Key events
Ok, that’s it for it our day three coverage of the French Open. Keep your eyes peeled out for Tumaini Carayol’s updates from Roland Garros. Earlier he saw the talented French teenager Moïse Kouamé beat Marin Cilic in front of a raptuous Court Simonne Mathieu:
After taking the second set, home favourite Diane Parry is down a break in the third against Anhelina Kalinina, it’s currently 2-0 to the Ukrainian in that decider on Chatrier. On Court 7, 14th seed Luciano Darderi was serving for the first set at 5-4 against Sebastian Ofner of Austria, but failed to see it off and has been broken back.
Out on 14, still no breaks in third set between the ninth seeded Bublik and Struff of Germany.
Bublik v Struff is on serve in the third, they’re tied up on sets after the Kazakh won the breaker. On Chatrier, Diane Parry has won the second set 6-2 after losing the first to love, it’s currently 0-0 in the decider. Unfortunately for British hopes, Fearnley has lost the first set to Cerundolo of Argentina 2-6. Fearnley broke his opponent in the first game of the match but has been struggling on serve, if he loses there would be no British men left in the singles draw.
Over on Suzanne-Lenglen, Kalinskaya is serving for the match against Boisson. After seeing off a break point the Russian fires into the net on match point to go back to deuce but eventually wears down Boisson with a series of forehand blows to get another chance. This time she double faults. A touch of nerves? A big serve gets Kalinskaya a third chance to seal it, again wasted. A loose backhand gives Boisson a break point but the Frenchwoman drifts a dropshot into the net with her opponent very deep. Kalinskaya saves another break point with heavy backhand. This is a mini-epic.
Boisson has a fourth break point but Kalinskaya bangs an ace down the middle. We’ve played 18 points and will get at least two more. Make that four, Kalinskaya goes long while on match point. And it ends with a bit of a whimper as Boisson drifts a backhand into the net when facing match point. Boisson will not repeat her run to the semi-final of last year, the Russian wins 6-2 6-2.
Well, well, well, Bublik looked as if he was about to go two sets down against Struff but reeeled off five points in a row to take the tie-breaker. The Kazakh’s pass to go 7-6 up was equisite.
On Court 7, Jaime Faria of Portugal has taken the first set 6-4 against Denis Shapovalov. The Canadian has reached the third round before at Roland Garros but is playing nearly 30 places down the world rankings from his career high of tenth.
Evening all, right where are we? Kalinskaya has consolidated her hold and now leads Boisson 3-1 in the second set. Bublik and Struff has gone to a tie-break in their second set. I’ll let you know how that goes. Jacob Fernley is underway against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, it’s 1-1 on Court 8. On Court 9, Martin Landaluce of Spain has beaten the Bolivian Juan Carlos Prado 6-3 4-6 6-2 6-7 6-4.
Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson/EPA
Back with Bublik, he now trails Struff 5-7 4-5, and has just been nailed by a glorious backhand winner lasered down the line. But a delicious slice from the back, followed by an error raises deuce, consecutive aces sealing the deal from there; it’s 5-5 in the second. Finally, before I chuck this to Tom Bassam, let me note that Boisson has broken Kalinskaya back to trail 2-6 1-1, a contest we feared was over still with plenty legs left in it; now that’s down, thanks for your company and until tomorrow, peace out.
Brilliant from Parry, a tremendous backhand followed by a forehand winner, on the run and down the line, securing a break at the start of set two. Kalinina leads her 6-0 0-2, but the contest is only just getting going … unlike on Lenglen, where Kalinskaya has just broken Boisson to lead 6-2 1-0. Last year’s hero is in danger of immediate elimination this term.
Kalinskaya serves out that first set to lead Boisson 6-2, but there’s a sense her young opponent has a level she might yet hit to make this contest interesting. Back on Chatrier, by the way, Parry is on the board, now trailing Kalinina 0-6 1-0.
Kalinina bagels Parry in set one, what a treat for those who bothered paying in to Chatrier. On which point, if it’s as empty as it is, maybe they’re charging too much?
Elsewhere, Struff leads Bublik 7-5 3-3, with Kalinskaya up 5-2 on Boisson.
Ruzic has beaten Krueger, which means shortly to arrive on Court 8 are Jacob Fearnley and Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, younger brother of no 25 seed, Francisco.
