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French Open: Simona Halep & Maria Sharapova into round three

  • Posted: May 31, 2018
French Open 2018
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 27 May-10 June
Coverage: Daily live radio and text commentaries on BBC Radio 5 live, the BBC Sport website and app.

Top seed Simona Halep and two-time champion Maria Sharapova both progressed to the third round of the French Open.

Halep, twice a runner-up in Paris, saw off American Taylor Townsend 6-3 6-1, with the Romanian now facing Germany’s Andrea Petkovic in the next round.

Russian Sharapova, the 28th seed, beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 7-5 6-4.

She will play Czech sixth seed Karolina Pliskova next, with Serena Williams potentially awaiting in last 16.

American three-time winner Williams faces Australia’s Ashleigh Barty in the second round later on Thursday.

  • Live scores, schedule and results
  • Top seed Nadal cruises through
  • Watson beaten by 16th seed Mertens
  • Edmund beats Fucsovics in four sets
  • Briton Norrie loses to 15th seed Pouille

Sharapova is playing at Roland Garros for the first time since 2015, having been refused a wildcard entry in 2017 after serving a doping ban the previous year.

Serving for the first set at 5-3, the 31-year-old allowed world number 52 Vekic to break back before eventually getting over the line 7-5.

The former world number one dropped serve early in the second, and failed again to serve out the match at 5-3 before taking it 6-4.

Another former French Open champion, Garbine Muguruza, enjoyed a more comfortable route into round three.

The Spaniard was rarely troubled in a 6-4 6-3 victory over French wildcard Fiona Ferro that sets up a meeting with Australia’s Sam Stosur.

“It’s always tricky when you face a young, talented French player,” said Muguruza. “It probably wasn’t the best tennis out there but I’m happy that I managed to fight and to win.”

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Briton Norrie loses out to 15th seed Pouille

  • Posted: May 31, 2018
French Open 2018
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 27 May-10 June
Coverage: Daily live radio and text commentaries on BBC Radio 5 live, the BBC Sport website and app.

British number three Cameron Norrie lost 6-2 6-4 5-7 7-6 (7-3) to 15th seed Lucas Pouille when their French Open second-round match resumed on Thursday.

Pouille, the French number one, led by two sets to one when bad light stopped play on Wednesday night.

In a tense fourth set, the Frenchman broke for 6-5 but he was unable to serve out for the match.

Norrie forced a tie-break but the world number 85 was unable to take it to a decider.

  • Live scores, schedule and results

Norrie has enjoyed a sharp rise since making his debut on the ATP Tour last year, climbing into the top 100 for the first time last week.

It helped him automatically qualify for a Grand Slam for the first time in his career on his debut appearance at Roland Garros.

The New Zealand-raised left-hander had dropped the opening two sets on Wednesday and also appeared to be struggling with illness.

But he gave himself a chance by taking the third set and ensuring the match went to a second day.

American-college educated Norrie began day two confidently and won his opening three service games before saving a couple of break points in the seventh game.

The Briton got a set point at 5-4 but Pouille saved it in style with an ace.

That looked to have turned the match the Frenchman’s way and he broke Norrie to 15 to leave him serving for the match.

But Norrie showed plenty of determination, taking the third of three break-point chances to force the tie-break.

Pouille held the advantage in the tie-break and luck was not on Norrie’s side when at 5-3 down he volleyed a winner but was judged to have touched the net.

That gave the Frenchman three set points but he only needed one to reach round three.

Afterwards, Norrie paid tribute to his grandmother whose funeral took place in Glasgow on Wednesday.

“My Dad had to go to the funeral on Tuesday night,” he told BBC Sport.

“I have fought the last two weeks so hard for her and I think she would be proud, and she played a lot of tennis herself.

“It was tough and I think my Dad just got back to Paris today and just missed the end of my match. So it was a tough one.”

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Kyle Edmund reaches French Open third round at Roland Garros

  • Posted: May 31, 2018
French Open 2018
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 27 May-10 June
Coverage: Daily live radio and text commentaries on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, the BBC Sport website and app.

British number one Kyle Edmund moved into the French Open third round by beating Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 6-0 1-6 6-2 6-3 in a strange match.

