Righto, that is us for today. Thanks all for your company and please do join me again tomorrow from 11am BST. But until then, peace out.
Updated
Fils levels the match against Davidovich Fokina at one set all; Haddad Maia leads Maria 6-0 1-0 with a break; Tiafoe leads Krajinovic 6-3 2-1 with a break; Struff now leads Lehecka 5-7 6-1 2-0 … and Alcaraz holds for 6-0 6-2 2-2.
Ooooh yeah! Thiem serves out to love, so he and Cachin will play the decider we deserve. That’s good of them, and on Lenglen, Cobolli has a break point having missed one a second ago…
Updated
Seeking breaks, both Garcia and Thiem get to deuce, but Wang and Cachin survive. Thiem will now try and serve out set four for the second time; Wang and Garcia are 2-2 in the decider.
Updated
Ach, Cachin comes in on advantage, Thiem sends a backhand wide, and that’s now 3-5 in set four. The Austrian will, though, get another shy at serving out, assuming he doesn’t break first.
Alcaraz rushes through the second set and now leads 6-0 6-2 – he’s playing beautifully; Wang holds to love and levels her match with Garcia 5-7 6-4; Thiem, serving for the fourth against Cachin, is at deuce.
Updated
Thiem serves consecutive aces – not often you see that on clay – and he leads 5-2 in set four now while, on Chatrier, Garcia is serving to stay in set two at 3-5.
Updated
Yes Dominic! He breaks Cachin and is properly dominating this match now, 4-1 up as he tries to force a decider, while Cobolli wins another game and it occurs to me that he has very nice eyes. Alcaraz leads 6-0 3-2.
Thiem breaks Cachin for 2-1 in set four and it’s so good to see him competing like this again – I hope he can get back to where he was. And on Lenglen, Cobolli wins a game, sort of enjoying the whooping of the crowd but sort of, well he’s a professional sportsman who doesn’t need or want sympathy cheers. Alcaraz leads 6-1 3-1.
Lehecka breaks Struff for 6-5 then serves out for 7-5 and set one; Tiafoe leads Krajinovic 4-1.
A near-perfect set (of tennis) means Alcaraz takes the first set against Cobolli 6-0. He is going to take some stopping.
Wang breaks for 2-1 in set two – though Garcia helps by sending down two doubles. Elsewhere, Davidovich Fokina leads Fils 6-1, Krajinovic and Tiafoe are on serve at 1-2, Tirante has beaten Van de Zandschulp 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-4 and Coria has levelled his match with Coric at 1-1.
Updated
Alcaraz is blowing Cobolli away here, a gorgeously-disguised drop making clear his mastery of the game. How can Cobolli compete when faced with shots no other player hits? I remember the first time Calv Betton, our resident coach, saw him – he told me he was going to be the best in the world – and he was right. I’d still back Djokovic to do him in the semi, but even if it’s not this term, it won’t be long. He breaks again for 5-0 in set one.
Updated
Two breakers: Garcia takes hers off Wang to four, and Thiem leads Cachin 5-0 as he tries to force a fourth set.
I can’t lie, I do love Stan, and it’s so good to see him back. It’s mad really, he’s won as many majors as Andy Murray – though unlike Murray, he hasn’t lost six finals.
Stan Wawrinka beats Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(5) 6-4 (2)6-7 1-6 6-4!
After four hours, 35 minutes and a really fun match, the Stanimal is into round two. There he shall meet Thanasi Kokkinakis, who played well in beating Dan Evans yesterday.
Stan is serving for the match again, and surely he’ll close out this time. His forehand has been dangerous today, and a table tennis shot at the next allows him the putaway which earns another match point.
Updated
Alcaraz breaks Cobolli immediately, and you can learn more about him from Tumaini’s excellent profile.
Garcia is loving it on Chatrier, whipping a forehand cross-court and brandishing arm to crowd. She takes set one 7-6(4) and though it’s not quite a steal, Wang was the better player for much of it.
Updated
Ramos-Vinolas earns advantage with a beautifully-disguised lob, but Wawrinka is soon botching match point. So Ramos-Vinolas goes again, Wawrinka rams a forehand into the net, and that’s 5-3 in the decider.
Garcia hangs on for her breaker and quickly establishes a mini-break for 3-0. Meantime, Davidovich Fokina leads Fils 3-0.
