Nadal Marches On Towards 10th Roland Garros Title

Nadal Marches On Towards 10th Roland Garros Title

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Defending champion Muguruza through, plus day four round-up

Defending French Open champion Garbine Muguruza survived a scare to beat world number 99 Anett Kontaveit 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-2 and reach the third round.

The fourth seed was a set and a break down but recovered to win in two hours and eight minutes.

The 23-year-old will now play Yulia Putintseva, seeded 27.

The women’s draw is wide open, especially after world number one Angelique Kerber and British hope Johanna Konta went out in round one.

“I was expecting this kind of match because I played her recently, and I saw her a little bit in the few tournaments before,” Muguruza said of Kontaveit.

“She was just playing good, a lot of confidence. I knew it was going to be a battle out there.”

• View the latest scores from Roland Garros
• Nadal & Djokovic safely through
• Nadal winning 10th title would be unheralded – Henman
• ‘I’m not playing like number one’ – Andy Murray column

Watched by sister Serena – who will not play again this season because of her pregnancy – Venus Williams easily beat Kurumi Nara 6-3 6-1 to move into round three for the first time in five years.

At 36 she is the oldest woman to reach the third round at the French Open since Billie Jean King in 1982.

Slovak Dominika Cibulkova suffered a shock defeat by Tunisia’s world number 114 Ons Jabeur to become the third top-10 seed in the women’s draw to be knocked out. The sixth seed lost 6-4 6-3.

Petra Kvitova’s return to action came to an end in the second round as the Czech lost 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) to American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Caroline Wozniacki, the Danish 12th seed, produced an impressive performance to beat Canadian Francoise Abanda 6-0 6-0 in 52 minutes.

French 13th seed Kristina Mladenovic reached the third round with a comfortable 6-2 6-3 win against Sara Errani of Italy.

In the men’s draw, another home favourite, 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, was given only the briefest of reprieves as he lost 7-5 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 to Argentine Renzo Olivo.

The match was postponed from Tuesday because of bad light and Olivo needed only one game to turn his overnight advantage into victory. He will now play Briton Kyle Edmund in the second round.

Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem was broken just once in a 7-5 6-1 6-3 win over Italian Simone Bolelli.

Bulgaria’s 11th seed Grigor Dimitrov is also through after beating Spain’s Tommy Robredo 6-3 6-4 7-5.

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Nadal winning 10th French Open would be 'incredible'

Rafael Nadal winning a 10th French Open would be “one of sport’s biggest achievements”, says former British number one Tim Henman.

The Spanish fourth seed is into round three after outclassing Dutchman Robin Haase 6-1 6-4 6-3 on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old would become the first player in the Open era to win 10 titles at one Grand Slam, should he progress.

“It would be such an incredible achievement by such an incredible player,” said Henman.

“You can’t even fathom it. A lot of people don’t win 10 tournaments, let alone 10 Grand Slams at one venue,” added the Englishman.

• Live scores and schedule
• Djokovic safely through to third round

Nadal, who is 31 on Saturday, won his first Roland Garros crown in 2005, the first of four successive victories before claiming a further five in a row between 2010 and 2014.

The Spaniard is only one of two players – the other being German Alexander Zverev – to win multiple clay-court titles this season. He won his 10th titles at Monte Carlo and Barcelona as well as his 30th Masters title in Madrid.

“It is the biggest challenge in the game to beat Nadal over five sets on clay in Paris,” Henman told BBC Sport.

The only other player to win 10 or more titles at a single Grand Slam is Margaret Court, who won 11 Australian Opens between 1960 and 1973.

“It would be one of the biggest achievements in tennis and one of the biggest in any sport,” added Henman.

“To have been so dominant at one of the biggest events in our sport is just incredible.”

• Nadal has only lost two matches at the French Open, to Robin Soderling in 2009 and Novak Djokovic in 2015
• A defeat by Dominic Thiem at the Rome Masters is Nadal’s only loss on clay this season

No concerns over Murray’s form

After a season hampered by injuries and illness, world number one Andy Murray beat Russian Andrey Kuznetsov in the first round on Tuesday and Henman believes the Scot will be looking to “build round by round”.

