a 6-3 6-1 7-6 victory.

“I didn’t really show up today, so it’s a little bit difficult,” Shapovalov said. “Of course, Holger is playing some great tennis, he won his first title, he’s pushing some top guys.

“So not taking anything away from him, obviously he’s playing great tennis. But I think against most players today I wouldn’t come out the winner.”

On the women’s side of the draw, Karolana Pliskova had to come from a set down to eventually beat France’s Tessah Andrianjafitrimo, while Madison Keys battled her way past Anna Kalinskaya.

Jelena Ostapenko, 2017 French Open champion, arrived in Paris on a five-match losing streak, but she was able to break that with a 6-1 6-4 win over Lucia Bronzetti to set up a second-round match against home favourite Alize Cornet.

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