ZCZC
BSP-26
TENNIS-FRA-OPEN,WRAP-UPDATE
Djokovic reaches third round at Roland Garros, Halep wins opener
PARIS, May 30, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Former champion Novak Djokovic reached the
French Open third round for the 13th consecutive year by beating Spanish
qualifier Jaume Munar 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday, while women’s top
seed Simona Halep battled to victory in her opening match.
Djokovic, the 2016 Roland Garros champion and former world number one, is
seeded 20 this year after struggling to rediscover his best form after
returning from a right elbow injury.
He wasn’t at his best on Court Suzanne Lenglen, but goes on to face Spain’s
Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the last 16.
The Serbian 12-time Grand Slam champion fired 39 winners but 33 unforced
errors and was broken three times by Munar, the world 155.
“I am very happy to be here on Suzanne Lenglen and see so many people and
see the support,” said Djokovic.
“Jaume is a great player, he has lots of quality and good concentration. I
congratulate him on a great match today.”
Bautista Agut, the 13th seed, saw off Colombian qualifier Santiago Giraldo
6-4, 7-5, 6-3, but Czech 17th seed Tomas Berdych lost a rain-interrupted
first-round match to home hope Jeremy Chardy on the showpiece Court Philippe
Chatrier 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (10/8), 1-6, 5-7, 6-2.
The unlikely adventure of Argentinian world number 190 Marco Trungelliti,
who became the eighth lucky loser in the draw after driving back to Paris
from Barcelona, came to an end as he lost 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-1 to Italian
Marco Cecchinato in the second round.
– Halep fights back –
World number one Halep fought back after a disastrous opening set to beat
American Alison Riske 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 in their delayed first-round match.
Halep, the runner-up in Paris in 2014 and 2017, slumped 0-5 down in the
opening set to world number 83 Riske whose only win at the tournament came in
2014.
The Romanian committed 16 unforced errors in the set but stepped up a gear
from that point on to book a second-round match against Taylor Townsend of
the United States.
“It’s always difficult in the first round of a Grand Slam, you are always
nervous,” said Halep.
The 26-year-old, who is still looking for a first Grand Slam title, will
play for the second straight day on Thursday, after the match with Riske was
pushed back from Tuesday due to rain.
“I think I’ll be ready tomorrow, I feel strong in my legs,” said the top
seed.
“Anything can happen with the rain so all we can do is rest and try to be
at our best when we step on the court.”
Halep needs to reach the semi-finals or better if she is to retain the
world top spot.
Eighth seed Petra Kvitova eased into the third round with a 6-0, 6-4
victory over Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena on Court One.
The two-time Wimbledon champion has now won 13 consecutive matches on clay
after claiming titles in Prague and Madrid, and will face Estonia’s 25th seed
Anett Kontaveit for a place in the last 16.
Czech Kvitova, 28, has not reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros
since a run to the last four in 2012.
Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina reached the last 32 for the fourth
straight year by brushing aside Viktoria Kuzmova in straight sets.
The 23-year-old, who arrived in Paris having won her second straight
Italian Open title, saw off her Slovakian opponent 6-3, 6-4.
Svitolina, a two-time quarter-finalist at Roland Garros, will next take on
Romanian 31st seed Mihaela Buzarnescu.
Elsewhere, charismatic Japanese 21st seed Naomi Osaka came through a tight
match with Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas 6-4, 7-5.
The 20-year-old Osaka is seeded for the first time at a major tournament,
having lifted the prestigious Indian Wells title earlier this year before
beating Serena Williams in Miami the following week.
Williams, who made her Grand Slam return with a singles win on Tuesday, is
back in action in the doubles with sister Venus later on Wednesday.
BSS/AFP/ARS/2003 hrs