And now look! Wawrinka breaks again, and at 5-2 will shortly serve for the match. Meantime, Alcaraz strides onto Lenglen, Cobolli with him. Meantime, on Chatrier, Garcia is serving for a first-set breaker against Wang.
Holding break point, Ramos-Vinolas whams a forehand fractionally wide, then Wawrinka clobbers a forehand to the forehand side, opening the court for a winner into the opposite corner. He’s got so much power it’s ridiculous, and quickly closes out to lead 4-2 in the fifth.
Bencic is one of those players who seems to lose every time I watch her, and Avanesyan definitely coped with the pressure better than she did, winning four straight to seal her maiden major win. At 20, she looks a proper prospect.
Elina Avanesyan beats Belinda Bencic [12] 6-3 2-6 6-4!
Avanesyan, a lucky loser making her Roland-Garros debut, bins a seed for the biggest win of her career and meets Jeanjean next.
Updated
Fnarr fnarr! Wawrinkz guides a gloooorious backhand down the line, flicked with the wrist, and I can’t think of many who can play that like that – even if they’ve had a good night’s sleep. Still, he has to tramp through deuce for his consolidation, sealed with an ace then a forehand winner. He leads 3-1 in the fifth.
Wawrinka breaks Ramos-Vinolas early in the decider, though he looks like he’s been 12 rounds with the kluhrb; Tirante leads Van de Zandschulp 6-2 4-6 6-3 1-1; Avanesyan and Bencic are 4-4 in their decider; and Thiem leads Cachin by a break in the third, Cachin having won sets one and two.
Thanks Luke. Elina Svitolina has marked her Grand Slam return, following injury and having a baby, to bear Marta Trevisan, the number 26 sEed, 6-2 6-2. her husband, Gael Monfils, is there to enjoy the moment, and she meets Storm Hunter next – which sounds like a hobby whose enthusiasts get their own show on Bravo.
That’s the lot from me: Daniel, freshly fed and watered, has returned to take you through the rest of the afternoon. Enjoy.
Wawrinka 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-7 (2), 1-6, 1-1 *Ramos-Viñolas (*denotes next server)
Wawrinka, the male Swiss player who has the misfortune not to be Roger Federer, has lost all his momentum on Court 14. Ramos-Viñolas dominates the fourth, wins it 6-1, and it’s 1-1 in the fifth and final set.
Updated
*Garcia 2-0 Wang (*denotes next server)
On Philippe-Chatrier, Wang holds and gets on the board.
Updated
In the men’s singles on Court 9:
Van de Zandschulp [25] 2-6, 6-4, 3-5 Tirante
The 22-year-old Argentinian, Thiago Tirante, is currently serving for the third set against his 25th-seeded opponent.
Updated
Garcia 2-0 *Wang (*denotes next server)
Quick as a flash it’s 2-0. Garcia is hitting the ball sweetly and powerfully, and a difficult afternoon appears to be in store for the world No 64, Wang.
*Garcia 1-0 Wang (*denotes next server)
Garcia starts as she means to go on and breaks at the first time of asking having taken her opponent to deuce.
“She’s looking confident so far, Garcia,” says Jo Durie on commentary for Eurosport. “I thought she’s be more nervous than this.”
Novak Djokovic launched his quest for a record-breaking 23rd men’s Grand Slam singles title with a no-nonsense 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) first-round victory over debutant Aleksandar Kovacevic on at the French Open.
The two-times Roland Garros champion breezed through the first two sets before encountering resistance from the 24-year-old American whose lack of experience showed in the tiebreak on the world’s biggest clay court.
Djokovic ended the contest with a sizzling service return on his first match point. He will next face Hungarian journeyman Marton Fucsovics for a place in the third round. (Reuters)
Updated
On Philippe-Chatrier, Caroline Garcia [5] is under way against Wang Xiyu of China. The No 5 seed is also ranked No 5 in the world, while Wang is placed No 64 going into the second grand-slam event of the year.
Updated
On Court 12, meanwhile, Coric (seeded 15) takes the first set off Coria on a tiebreak, 7-6 (3).
Thiem 3-6, 2-6 Cachín is a latest score from Court 6.
