Day five roundup
There’s still plenty for play for at Roland Garros, and that includes Tstsipas struggling in the second set with Zdenk Kolar, and Dan Evans’ battle royal with Sweden’s Ymer levelled at 1-1 as I write. But that concludes the blog for the day. Niall McVeigh will be here on Friday for more.
But some big stories already today, particularly in the women’s singles, with France’s Leolia Jeanjean, the qualifier, beating Karolina Pliskova, the no 8 seed, and Simona Halep’s loss to the Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen, which looked a possible glimpse of the future, though Halep didn’t look too well.
Iga Swiatek, the Polish no 1 seed, had no such issues, winning her 30th straight match, taking just a minute over an hour to beat Alison Riske.
And in the men’s, so far the biggest name in action was Daniil Medvedev, who won in three sets against Laslo Dere but didn’t have it his own way by any means.
Tumaini Carayol will be reporting from Paris later on for more details.
Dan Evans is now 5-2 up on Ymer, and seems to be talking to someone or other, perhaps himself, as he sits by the umpire. A coaching warning doesn’t seem to be imminent as Evans is always something of a chatterbox.
Speaking ahead of his French Open second-round men’s doubles match alongside Bruno Soares on Friday, Murray said that he believes most players would prefer to play with ranking points and he said that the UK government had put Wimbledon in a tough position in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The All England Club has banned Russian and Belarusian players, with the ATP and WTA withdrawing ranking points as a result.
“I understand the situation that Wimbledon are in,” Murray said. “The government giving informal guidance is not really helping anyone because they are putting pressure on Wimbledon to not have Russian and Belarusian athletes at their tournament.
“Then it gets awkward and that is why we are in this situation with ranking points and breaching the agreements and things like that. Unfortunately it is the players that are in the middle of it.”
And Dan Evans has broken Ymer, it’s 4-2 in the second set, the Englishman looking to level. This one could carry on into the Parisian evening. They look highly evenly matched.
Gilles Simon looks to be extending his farewell, as he’s two sets up now on Steve Johnson, having won the second 6-1 on the centre court.
Meanwhile, Tsitsipas has recovered himself and breezes to a 6-3 taking of the first set from Kolar. Dan Evans is having a word with the ump, and that doesn’t bode too well, though it’s going with serve against Ymer.
Zheng speaks briefly in the aftermath of that huge win. She has won a few hearts today.
I have been working really hard, and it was really nice, that was my best performance. I am happy today. When I was a junior i was playing here and now as a pro, the crowd supports me a lot so thanks for that.
Zheng beats Halep 2-6 6-2 6-1
A flicker of a fight from Halep as Zheng serves out, the word being she is feeling unwell out on court. At 15-15 Halep goes for a long one, but misses the back of the court. Zheng gets a bit lucky in rimming a shot down the line for 30-15. But the hitting is fearsome, and to claim match point, the teenager blasts past Halep’s fading defence. And a huge winner for Zheng, right on the angle of line and baseline. Great play and a famous victory. Another big name goes out!
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Halep is 4-1 down to Zheng now, and in big trouble, the 2018 winner. The Romanian looks tired, and a little anxious. Her first game didn’t happen and she was given a bye so she’s perhaps rusty. But a double fault won’t help, as happens at 0-15. More muddled play and Zheng will serve for the match at 5-1.
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Next up on Suzanne Lenglen, it’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, and he’s facing the Czech, Zdenek Kolar, a first-time qualifier. Tsitsipas was taken to five sets by Lorenzo Musetti and struggled with the Italian. His start here is not too convincing, either.
Other news: Simona Halep is in big trouble, having lost the second set, she is now 3-0 down to Zheng in the third. Big shock in the offing.
And Dan Evans has saved three set points from Ymer, and it’s a real battle at 3-5, with a few chances to break back but eventually Brum/Dubai’s finest loses the set 6-3. The Philippe Chartrier crowd are enjoying Gilles Simon, making his final bow, taking on Steve Johnson, and he’s won the first set 7-5.
Bad news for plucky Brit Dan Evans, who is 1-4 down to Sweden’s Mikael Ymer and in danger of losing the first set. Elsewhere, Simona Halep won the first set 6-2 against China’s Zheng but is now 5-2 down in the second set. Looks like the Romanian will need a third set to go through.