“I wouldn’t say Murray is favourite but he is the number one in the world for a reason,” Henman said.

“I haven’t been concerned by his form because he has been ill and injured.

“If he can stay healthy and injury free, he will start winning matches and tournaments because he is one of the best players out there.”

The Scot won his opener in four sets to set up a second-round match with Slovak Martin Klizan. He now faces a potential third-round clash with Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro.

“Klizan is an awkward player but I expect Andy to come through that and Del Potro in the third round is a much bigger challenge.

“Irrespective of what happens in Paris, on the grass, with his record at Queen’s and Wimbledon, he will definitely be one of the favourites for those titles.”

Agassi can help Djokovic

Former world number four Henman believes Andre Agassi will have “lots to offer” Novak Djokovic, after the American took over as the Serb’s coach for the first week in Paris.

Djokovic hired eight-time Grand Slam champion Agassi, having parted company with his coaching team earlier in May.

“Agassi is massively experienced and went through a lot of highs and lows,” Henman said.

“He is not going to teach Djokovic to hit new shots but can help him use his attributes to the best of his ability.

“Agassi’s experience and a new voice can certainly help. It can sometimes be someone saying the same thing but in a different fashion.”

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'I just miss my dad' – Johnson wins weeks after father's death

A tearful Steve Johnson said the recent death of his father left him an “emotional mess” as he won a dramatic match against Borna Coric at the French Open.

The American, 27, sank to his knees and cried on court after the four-set second-round win at Roland Garros.

Steve Johnson Sr, a tennis coach who introduced his son to the sport, died at the age of 58 earlier this month.

“I just miss my dad,” the world number 26 told Tennis Channel.

“I wish he was following along – I know he is from upstairs – but it’s just so emotional, it’s hard to describe.

“I just knew he was looking down on me on that last point and gave me the strength to finish it off.”

• Live scores and schedule
• Nadal & Djokovic safely through

Johnson had pulled out of the Italian Open earlier this month when he received the news of his father’s death, returning to action in Geneva last week.

His mother, sister and fiancée all joined him in Switzerland and his father had been due to travel to Wimbledon next month.

Johnson goes on to face Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem in the third round in Paris.

“Physically I’m OK, emotionally I’m a mess,” he added.

“I just know this is what he always taught me to be – a fighter, be a competitor, day in day out, so that’s what I’m going to do. That’s the only thing I can do.”

In a match that saw tempers fray at both ends, Croatia’s Coric repeatedly smashed his racquet into the court after losing the fourth set, having held set points.

“That’s quite logical, I think,” he said. “I was on the court for four hours. And it’s not something which should be my excuse, but I got mad.

“I think everyone gets mad from time to time. Maybe I didn’t show it in the right way but I made a mistake, but that’s it.”

Asked about his grieving opponent’s achievement, Coric added: “I think it was super tough definitely.

“All the credit to him that he was able to go through this period and also to play this good.”

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Thiem Cruises Into Roland Garros R3

Thiem Cruises Into Roland Garros R3

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Novak Djokovic reaches French Open third round

Defending champion Novak Djokovic beat Joao Sousa 6-1 6-4 6-3 to reach the third round of the French Open.

The second seed raced through the first set but Sousa dug in and had a chance to lead 4-2 in the third.

But the Portuguese player missed his chance and Djokovic sealed victory in two hours and seven minutes to set up a clash with Argentine Diego Schwartzman.

Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal is playing Dutchman Robin Haase on Philippe Chatrier Court.

• Nadal v Haase live radio and text
• Live scores and schedule

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Petra Kvitova loses in the French Open second round on return from injury

Petra Kvitova’s return to action came to an end in the second round of the French Open as she lost 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) to Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Kvitova, 27, only returned to full-time practice at the start of May after being stabbed in December.

The Czech – a two-time Wimbledon champion – suffered career-threatening injuries to her left hand.