The former world No 3, Thiem, is down at No 92 in the world these days and is looking likely to crash out against his Argentinian opponent, who is ranked No 64. The Austrian is two sets down and right up against it.
Following that sobering news from Stephens via Reuters, let’s take a look at the latest scores in the men’s singles.
On Court 14, it’s Wawrinka 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-7 (2), 0-3 Ramos-Viñolas – so the Spaniard is looking likely to go the distance with his Swiss opponent.
Racism has 'only gotten worse', says Sloane Stephens
Racist behaviour directed at athletes is getting worse and software designed to protect them from it has little impact, the world number 30 Sloane Stephens has said.
The American, speaking after her straight-sets first-round victory over Katerina Pliskova, said she has endured racism for her whole tennis career.
“Yes, it’s obviously been a problem my entire career,” said Stephens. “It has never stopped. If anything, it’s only gotten worse.” She did not go into specifics but said software such as the one available for players at the French Open, that is designed to block racist comments, could not stop it.
“I did hear about the software. I have not used it,” Stephens said. “I have a lot of obviously key words banned on Instagram and all of these things, but that doesn’t stop someone from just typing in an asterisk or typing it in a different way, which obviously software most of the time doesn’t catch.”
Professional athletes in all sports are regularly confronted with racist comments and behaviour with Real Madrid soccer player Vinícius Jr. the most notable recent case.
He was on the receiving end of racist chants at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium last week and his complaints about Spain and La Liga not doing enough to fight racism sparked a worldwide wave of support and a national debate in Spain.
Tottenham Hotspur were working this month with the Metropolitan Police to investigate an allegation of racial abuse towards South Korean striker Son Heung-min.
Stephens said the racism had reached a worrying level. “I mean, obviously when there is FBI investigations going on with what people are saying to you online, it’s very serious,” she said. She did not say whether she was referring to a specific case.
“Obviously it’s been something that I have dealt with my whole career. I think that, like I said, it’s only continued to get worse, and people online have the free rein to say and do whatever they want behind fake pages, which is obviously very troublesome.”
“It’s something I have had to deal with my whole career and something I will continue to deal with, I’m sure. That’s that.” (Reuters)
Updated
In the women’s singles: On Court Simonne-Mathieu, Svitolina took the first set v Trevisan (26th seed), 6-2, and they have just begun the second set.
Stearns v Siniakova is 2-2 in the first set, on Court 5 while on Court 7, Putintseva won the first v Zanevska, and they are now 2-2 in the second.
Henman pours some praise on Djokovic in Eurosport’s “The Cube”.
“It’s a very solid start. There was no messing around. Third set, he came through some difficult moments, but he won’t be disappointed about that. You have to come through those nervous moments. He will look at it as one down, six to go.”
Djokovic has a chat, in French to begin with …
“It’s a pleasure to play here, it’s a great tournament … there are a lot of emotions here … I am very motivated for to do well here.
“Congratulations to Alex for a big battle today. The conditions were difficult. The wind was changing. But I’m happy and I am staying positive …”
Djokovic brings a cheer from the crowd when the interviewer asks him if he’s happy to speak English or continue in French, and he says he’ll carry on in French.
“That was a long question. I think in the first sets I played really well … but then I missed opportunities and lost a little focus in the third set, but his level was strong … it wasn’t an easy opponent. I had to earn it.
“I’m looking for a French teacher,” he jokes at the end.
And he applauds the crowd and goes to pack up his kit. He will play Marton Fucsovics in the second round.
Updated
Any thoughts? You can email me, up until 4pm anyway when Daniel is back.
Djokovic [3] beats Kovacevic in straight sets! 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1)
No bother in the tiebreak for the Serb. The players come to the net and Kovacevic cracks a big smile as they embrace.
Updated
Third-set tiebreak! Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 6-6 (5-1) Kovacevic
Kovacevic crafts a lovely backhand winner down the line, on the run, to trouble the scorers in the tiebreak, but on the next point Djokovic unloads a beefy forehand straight down the same side of the court that is laden with power and leaves Kovacevic flat-footed. It’s 4-1 in the tiebreak, then 5-1 when the Serb sniffs a chance to come to the net and clips a smooth winner down the line.