Fabrice Santoro chats to Iga Swiatek, and even mentions her visit to the Palace of Versailles.
I am pretty happy, I think this is my first match on Suzanne Lenglen so thank you for having me here. Being focused and wanting to put pressure on my pressure is really helpful. You have to get in the zone, I am still not an expert. I will work on everything as I am a perfectionist. [on Versailles] That was the most beautiful thing i ever saw in my life. Everything was so symmetrical. I really love maths and everything was symmetrical.
Swiatek beats Riske 6-0 6-2
It’s 5-2 soon enough, and Riske must serve to save herself from being beaten in under an hour. A double fault doesn’t help, and neither does an overhit forehand that offers up match point. An ace on second serve keeps the American in it, living up to her name. Then, having gone past the hour mark a wide forehand offer up the second match point. That’s 30 wins in a row for the world no 1.
Riske, at 51 minutes in, seems to have avoided a double bagel and being beaten in under an hour as she wins another service game. Just nine minutes for Swiatek to get the job done.
Swiatek powers back into her stride to go 4-1 up. Meanwhile, on court 6, plucky Brit time, as Dan Evans seeks to join Cameron Norrie in the third round.
Court 6 as Dan Evans goes for a place in the third round against Mikael Ymer #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/t6zxnYiIeT
— Andy Sims (@AndyCSims) May 26, 2022
Riske saves a break point with a decent serve and seems to be finding a semblance of form, then saves another, slowing Swiatek’s progress a little. And a big cheer as the double bagel is avoided. Really well done to the American who holds her arm aloft in celebration.
The record speed for a win at Roland Garros is 38 minutes, Steffi Graf beating Natasha Zvereva in the 1988 final, the year Graf won all four. Swiatek probably won’t beat that, as she is taken to deuce in the third game, Riske landing a rare passing shot down the line. But after 32 minutes it’s 6-0 3-0.
As Swiatek pummels Rise - it’s now 2-0 and a break up, even more good news for Polish tennis. After 30 minutes of play, Swiatek has won all ten games so far.
🇵🇱 Polish Power 🇵🇱@HubertHurkacz makes his mark in Paris. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/dgvHMwgWYw
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2022
Tumaini Carayol on GB’s tennis golden girl and her struggles. Raducanu may be thankful she’s not had to face Swiatek in this form.
And it’s 6-0, a bagel, after 20 minutes, an absolute pain au chocolat.
And after 18 minutes of play, it’s 5-0 to Swiatek. Riske’s reward for getting to the second round is heavy punishment by the Pole.
3-0 to Swiatek, that winning run is going to 30 and no mistake.
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Swiatek with an early break now, too, on Suzanne Lenglen, fearsome stuff.
Meanwhile, Swiatek is on court, and takes the first game from Riske with ease on her serve.
From the outside courts, this piece of reckless behaviour. Irina-Camelia Begu threw her racquet in frustration to caused a small child to cry. No default? Lucky girl.
Irina-Camelia Begu just bounced her racket into the crowd, supervisor has been called. pic.twitter.com/EiIBNDAH2I
— Damian Kust (@damiankust) May 26, 2022
Begu just threw her racket into the stands and almost hit a kid, who ended up crying. Match stopped, supervisor called but she escaped from the default. Alexandrova pissed, crowd booing. Scenes. pic.twitter.com/5tcKDYW1yn
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 26, 2022
Here we go for the mid-afternoon session, as Iga Swiatek takes to the court any moment now. The no 1 seed, and champion in 2020, will play Pittsburgh’s Alison Riske, who has never been further than the second round at Roland Garros. Swiatek is on a 29-match winning streak.
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Elsewhere, Hurkacz is now two sets up against Cecchinato, winning the second 6-4. While in the women’s draw the 28th seed, Camila Giorgi of Italy, has won the first set against Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-3. And we’re still on serve in the second set betweek Keys and Garcia, with the latter currently serving at 2-3, having lost the first set 4-6.
Even better news is that a freshly-watered John is back in the building and will step back in the chair now. Thanks for following.