Edmund, seeded 16th, raced to the opening set in just 27 minutes against the world number 45.

Fucsovics looked a different player as he took the second set quickly, before momentum swung back to Edmund.

Edmund edged a tight fourth set to seal victory after two hours and 16 minutes.

“The second set is something to learn from but I’m happy to come through,” Edmund said.

“When I’m playing at my best it’s very good but I can’t play like that the whole time. When I’m not playing my best, I have to find a way to win. This year I’ve done that a lot better.”

He is the last British player left in the singles after Cameron Norrie lost to Lucas Pouille and Heather Watson was beaten by Elise Mertens.

  • Watson beaten by 16th seed Mertens
  • Top seed Nadal cruises through
  • Norrie pays tribute to grandmother after defeat
  • Halep & Sharapova into third round
  • Live scores, schedule and results

The Briton will next play Italy’s Fabio Fognini, a clay-court specialist who has beaten 16-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal twice on his favoured surface.

Reaching the last 32 equals Edmund’s best performance at Roland Garros, where he lost against South African Kevin Anderson in a third-round epic last year.

Bettering his record in Paris would be another notable landmark in a year which has already seen him reach the Australian Open semi-finals – his first appearance in the last four of a Grand Slam – and climb into the world’s top 20 for the first time.

Maturing Edmund seizes momentum after blip

Edmund is treading new ground at Roland Garros: his first Grand Slam as the British number one and his first as a seed.

The 23-year-old showed a ruthless streak in his opening match against promising Australian teenager Alex de Minaur, although that was not as evident – perhaps as a result of a finger injury which needed treatment – in the first hour of an erratic match.

Edmund eased through a rapid opening set which saw Fucsovics hit 15 unforced errors and only claim 15 points.

However, momentum completely shifted in the second set as a different Fucsovics reappeared after the changeover.

The Hungarian, making his debut in the Roland Garros main draw, gained a foothold in the match by breaking Edmund’s opening serve in the second set, the Briton’s game disintegrating as Fucsovics levelled in 34 minutes.

Yet the match took another twist.

Edmund dropped just four points to lead 3-0 in the third, breaking serve again in the eighth game to regain the lead.

He saved three break points midway through a tight fourth set, then took his first opportunity at 4-3 to leave him serving for the match.

And a long return by Fucsovics saw him take a second match point to book his place in the last 32.

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Heather Watson beaten by Elise Mertens in French Open second round

  • Posted: May 31, 2018
French Open 2018
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 27 May-10 June
Coverage: Daily live radio and text commentaries on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, the BBC Sport website and app.

British number two Heather Watson was unable to reach the French Open third round for the first time after losing to 16th seed Elise Mertens.

Watson, 26, paid the price for a slow start in a 6-3 6-4 defeat.

The world number 80 could not hold any of her opening seven service games and trailed 4-1 in the second set.

She briefly rallied to level at 4-4 but dropped serve again and has now lost all six of her second-round matches at Roland Garros.

  • Edmund v Fucsovics – live radio and text
  • Live scores, schedule and results

Watson has endured a tough start to the year in terms of results, winning just once before her opening win at Roland Garros against France’s Oceane Dodin.

Mertens, in contrast, reached the her first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open in January, as well as winning three WTA titles.

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The 22-year-old Belgian’s confidence, boosted by a large number of boisterous fans from her home country, helped her ease into a 3-0 lead before clinching a strange opening set which saw eight breaks of serve.

Groans from the smaller British contingent could be heard when Watson lost her opening service game of the second set on the way to Mertens moving into a 4-1 lead.

Watson somehow rediscovered her game, winning three games in a row to level, only to lose her serve again in what proved to be the final game.

Martens, who wrapped up victory in one hour 27 minutes, has reached the last 32 for the second successive year and will meet either Australian 24th seed Daria Gavrilova or Bernarda Pera of the United States.

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Del Potro, Nadal Lead Thursday's Second-Round Play

  • Posted: May 31, 2018

Del Potro, Nadal Lead Thursday’s Second-Round Play

Spaniard meets fellow lefty in Pella of Argentina

Regarding Juan Martin del Potro’s chances at Roland Garros, where were we?