Updated
Third-set tiebreak! Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 6-6 (3-0) Kovacevic
Djokovic wins the mini-break to begin after his opponent hits wide, the umpire dismounting his chair to check the mark in the tramlines. Quickly it’s 3-0, partly thanks to a belting unreturnable serve down the middle, and the Serb has a firm grip on this breaker already. Simon Reed on commentary tells us that Djokovic has won over 200 tiebreaks in his career …
Updated
Third-set tiebreak! Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 6-6 Kovacevic
Djokovic looks to have the first point sewn up but a forehand to the corner, having coming into the net, is telegraphed and Kovacevic is in place to belt it back, in unreturnable fashion. Djokovic taps his racket in approval as he walks back to the baseline.
Kovacevic buries a shot from the back of the court into the net for 15-15 and Djokovic wins the next point with a dainty, well-judged dink cross-court after both players sprint to the net. Djokovic wins the next two points with little fuss and we have a tiebreak in the third.
*Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 5-6 Kovacevic (*denotes next server)
The 24-year-old races to 40-0, Djokovic being Djokovic fights back to 40-30, but the world No 114 closes out the hold and he leads in the third set.
Updated
Thanks Daniel and enjoy your lunch.
Breaking news – literally, lol etc. – is that Kovacevic has just broken Djokovic’s serve to claw it back to 5-5 in the third. The Serb was serving for the match. Can the American claw his way back into this?
It’s 6-3, 6-2, 5-5.
Updated
Ramos-Vinolas isn’t going away, upping the gas on the forehand, enjoying a felicitous net cord, and breaking Wawrinka back for 4-4 in set three – Wawrinka, of course, leads by two sets to love. Otherwise, though. I’m going to nip off for some lunch, so here’s Luke McLaughlin to guide you through the next hour.
Karatsev is a dangerous floater – he was the top seed in qualifying – and has beaten Popyrin 6-3 (4)6-7 6-1 6-2. He meets Krajinovic or Tiafoe next. That’s a tough match for whichever of them it is.
Also going on:
Novak Djokovic is so, so good at moving through the early rounds with minimum fuss and maximum prejudice. He’s a game away, leading Kovacevic 6-3 6-2 5-3.
Vondroussova has beaten Parks 6-4 6-0 and meets Kasatkina next, which looks tasty; Cachin leads Thiem 3-0; Daniel is through having disposed of O’Connell 0,2 and 4, earning a second-round match against Alcaraz or Cobolli; and Avanesyan leads Bencic 6-3.
And here he is on own-clothes day, practising with a stick.
Updated
Wawrinkz always looks like he’s suddenly realised he’s got a match on, having been out till breakfast and forgotten his gear; today is no different, and he leads Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 6-4 3-1.
Coming up next on Mathieu: Svitolina v Trevisan [26].
I must say, I thought Felix would be playing better and more consistently than he is. I hoped he was over the hump when he got to the US semis in 2019, then again when he took Nadal to five sets in this competition last term. But things aren’t quite going for him, and injury isn’t the only reason why not.
Fabio Fognini beats Felix Auger-Aliassime [10] 6-4 6-4 6-3!
He played really well, and well done Felix who refused to call it; Fognini meets Kubler next.
Bautista Agut has beaten Wu 7-6(4) 6-1 6-1 – he faces Shang or Varillas next – and Tirante leads Van de Zandschulp, the number 25 seed, 6-2 1-1.
Djokovic breaks Kovacevic at the start of set three – he’ll be back in the hotel pretty shortly – then we see Norrie’s interview. He really enjoyed the match – a five-setter against a Frenchman in Paris is why he trains – and he felt his concentration was much better in the decider.
Norrie faces Pouille next, who qualified after admitting battles with alcohol and depression. Here’s the moment he cemented his spot in the draw…
OK, Auger-Aliassime has retrieved a break and is hitting bare drops in a bid to shorten the points. I can’t see any way he can win three sets straight even if he somehow saves this one, and I can’t decide if he’s being brave or silly by refusing to quit. Ultimately, though, Felix knows his own body, so.
A reminder that Carlos Alcaraz will be with us following the completion of Avanesyan v Bencic; Avanesyan, in the groove following qualifying, has broken at the firsttime of asking to lead 2-0.