Gaston beats Cachin 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
Cachin, who qualified as a lucky loser, isn’t going quietly, forging a 15-30 lead on Gaston’s serve and though the Frenchman responds with a lovely low volleyed dropshot it is followed by an oversoft floated shot into the net to give Cochin a break point. It’s saved with a cool-as-you-like two-handed lob into the wind. A forceful serve down the middle earns him match point, which is converted with a thunderous forehand winner to the corner. Chants of “Hugo! Hugo!” serenade him to his chair.
Marin Cilic has levelled things up against Marton Fucsovics, taking the second set 6-4, as Gaston goes 5-4 in the third set against Cochin. He’s serving for the match.
And here’s a teaser for tomorrow:
Friday's order of play is out ! pic.twitter.com/QIINXvYusq
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2022
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Keys wins first set against Garcia 6-4. Having got herself back in the first set, Garcia is broken again, pulling a forehand wide on break point to gift Keys the first set. At almost exactly the same time, Gaston is broken back too as Cochin produces some fine returns to level their third set at 4-4. The Argentinian has dug deep here despite looking second best for much of this match.
Some home cheers over on Philippe Chatrier too as Caroline Garcia breaks back against Marion Keys. The American broke in the sixth game but, serving for the first set, gets a little jittery, an unforced error and double-fault helping to hand her opponent two break points. Keys saves the first of them but not the second. It’s back on serve at 5-4 to Keys.
Garcia’s compatriot, Gaston, is two games away from victory at 4-3 and a break up in the third set against Cochin.
Hurkacz wins the first set against Cecchinato 6-1. The imposing Polish 25-year-old isn’t hanging about, romping through that first set in 24 minutes. Meanwhile, Gaston’s stepped up a gear again against Cachin, earning three break points in the fifth game of the third set. Cachin saves the first after an energetic baseline rally, and the second with a cute drop-shot before squandering it with the softest of double-faults. Gaston is a break up at 3-2, and two sets ahead.
Over on Suzanne-Lenglen, the Frenchman Hugo Gaston is pleasing the home crowd with a strong performance against the Argentinian Pedro Cachin. Gaston, ranked 74, leads 6-4, 6-2 and it’s 1-1 in the third.
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Cheers John. Afternoon everyone. Let’s have a quick scoot around the courts shall we? David Goffin has come from behind to go two sets to one up against the American Frances Tiafoe, Marton Fucsovics of Hungary has won the first set against Marin Cilic and the No 12 seed, Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, has just begun his match against the Italian Marco Cecchinato. On serve so far in that one at 2-1 to Hurkacz, first set.
Now to hand over to the excellent Tom Davies as I go and sip some barley water.
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More from the star of the day so far, Leolia Jeanjean, whose comeback from five years out with a knee injury has made her France’s new darling. She beat Karolína Pliskova, the number eight seed, 6-2 6-2.
I don’t really know what to say actually because what’s happening right now, it’s really something I never imagine before,. You know, when I stopped playing for four, five years, I never told myself I’d be in the third round of a grand slam.
I don’t have an explanation. I don’t even realise what’s happening. I know I’m 26. It’s my first grand slam. I thought I would have lost in the first round in two sets, and now I found myself beating a top-10 player.
I don’t really know how it’s possible, what’s happening. I just try to give my best to play my tennis, and it’s working so far. When I stopped playing when I was young, I just wanted to give myself another chance, because in my head since I was good when I was like 14, 15, so I’m like, ‘why I can’t be good 10 years later?’.
So that’s why, yeah, I took my chance, and so far it’s working.
And that's tennis 🙌#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/s3cjd8qWfO
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2022
Daniil Medvedev talks to Mats Wilander.
I thought I was going to speak French, you need to progress your French. I have a lot more to do to be remembered like you, and I am happy you like my style of play. I think Lazlo was playing better clay court tennis, it was a tough natch, and I am happy to win. I don’t know if it was cramp but I tried to make him play more balls. He makes a mistake or makes a winner some tome. I was not totally confident. It’d definitely not easy.
He then thanks the crowd en Français.
Medvedev beats Djere 6-3 6-4 6-3
Djere starts with a double fault, but then works his way to 30-15, then overcooks a backhand for 30-30. Then a double hands a match point to Medvedev, as does a missed winner. So many mistakes from the Serb but that will do nicely for Medvedev, back after surgery and the uncertainty over Russian involvement.