The Argentine, despite his subpar play on clay so far this year, was one of a limited number of men who could think about challenging Rafael Nadal on the red dirt. But then Del Potro injured his groin against David Goffin on 17 May in Rome.

On Tuesday, however, the fifth-seeded Del Potro let everyone resume the conversation as he dismissed Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in four sets. Del Potro showed that he’s healthy, back and – although clay isn’t his favourite surface – eager for more.

He’ll face another Frenchman on Thursday in Julien Benneteau. The 36-year-old is playing at Roland Garros for the final time after announcing that he will retire later this season. Del Potro leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 2-0, both hard-court wins.

The Tandil native will try to reverse his country’s second-round luck. Seven Argentine men reached the Round of 64 – the most since 2009, when there were also seven – but three lost on Wednesday.

Rafael Nadal has lost only twice at Roland Garros. Ever. The Spaniard improved his incomprehensible Paris record to 80-2 with his straight-sets win against Italian Simone Bolelli. Nadal next faces Del Potro’s countryman Guido Pella, a left-hander, (third on Court Suzanne-Lenglen). The 28-year-old Pella has fared well against lefties, winning six of his past seven matches, but not against Nadal (0-1, 2017 Indian Wells).

Nadal, the No. 1 player in the ATP Rankings, hasn’t lost a Grand Slam match to a player ranked as low as Pella, No. 78, since losing to No. 102 Dustin Brown in the second round of 2015 Wimbledon. The 31-year-old is going for title No. 11 in Paris.

Before Del Potro and Nadal, though, third seed Marin Cilic, first on Court Philippe-Chatrier, will look to continue his under-the-radar clay-court run against #NextGenATP Hubert Hurkacz of Poland. Cilic reached his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court semi-final in Rome. #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov, the 24th seed, will kick off play on Court 1 against German Maximilian Marterer in a battle of Roland Garros debutants.

Malek Jaziri will go for Tunisian history against 2016 quarter-finalist Richard Gasquet (second on Court Suzanne-Lenglen). If Jaziri wins, he’ll become the first Tunisian man to make the Roland Garros third round in 55 years (Mustapha Belkhodja, 1963).

Sixth seed Kevin Anderson will try to get a step closer to matching his best Roland Garros showing (Round of 16; 2013, 2017) against six-time clay-court titlist Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay. John Isner, another big-serving Top 10 player, also faces a South American comfortable on the clay in Argentine Horacio Zeballos. Diego Schwartzman, a clay-court titlist earlier this year in Rio, will meet Czech Adam Pavlasek.

Elsewhere, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Jeremy Chardy will contest the 79th all-Frenchmen singles battle at Roland Garros; Swede Elias Ymer will try to win his second Grand Slam match against 18th seed Fabio Fognini of Italy; and top Brit Kyle Edmund, the 16th seed, will meet Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open champion Marton Fucsovics.

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World Team Cup: Great Britain wheelchair tennis teams shine in the Netherlands

  • Posted: May 30, 2018

Dermot Bailey saved eight match points as Great Britain’s men’s wheelchair tennis team reached the semi-finals of the World Team Cup.

Bailey beat China’s Shunjiang Dong 2-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (8-6) as his team won 3-0 to set up a tie with Belgium on Friday.

The quads team also reached the semi-finals with a 3-0 win over Canada and play Australia or Israel on Thursday.

The women’s team meet China in the last four after wins for Lucy Shuker, Louise Hunt and Lauren Jones saw off USA 3-0.

Shuker tweeted: “Very happy to get the win against ?? number-one seed. Finishing top of our group we are into the semi-finals.”

All three teams progressed comfortably at the clay court event in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.

Bailey teamed up with Alfie Hewett – who also won his singles fixture – to land a doubles win and secure a 3-0 win over China as Gordon Reid, who recently won the Japan Open, was rested.

Andy Lapthorne, James Shaw and Antony Cotterill all scored points in the quad’s victory, while

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Norrie fightback against Pouille held up by bad light

  • Posted: May 30, 2018
French Open 2018
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 27 May-10 June
Coverage: Daily live radio and text commentaries on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, the BBC Sport website and app.