Stefanos Tsitsipas was asked about shaving his beard today and he responded by talking entirely about... *checks notes* Carlos Alcaraz. pic.twitter.com/bXhtLdMjw1
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) May 28, 2023
Fognini is wily, especially on clay – I’m not surprised he’s playing well here – and he breaks Auger-Aliassime for second time in set three. This match is pretty much over.
On Lenglen, Avanesyan and Bencic are under way; on 14 Wawrinka, or Wawrinkz as he’s presumably known, is a set and a break up on Ramos-Vinolas.
Auger-Aliassime – and, more importantly, my little accumulator – are on borrowed time. Fognini has broken him at the start of set three and now leads 6-4 6-4 1-0.
Djokovic breaks Kovacevic again, leading 6-3 4-1 – he’s quite good at tennis – and Shapovalov has taken a match that didn’t look like being close but was, beating Nakashima 6-4 7-5 4-6 3-6 6-3. He faces Arnaldi next.
As I type that, Fognini serves out and leads Auger-Aliassime, the number 10 seed, 6-4 6-4, while Djokovic has broken Kovacevic in set two for 6-3 2-1.
Auger-Aliassime is struggling physically – that right foot situation – and breaks Fognini only to be broken again himself, meaning the Italian will shortly serve for a two-set lead. Elsewhere, Schwartzman has just come from behind to beat Zapata Miralles 1-6 (5)6-7 6-2 6-0 6-4, Bautista Agut leads Wu 7-6(4) 6-1 and Karatsev is up 7-6(4) (4)6-7 1-0 o Popyrin.
Updated
Norrie, who was two sets to one down and trailed 4-1 in the decider, says it’s good to see Paire back playing well. He agrees it was a great match, thanks the crowd for the atmosphere, and says it’s difficult when Paire’s serving well and using his backhand. He’s looking forward to playing another French guy, but now he needs to relax and get ready for that; all the training is worth it for moments like this. He plans to enjoy Paris, going out for a nice dinner tonight, then come back for next round.
Cameron Norrie [14] beats Benoît Paire 7-5 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-4!
Well! Norrie wallops a loopy forehand winner down the line – of course he does – and four games in a row mean he’s into round two where he’ll meet Lucas Pouille. That was a terrific match, the best I’ve seen in the day and a half we’ve had so far, and Paire looks tearful as he departs.
Updated
Ach, at 15-30 Paire swipes a backhand that flies wide, and Norrie has two match points! Ten minutes ago was on his way out!
Paire, serving to stay in the match, has the umpire check a ball … but it’s in and Norrie has 0-30. Big moments for Big Benoît.
Back on Mathieu, Auger-Aliassime seems to be moving freely enough, but from 2-0 in set two he now trails 4-2 having lost the first set 6-4. On 14, Wawrinka leads Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(5), Schwartzman and Zapata Miralles at 4-4 in the fifth, and Daniel leads O’Connell 6-2 6-2
Email! “If Stephens goes deep into the current tournament,” says Peter McDonald, “it will be (maybe) all because we tuned her up nicely at ours in Saint-Malo, straight after her early exit in Madrid. Players who do well in Saint-Malo usually play above their ranking at Roland-Garros. Coincidence?”
Ha! Given the field, but, I’m not surprised she won.
Norrie holds then gets to 0-15, so Paire blazes a forehand winner down the line. Norrie, though, makes 15-30 and then attacks with how own forehand, advancing into court to send a topspinner hurtling down the line. And though Paire saves the first break point, Norrie finds a terrific forehand return right into the tootsies that’s too hot to handle, and we’re now at 4-4 in the fifth. What a match this has been; what a match this is!
Quick clear-up from earlier: Vekic beat Yastremska 6-2 7-5, Pavlyuchenkova beat Fruhvirtova 6-2 6-2 and Pera beat Kontaveit 7-6(6) 6-2.
On Mathieu, Auger-Aliassime has the trainer looking at his right leg – he’s got an ankle situation, I think – while Paire is now 4-2 up on Norrie in their decider ands Djokovic leads Kovacevic 6-3.
Paire smites an ace out wide and he loves that, bellowing at the crowd who respond by singing away. He leads Norrie 3-1 in the fifth.
Djokovic has broken to lead Kovacevic 4-2; Auger Aliassime has too, only to be broken back right away, and he trails Fognini 6-4 2-1.