Boisson is on the board against Kalinskaya but still down 4-1, while Kalinina leads Parry 4-0 and Jacquemot has beaten Fruhvirtova 6-4 6-3. In the men’s competition, Faria and Shapovalov are level at 2-2 in the first, while Román Andrés Burruchaga and yes, before you ask, he’s Jorge’s lad – has beaten Seb Baez, who retired when down 2-1 2-0.
Bublik is struggling with Struff, down 5-7 1-2 and forced to deuce as he seeks a hold.
What he says about doubles isn’t right – Henry Patten, for example, plays it because he got good at it so quickly he couldn’t play singles tournaments at the same level because his ranking wasn’t there. John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova seemed to take it seriously, too – to name just two.
This appears to be a thing.
Kalinskaya, who turned up to the grounds with a pet dog, breaks Boisson immediately for 1-0, consolidates and, while I’m looking for a photo of, er, Bella, breaks again to love, and she leads 3-0.
On Chatrier, the bonus match is Kalinina v Parry, the former breaking immediately for 1-0.
Vacherot, the men’s no 16 seed, has beaten Faurel in four; next for him, it’s Tabilo. So I’m going to watch the match which succeeded theirs on Court 14, with Jan-Leonard Struff having just taken the first set off Sascha Bublik, the no 9 seed, 7-5.
I’m looking forward to this one, Kalinskaya bringing the guile and Boisson, who reached the semis here last year, the power. That remains the only time she’s made it past round one of a slam…
Next on Lenglen: Anna Kalinskaya (22) v Loïs Boisson.
Learner Tien (18) beats Cristian Garín 6-0 2-6 6-0 6-2
A thumping win for Tien, who meets Díaz Acosta or Zhang next. I’m really excited to see where he goes form here, all the more so as the top seed in his eighth, Daniil Medvedev– who he’s twice beaten at the Aussie Open – is already out, with Felix Auger-Aliassime his likely quarter-final opponent if he wins it.
Osaka says she felt really nervous but having not played on Lenglen “in a little minute” she was just pleased to get out there and hopes everyone’s drinking water.
She’s considered a veteran at this point and hopes she can play many more matches this tournament, but her goal is to have a lot of fun and smile a lot. She found the court a little slippery, running in to chase drop shots, but conditions are the same for everyone.
Finally, she explains that the dress in which she came out was very couture and she thinks the gold number looks a bit like the Eiffel Tower when it’s lit up at night. Otherwise, she’ll spend her day off calling her daughter and lying there waiting for the match.
We’re done on Chatrier until the evening sesh – that features Sinner v Tabur – but they announce there’ll be another match, presumably because Tsitsipas v Muller only went a set and a bit, so we’ll see what that is.
Gauff says she’s a lot of great memories on Chatrier but was a little nervous at the start before finding her calm, and she’s happy to be in the next round. She and Townsend have known each other for so long and know each other so well off the court but this was their first match on it. Her team, though, came up with a great plan and she stuck to it.
It’s different playing a lefty, especially one who hits with a lot of spin, but she had a good hitting partner who replicated the style. Also, she’s from Florida, so isn’t fazed by the heat at all, but adds that the higher bounce helps her serve.
Finally, she pays respect to Althea Gibson, who became the first Black grand slam winner 70 years ago, saying that she and Taylor are able to play on Chatrier partly because of her – and Zina Garrison, and the Williams sisters.
Naomi Osaka (16) beats Laura Siegemund 6-3 7-6(3)
A decent workout for Osaka, who played well in set one then hung in there is two to do necessary. Next for her: Donna Vekic, in a match I’m already excited to see.
Oh dear: Siegemund nets a forehand and, at 3-5 is almost out. And Osaka doesn’t let her off the hook, moving beautifully when she reads a drop and a forehand winner raising three match points…
Osaka starts the breaker well, earning a mini-break that she immediately returns via double. No matter: a forehand return on to the line restores it, and though it’s immediately lost, a lovely volley, spun on to the sideline, means she leads 4-3.
Coco Gauff (4) beats Taylor Townsend 6-4 6-0
A sticky start, but an impressive end. Next for her: the qualifier, Mayar Sherif.
Osaka quickly holds to earn a second-set tiebreak, while Gauff has cut loose on Chatrier, up 6-4 5-0 on Townsend, who isn’t long for this tournament.
Osaka makes break point at 30-40 but flaps a backhand long, then Siegemund is warned for taking too long between deliveries. She does, though, make advantage, only to power a forehand long, just – the umpire gets up to check – then, when she’s advantage down, wins a net exchange that she ought really to have been pushed out of. And from there, she seals what might yet prove to be a crucial hold, Osaka leading 6-3 5-6.