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Djere, with a 65th unforced error, hands Medvedev advantage on the Russian’s serve, and then misses a winner that smashes into the net. The Serb must hold his serve to stay in the match.
Medvedev makes it 4-2 by serving to love. He’s got there with 13 points on his serve. Djere, at the start of the seventh game had required 62, but this time his hold of serve is simple enough for 3-4 in the third.
Djere will rue an awful lot of missed chances today. Medvedev, not a natural man for clay, more a man for concrete, has offered up plenty and most seem to have ended in the net. The double faults are not helping, either. Another lengthy game on his serve results as he can’t get the job done. Until now, after another epic, Djere wins for 2-3 in the second set.
Some quotes from Paula Badosa, the third seed, after her win over Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan.
It was a very touch match and I expected a match like this. I still need matches here to feel a little bit better. I was nervous and stressed. She was running, getting all the balls. In that moment I tried to stay as calm as possible and play aggressively.
An epic game there. Medvedev began the third set with a break of Djere and then, as if struck by nerves, handed it straight back, double-faulting on the last point. Then follows a long game on the Serb’s serve, Medvedev missing a winner on break point. The Russian even seems to be enjoying how long this third game of the third set is carrying on for. Djere then misses a volley at the net. But then gets an advantage with an overhead. That’s saved by a Medvedev passing shot midway up the court. This is a marathon now. Then smash after smash is followed by lob after lob with Djere eventually netting his smash. He then saves with a winner down the line. Then misses volley when Medvedev had sallied all the way back into the Seine, and it’s coughed up to the Russian by a double fault. That took 16 minutes.
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Some Reuters copy on that amazing win for Jeanjean over Pliskova.
The 26-year-old Jeanjean is a former big hope of French tennis who ended up living on minimum wage after a knee injury suffered when she was 15 kept her off the courts for two years.
Dropped by Nike, who had given her a 10-year sponsorship deal, and by the French federation, who had assigned her a full-time coach when she was 12, Jeanjean went to study in the United States at the Lynn University in Florida. She came back to tennis after five years in the U.S. only for her return to be slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I lived on minimum wage and I didn’t live from day-to-day, but week after week. I put all the money I had into a week’s worth of tournaments and if they went well I got another week, but if they went badly I didn’t play for two months because it was financially impossible,” she said.
On Thursday, Jeanjean outfoxed eighth seed Pliskova, a semi-finalist here in 2017, to get into the third round. “I could not try to overpower her, it was impossible, so I had to try to derail her and it worked perfectly,” she said on court Simonne Mathieu.
Jeanjean, whose early rise had drawn comparisons with Martina Hingis, will next face Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, the 30th seed, or Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu.
Medvedev, having broken back when looking in trouble in the second set, will serve out for it against Djere. The Russian, who may be a bit rusty due to not playing too much of late, bullies the Serb into an error to gain set point. That’s saved by a backhand pass on the service return. Then, Djere goes long, and it’s already two sets up for Medvedev.
Badosa beats Juvan 7-5 3-6 6-2
Badosa wins, perhaps the beneficiary from her opponent’s physical problems but gutsy play got her back into it. The third round calls her.
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Juvan’s back seems to be giving up the ghost as Badosa goes 5-2 up. Not long now.
Badosa’s now 4-1 up, and surely cruising through, perhaps having learned a bit about herself. Medvedev won the first set against Djere 6-3, and it’s going with serve in the second set at 2-2.
Badosa’s really got the bit between the teeth, her leggings long since shed, and unperturbed by the coaching violation, and she goes 3-1 up after a break. The no 3 seed finding her form at the right time.
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Badosa, fighting for her life, breaks back and it goes with serve in the third set. Then serves to love to go 2-1 up. Juvan’s muscles slowing her down? Perhaps.
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At 1-1 in sets, Juvan, having won the second set, seems to have a problem with her stomach muscles. The physio works with her, and her breathing seems a tad impaired, only for her to blaze to a 1-0 lead in the third set, by breaking. Badoso gets a warning for being coached from the sidelines.
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Badosa shows signs of life in forcing Juvan back out to serve for the second set, but Juvan gets the job done at 6-3.