Updated
Norrie hangs onto his service for 1-2 and Paire doesn’t like a call he gets in the game; can he refrain from allowing disgust to consume him? Well Norrie makes 15-30 then gets into the backhand corner and whips consecutive forehands cross-court to raise to break points; Norrie then runs down a drop but can’t keep his riposte in play. this has been a really fun match and it’s getting nervy, Paire hammering a serve then cleaning up with a backhand to save the latest break point.
The fluctuations in this match have been bizarre, Paire following a 6-1 set with two games straight, his consolidatory hold sealed to love. Elsewhere, Wawrinka and Ramos-Vinolas are 5-5, Schwartzman has forced a decider against Zapata Miralles after trailing 2-0, Bautista agut leads Wu 7-6(4) and De Minaur has seen off Ivashka 6-1 7-5 1-6 6-3.
It’s six breaks each now, and Paire is both paireing – playing nicely – and not paireing – losing focus at key moments. He leads Norrie 1-0 in the decider and that was a really poor game from the number 14 seed.
Auger-Aliassime swipes an inside-out backhand return wide, and Fognini leads the number 10 seed 6-4.
Er, is Paire paireing? He’s broken again, meaning Norrie – now the last Brit standing – will serve first in set five. Paire 5-7 6-4 6-4 1-6 Norrie
That match being over I’m now watching Auger-Aliassime v Fognini, Fognini leading 5-4 with a break, while on Chatrier Djokovic and Kovacevic are away and on Lenglen, Norrie has broken again so leads 5-1 in the fourth. I’ve not a clue how the decider might go.
At 21, Draper has plenty of time to get himself right physically, but he could really use the experience – this was his first Roland Garros and for it to end like this, after a youth sacrificed in order to make it happen, will rankle.
Jack Draper retires trailing Tomas Etcheverry 6-4 1-0
Draper is back playing, Ethcheverry winning the first game of set two; can Draper serve? Yes he can, but two points is all he can manage before retiring. What a shame. Etcheverry meets De Minaur or Ivashka next.
Norrie gets himself 0-40, then Paire blazes a backhand down the line … before hooking a forehand wide! Another momentum shift, with Norrie 2-1 up – with a break – trailing by two sets to one. Meanwhile on Court 9, Draper is having work done on his left shoulder. I hope it works, but it seems a forlorn hope.
Schwartzman has pulled back a set so now trails Zapata Miralles 1-6 (5)6-7 6-2; Karatsev leads Popyrin 6-3 1-1; Nakashima has also pulled one back, trailing Shapovalov 4-6 5-7 6-4; and Fognini has broken Auger-Aliassime for 4-2.
Updated
Ach, Draper is now serving underarm – I guess his longstanding hip and abdominal issues are giving him grief. I’m not sure how he can get through a match like this – he currently trails 4-5 in the first – and as I type, he begins over, then reverts to under and back again. He’s broken, and Etcheverry takes the opening set 6-4; I’d not be surprised if this match finishes before it’s finished.
Next on Chatrier: Djokovic [3] v Kovacevic.
Sloane tells Mats that she’s buzzing to have started her favourite tournament on her favourite court in the world, and notes that you need a bit of experience to know how to handle the wind when it gets up. Pliskova was a good opponent for her in the circumstances, but if she hits form she’s a threat.
Norrie breaks Paire for 3-5, then finds himself at 0-30 as he tried to force his opponent to serve for the set a second time. But he can’t, Paire, advancing and winning a net point to secure his lead! The crowd are chuffed and so is he! Paire 5-7 6-4 6-3 Norrie
Sloane Stephens beats Karolina Pliskova [16] 6-0 6-4!
Stephens moved nicely but Pliskova didn’t, so couldn’t plant feet and unleash her power. Stephens meets Gracheva or Galfi next.
Updated
Norrie holds, so at 5-2 Paire will serve for set three…
De Minaur now leads Ivashka by two sets to one, having taken the third 6-1; Shapovalov is uo 6-4 7-5 3-4 on Nakashima; and on Mathieu, Auger-Aliassime and Fognini are under way.
On Chatrier, Pliskova breaks and Stephens breaks back for 6-0 4-4; on Lenglen, Paire secures his double break for 4-1 in set three; and on Court 9, Draper breaks back for 3-4 againdst Etcheverry.