British number three Cameron Norrie must return on Thursday to see if he can fight back and stun leading home hope Lucas Pouille in the second round of the French Open.

Norrie, 22, trailed 6-2 6-4 5-7 when the players were forced off Court Philippe Chatrier at 21:42 local time in Paris because of fading light.

The match, scheduled fifth on the main show court, did not start until 19:54.

Pouille, seeded 15th, looked set to earn a quick win before Norrie rallied.

  • Live scores, schedule and results
  • Relive the match as it happened
  • People are starving so I accept my problems – Djokovic

The world number 85 struggled in the opening two sets as Pouille’s greater pedigree shone through but, just as the Frenchman looked on course to complete victory before darkness fell, Norrie recovered in front of a sparse crowd on Chatrier.

Pouille’s supreme service game did not allow Norrie a single break opportunity in the opening set, but the Briton missed two chances in the second as he showed signs of recovery.

Both players had seemingly questioned whether the light was good enough to continue earlier in the match, while Norrie also called on the doctor for what appeared to be an illness.

However, with Pouille hoping for victory and Norrie improving, they carried on in the hope of finishing the third set.

Norrie took the advantage by converting his first break point for 4-3, serving out to ensure the match – as seemed likely when they came on court – would resume on Thursday.

  • Zverev and Dimitrov survive five-set battles
  • Lucky loser’s road trip comes to an end
  • Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

Norrie will be one of three Britons playing in the singles on Thursday, with Kyle Edmund and Heather Watson also in second-round action.

British number two Watson faces Belgium’s 16th seed Elise Mertens at 10:00 BST on court three, with Britain’s leading man Edmund, seeded 16th, meeting Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics on the same court once his compatriot’s match finishes.

Analysis

British number three Naomi Broady on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Cameron knew the importance of the third set and did very well to take it and take the match into the next day.

He wasn’t feeling his best but the difference in standards between the first and third sets was huge.

Maybe he will feel better on Thursday and it’s absolutely fantastic for him to get that third set.

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Kei, Grigor, Sascha Survive Wild Wednesday

  • Posted: May 30, 2018

Kei, Grigor, Sascha Survive Wild Wednesday

Three of the game’s biggest names go the distance Wednesday to reach the Roland Garros third round

Three of the ATP World Tour’s biggest stars needed to dig deep Wednesday to reach the third round of Roland Garros.

Second seed Alexander Zverev, who has won three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles but never reached a Grand Slam quarter-final, looked to be headed for more heartbreak at the majors when he trailed Serbian Dusan Lajovic two sets to one. But the leader of the ATP Race To London powered home, winning 12 of the last 15 games of the match to win 2-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. It was his 18th win from his past 20 matches. Read Report

“In the fourth and fifth sets, I really felt good out there even though I was a little bit tired and a little bit fatigued,” said Zverev, who next faces Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur.

Reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov also rallied from two sets to one down to win a drama-filled four-hour, 20-minute marathon with 21-year-old American Jared Donaldson 6-7(2), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8. Dimitrov’s fitness was a telling factor in the victory and on match point he kissed his legs for underpinning his victory. “I could have played another two hours,” he told Tennis Channel. Later, he said: “It’s great to win a match in five sets. I think it stays with you, you keep it, and especially on clay and out here.” Read Report

Dimitrov next faces veteran Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who himself is known for his ironman efforts, including two epic five-set duels with Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open.

Although Kei Nishikori won the first set in his second-round battle with enigmatic Frenchman Benoit Paire, the former US Open finalist also needed to rally from two sets to one down to advance to the third round. The Japanese won 6-3, 2-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Read Report

Ranked No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Performance Zone for his all-time leading deciding set win percentage (75.9), Nishikori battled past the Frenchman in just under three hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier. With his second win over French opposition in as many rounds, the World No. 21 improves to 5-2 against home players at the clay-court Grand Slam championship. Nishikori defeated wild card Maxime Janvier in three sets in his opening match.

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Another top-ranked player, Dominic Thiem, could also be headed for a second-round five-setter. Pitting his single-handed backhand against that of young Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, Thiem pulled ahead two sets to one – 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 – as darkness suspended play Wednesday night.

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