There’s a strange match in progress on Court 6, Tien leading Garin 6-0 2-6 6-0 1-0; Gauff breaks Townsend immediately in two, leading 6-4 2-0; and Osaka holds to lead Siegemund 6-3 5-5.
Osaka gets to deuce then Siegemund wafts long from the back and she’s faltering here with the pressure of a set to be won upon her, drilling a forehand low into the net to return the break for which she fought so hard. Osaka leads 6-3 4-5.
Gauff earns another opportunity to forge in front to net a backhand return. But from deuce, Townsend goes wide then long, tamely ceding a set she worked extremely hard to make close; the champ leads 6-4.
Meantime on Lenglen, Siegemund – who, as we said, was coming – breaks Osaka for 5-3 and is now serving to force a decider.
While all that was going on, Osaka fought hard for a hold which gives her 6-3 3-3, but Siegemund is well in this match now, much more so than in set one, and a swift hold underlines the point.
An ace gives Gauff set point … but a double follows, which I doubt surprises anyone, least of all her. Oh! And when Townsend forces yet another break point, this time she splatters a fantastic backhand winner on to the sideline and is still in set one at 4-5.
Yeah, time’s up. Gauff breaks Townsend for 5-3 and is now serving for the set … but at 30-all, a big, swinging left forehand is whammed cross-court, the point won from it. But she can’t convert the breaking opportunity, nor when she earns another immediately afterwards. Back to deuce we go…
On 6, Garin has retaliated, losing the first set against Tien 6-0 but taking the second 6-2. I’m going to drop in on that match, because I think the young American reminds me of a song has the harrying and hands to become a factor on clay.
Townsend’s played pretty well so far, but at 15-30, Gauff clouts one through her at net, then a forehand into the tape restores parity, the break-back taken for 3-3.
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo beats Cameron Norrie 7-6(7) 2-0 retired
Norrie came into the match carrying a rib injury and it, along with the heat and breathing issues, mean he can’t continue. Given the warrior we know he is, we can only imagine how much physical pain he’s in and the accordant mental anguish he’s now experiencing. Next for Vallejo: Moise Kouame!
From deuce, Osaka closes out a 6-3 set, and this is a decent contest for her – one she probably can’t lose, but also one that’s testing enough to get her focused and into the competition. Back on Chatrier, meantime, Townsend endorses her break, then Gauff gets on the board, the doubles specialist leading the champ 2-1.
Serving for set one at 5-3, Osaka finds herself down 0-30, racing to net to level things. But at 40-30, a tame double cedes deuce while Norrie, now down a set and a break at 6-7 0-1, has the doctor out and seems to be struggling with a tight chest. It’s dead hot out there so, if that’s the issue, it tallies.
Intriguing start on Chatrier, Townsend breaking Gauff for 1-0. She’ll know her mate’s serve isn’t the greatest – the mechanics of it aren’t settled – and that there’s also a weakness on forehand.
In the men’s competition, another seed has gone, Arnaldi seeing off Griekspoor in four to set up a second-round meeting with Tsitsipas; Learner Tien, never past round one of this competition, leads Cristian Garin 6-0; and, in the men’s dubs, Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, the reigning Wimbledon champions, are into round two.
On Lenglen, Osaka has broken Siegemund for 4-2 in the first and, looking at the draw, if she keeps winning, she’ll probably face Jovic in round three, then Sablenka in four. Those are big asks, but if she’s at it, she’s got the game to make it happen and, as I type, she consolidates for 5-2.
On Chatrier, Gauff and Townsend are out.
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Oh dear. Another Vallejo double and Norrie again has a point for the set … only to direct a backhand into the tape. So the younger man thrashes away on backhand, forcing a set point of his own, on serve, then directs Norrie to either corner, forcing the error, and he takes the tiebreak to seven! The grand slam debutant leads by one set to love!
A Vallejo double hands Norrie three sets points, but he saves the two on return, then plays a fine rally to level us up at 6-6. Just when it seems like quality and experience are taking over, it turns out that actually, they aren’t.
Osaka survives break points to lead 2-1 but Siegemund, whose name you might remember from last year’s Wimbledon quarters, is really canny, her slow game of spins and angles not one that can really be prepare for. And back with Norrie, he holds then takes a mini-break, before a missed volley donates him a second at 4-1.
Vallejo holds against Norrie to leads 6-5 in the first, and this match might well mature into an epic. The two look really well-matched.