Puffs of clay indicate the wind is kicking up but Paire, whose face looks twice as long with his beard, isn’t bothered, consolidating to love too. He’s playing nicely here and looks properly focused, whole Norrie is struggling a little, schlepped from deuce to advantage and back again as he fights for his hold trailing 3-1 in set three.
Pliskova has got herself moving, 2-2 with Stephens in set two having lost the first 6-0. Shje’s got a brace-type thing on her knee and I wonder if it takes her a while to loosen up – she’s not as smooth a mover as her opponent. Oh, and on Lenglen, Paire has 0-30 on the Norrie serve at 1-1 and 1-1 … then takes a return early, monstering a forehand down the line, and when Norrie goes long, he cements the break to love!
I’m buzzing to see how Draper does because he’s got a lot of the right stuff, both physically and mentally – he expects to succeed. He has, though, been broken early doors, Etcheverry leading 3-1.
Madison Keys [20] beats Kaia Kanepi 6-1 3-6 6-1!
She meets Kayla Day next, Day having beaten Mladenovic 7-5 6-1.
Zapata Miralles has won a breaker to lead Schwartzman 6-1 7-6(5) while, on Court 9, Draper and Etcheverry are away. I’ll start watching that one now because…
At 30-all, Norrie is well in the rally, but he guides a drop just wide (and nets the get anyway), then Paire flows a backhand down the one with opens the court for the put-away! That’s one set apiece, and Lenglen goes wild!
Paire’s never taken a set off Norrie but has 5-3 0-30 in set two and when Norrie wins three straight points, a drop brings him to deuce. Norrie, though quickly closes out, meaning Paire must now serve for the set; elsewhere, Stephens now leads Pliskova 6-0 1-0, Keys leads Kanepi 6-1 3-6 5-0, and Ivashka has levelled his match with De Minaur at one set all.
Hold tight Madison Keys! She now leads Kanepi 4-0 in the decider, and it’s great to see her playing with such conviction. She’s been steadily improving over the last year or so, though she did contrive defeat to Azarenka in Melbourne having won the first set 6-1. I didn’t see that match, but Wikipedia tells me she made 39 unforced errors in that match, which sounds pretty par.
Stephens bagels Pliskova, who had a break point in the first game. Clay isn’t her surface, but I’m surprised she’s taking a beating of this severity, dangerous though an in-form Stephens is.
Stephens now leads Pliskova 5-0 while Keys has broken Kanepi at the start of their decider.
Typically, Paire is soon facing two break points after stumbling coming in; he saves the first with a big serve … and the second with a serve-volley. Then, on advantage, he Air Jordans a slam, and quickly closes out from there. Paire 5-7 3-1 Norrie
A bit of Paris.
Dieu vous voit, ma sœur #FeuRouge pic.twitter.com/rFbo36LwH4
— Aurélien Véron (@aurelien_veron) May 28, 2023
Go on Benoit Paire! On 30-40, he comes in and smokes a backhand return down the line to trail 5-7 2-1. He skips, leaps, and Lenglen is up! On Mathieu, though, Day has taken the first set off Mladenovic 7-5.
Shonuff Norrie rushes to 0-30, and though Paire retrieves the situation, on deuce he nets a forehand. As he often does, he’s struggling on that wing, but he finds a first server when he needs one and eventually closes out for 5-7 1-1, to the crowd’s delight. Out on Court 14, Kanepi has levelled her match against Keys, taking set two 6-3 – but Keys is still playing fairly well – and on Chatrier, Stephens leads Pliskova 3-0.
This is now a test for Paire, who is not, shall we say, renowned for his indefatigability when things go against him. Norrie holds to love, and don’t be surprised if he breaks immediately.
And there it is! Norrie saved seven out of eight break points in that set, then Paire fades a forehand over the sideline looking for an oblique angle. Paire 5-7 Norrie
As you might imagine, I’m no longer on Shapovalov v Nakashima because I’ve switched to Pliskova v Stephens. I love watching Sloane when she’s playing well, she moves and strikes the ball with such flow. But back on Lenglen, Norrie has two set points at 15-40…
Another intense game on Lenglen, Norrie repelling break point with a wrong-footing forehand. Paire does then whip a terrific backhand down the line to earn another go, but Norrie finds big serves when he needs them to make 6-5. Meanwhile, Pliskova and Stephens are away on Chatrier, Shapovalov leads Nakashima 6-4 0-1, Pera leads Kontaveit 7-6(6) and Mladenovic will soon serve for a breaker against Day.