Juvan is now leading Badosa in the second set, and 4-2 up, and serving, it’s soon enough 5-2. Medvedev and Djere are level at 2-2, it’s going with serve so far on Philippe-Chartrier.
Jeanjean beats Pliskova 6-2 6-2
Another wondrous drop shot takes Jeanjean to deuce on Pliskova’s serve. Will she get the job done without having to serve out? Pliskova manages to hold on. Now, what can the 26-year-old from Montpellier produce? She starts with typical grit and, on her first ever grand slam appearance gets a bit excited by playing one of those drops. This time, Pliskova reads it. But then Jeanjean seizes a match point with a clubbing backhand. “Allez allez”, say the home fans. She serves it out. Last year’s Wimbledon finalist, the eighth seed, beaten in straight sets.
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Pliskova takes her first game of the second set but still trails 4-1 and a set down to Jeanjean. Soon enough, though her resistance level has increased, she’s 5-1 down.
Medvedev is imminent, he’s knocking up on the centre court, and elsewhere, Badosa managed to reclaim her lead in the set and take the first 7-5 from Juvan.
Jeanjean’s surge seems to come to something of a halt and Pliskova, who must be getting desperate, gets to break point, only to hit the net cord. Jeanjean gets within a point of a 4-0 lead only for the Czech to play a fine passing shot. Then comes a wonderful drop volley, and Jeanjean gets the chance to hold at that 4-0 lead. And with a scything backhand, she gets the job done.
Jeanjean is on course for a huge shock win, leading 3-0 in the second set, returning like a demon the Pliskova serve, and with the home crowd well on her side.
Juvan hanging on grimly, and Badosa will be asked to serve out the first set, and fails to do so. It’s 5-5, and the momentum is back with Juvan.
Badosa now a double break up on Juvan, 5-2 up and will serve for the set. There’s a shock in store on Court Simone-Mathieu, where Jeanjean, dominating her opponent at present, serves out against Pliskova to take the first set 6-2.
Jeanjean has causing big problems for Pliskova at the moment, and the French wild cards breaks after the eighth seed double faults. It’s 3-2. Badosa is a break up on Juvan, and leading 4-2 in the first set. She’s wearing leggings, perhaps as it’s a bit chilly.
Some other matches on today at Roland Garros.
🇺🇸 Tiafoe vs Goffin 🇧🇪
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2022
🇺🇸 Keys vs Garcia 🇫🇷
🇮🇹 Cecchinato vs Hurkacz 🇵🇱
🇷🇴 Halep vs Zheng 🇨🇳
Présentation des matchs à ne pas manquer ce jeudi à #RolandGarros
Paula Badosa surged into a 2-0 lead, having broken Kaja Juvan, but has been pegged back by the Slovenian so it’s now 2-1. And Pliskova, and Jeanjean are at 2-2.
Preamble
Under the bridges of Paris we go once more, to channel Eartha Kitt. It’s a day when Wimbledon-verboten Daniil Medvedev meets Serbia’s Laslo Djere on Philippe-Chatrier, and over on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, last year’s quarter-finalist and no 3 seed Paula Badosa is already underway with her match against Kaja Juvan. Later on, we will see local favourite Gilles Simon in action, against the American, Steve Johnson, and Dan Evans continues the plucky Brit trail in taking on Sweden’s Mikael Ymer. And Wimbledon and US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova takes on French wildcard Leolia Jeanjean on Court Simonne-Mathieu as well.
Perhaps not a day for the biggest guns, but Simona Halep, due to start knocking up around lunchtime, is a big draw, as is Iga Swiatek, who was devastating in her first round match. Halep takes on the Chinese teenager, Qinwen Zheng, while Swiatek takes on Alison Riske of the United States.
It’s a bit cloudy in Paris, which is also starting to fill with fans of Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Good morning photographers. This photo is from île Saint Louise in Paris. It’s cloudy here. How’s the weather at your end? #Paris #France #photography #photo #nature #PHOTOS #photooftheday #streetphotography #photographer #NaturePhotography #nftphotography pic.twitter.com/eZfDiUrXDk
— Satyam Srivastav (@MyPendulumLife) May 26, 2022