Kanepi has woken up, breaking for 2-0 after losing set one 6-1 and consolidating to 30, while Norrie forces Paire through deuce for 5-5. Shapovalov, meanwhile, has taken the first set off Nakashima 6-4.
Updated
Another break point, this time saved by Norrie, and when he makes advantage we see the germ of a complaint about his ball-tossing. Norrie has aggravated opponents before by throwing, catching and going again – Holger Rune was sure he was doing it on purpose, serving just as time was running out – but the umpire disagreed. Norrie leads 5-4.
Looking around the courts, Shapovalov leads Nakashima 5-3, Day and Mladenovic is 3-3., De Minaur has taken the first set off Ivashka 6-1, Vekic leads Yastremka 6-2 and Zapata Miralles is 5-1 against Schwartzman.
So far it’s Paire playing the big points better, and he averts a further breaking opportunity with a clever drop that Norrie can’t get under. But when he goes again, Norrie chases it down and help from the net-cord takes the ball away and over the sideline, then a forehand loops long and we’re back on serve at 4-4.
Keys booms an ace down the T and it means a 6-1 set; she’s playing nicely, but Kanepi has’t got going at all.
Keys now leads Kanepi 5-0, while Shapovalov is up a break on Nakashima at 3-2. Oh and have a look, a gorgeous lob from Paire gives him 0-30 on the Norrie serve. He then makes his way to 30-40, gets a decent return back, and after some baseline slugging, Norrie hooks wide! the crowd love that and this is building into a real fun ruckus. Paire leads 4-3.
Norrie gets himself to 0-40, but Paire guides a nice slice deep into the forehand corner that’s good enough to save the first break point, then a service winner then a wrong-footing volley – mishit – and we’re at deuce. The crowd absolutely love it, all the more so when Paire eventually seals the hold with an ace, and that’s 3-3.
Order of play: show courts
Chatrier
KA Pliskova [16] v Stephens
Djokovic [3] v Kovacevic
Garcia [5] v Wang
Sinner [8] v Muller (night session)
**
Lenglen
Paire 2-3 Norrie
Avanesyan v Bencic [12]
Alcaraz [1] v Cobolli
Kvitova [10] v Cocciaretto
**
Mathieu
Day 3-2 Mladenovic
Auger-Aliassime [10] v Fognini
Svitolina v Trevisan [26]
Fils v Davidovich Fokina [29]
In this era of majors being won by so many different players, it’s almost a surprise that Keys doesn’t have one, because her best level is a very serious level. Sadly for her, though, she froze in the one final she reached, in New York against her mate Sloane Stephens in 2017. But she remains extremely dangerous, and has broken Kanepi for a 2-0 lead.
Right, everything is working well enough, though Paire slipped during the first game. We’re on serve though, at 1-1, and i’m also watching Kanepi v Keys – Keys leads 1-0 on serve – and Nakashima v Shapovalov – Nakashima leads 1-0.
The crowd are behind Paire already and the court is half shade, half sun. Play!
Norrie and Paire are knocking up. This should be a fascinating battle of angles, spins and lengths.
OK, I’ve a minor technical issue, but I’ll be with you properly in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
Preamble
Morning all and welcome to day two of Roland-Garros 2023!
We’ve got an almost indecent amount of joy for you today. We begin with the mercurial hands and teenage attitude of Benoît Paire, who meets Cameron Norrie, and at almost the same time Karolina Pliskova takes on Sloane Stephens, the 2018 finalist.
Then, in the afternoon, Novak Djokovic joins proceedings, likewise Felix Auger-Aliassime – his match against Fabio Fognini could be a goodun – after which Carlos Alcaraz, the number one seed, makes his bow, along with Caroline Garcia and Petra Kvitova.
And that’s just the show courts! Elsewhere, there’s Kaia Kanepi v Madison Keys and Stan Wawrinka v Albert Ramos-Vinolas, while Dominic Thiem, Jelena Ostapenko and Francis Tiafoe also begin their campaigns.
On y va!
Play: 11am local, 10am BST