She rallied from 3-1 down to take the second set to a tie-break but lost to the American on a double fault.

• View the latest scores from Roland Garros
• ‘I’m not playing like number one’ – Andy Murray column

Kvitova, who said she “was lucky to be alive” after the stabbing, was not expected to play in Paris at all but won her first match back in Sunday’s first round.

She first picked up a racquet again in March, 12 weeks after the attack, and will now focus on playing at Wimbledon, where she won in 2011 and 2014.

“After the match, I didn’t feel as bad as normally I probably do,” said Kvitova. “I’m still happy I’m here and playing.

“The fairytale ended. Now, in upcoming weeks, I think it will be business as usual.

“That’s what I’m looking forward to, just focusing on the tennis and on the game and everything what I do need to improve to my game.”

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Margaret Court: Tennis is 'full of lesbians', says Australian Grand Slam legend

Margaret Court has said “tennis is full of lesbians”, following a row over her earlier remarks on gay marriage.

Australian Court, a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion and now a Christian pastor, also said that transgender children were the work of “the devil”.

The 74-year-old caused controversy when she said she would not fly on Qantas “where possible” in protest at its support of same-sex marriage.

“When I was playing there was only a couple [of lesbians],” Court said.

“But those couple that led took young ones into parties and things. What you get at the top is often what you’ll get right through that sport.”

Speaking to Vision Christian Radio she added: “We’re there to help them overcome. We’re not against the people.”

• Murray wants Court row resolved

Australian Open venue Margaret Court Arena was renamed after the 11-time winner in 2003, and Tennis Australia said earlier in the week that the name would not be changed.

The body has distanced itself from the row, stating that Court’s views are a personal matter.

Grand Slam winners Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King have called for her name to be stripped from the venue at Melbourne Park.

And former world number four Sam Stosur hinted on Tuesday that players might refuse to play at the arena at next year’s tournament.

World number one Andy Murray said at the French Open on Tuesday he hoped the issue could be resolved long before next year’s Australian Open.

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Andy Murray column on French Open, injuries and illness, and finding form again

It’s been a frustrating start to 2017 but hopefully the illness and injury problems are finally behind me just in time for some of the biggest tournaments of the year.

I’m still coughing my way around Roland Garros as I get over the effects of my latest bout of sickness – the more I talk, the more I want to cough – but I felt fine during my match on Tuesday and happy to get through to the second round.

I haven’t played as many matches, or had as many wins, as I would like in the build-up to the French Open but Grand Slams are long events and hopefully I can play my way into form.

The Slams are what’s driving me more than the number one ranking. If you win these events, you give yourself a chance of staying at the top of the rankings. If you don’t, you don’t deserve to be up there.

Last year I performed well in the Slams with finals in Australia and France, a win at Wimbledon and the quarter-finals at the US Open.

This year the start hasn’t been so good, but I can turn things around over the next few weeks both here in Paris and at Wimbledon.

‘I couldn’t do any physical work’

I’ve been pretty lucky over the past couple of years but shingles, an elbow injury and illness have certainly set me back this year.

When I had the shingles I could still do a bit of training, I just couldn’t do anything that was of high intensity at all.

I was able to hit balls, so stay in a bit of rhythm in terms of my timing, but I couldn’t do any physical work like interval training – just staying active and avoiding anything too strenuous to make sure my heart rate didn’t get up too high.

With the elbow, I could do everything except serve. I could at least train and stay in decent shape, I just couldn’t play tournaments or matches or points.

And obviously, that’s what we do. As much as you practise and work on stuff, playing points is the most important thing and I couldn’t do that.

So it was really positive that I came through four sets on Tuesday and the elbow felt fine. That was probably the most I’d served since the injury, and in fairly slow, heavy conditions, and it feels pretty good.

I feel totally over the illness I had a week ago and although the cough’s a bit irritating, I’m certainly not sick any more.

‘It’s not easy to stay at the top’

There were points towards the end of last year when I wasn’t number one, but I felt like I was the best player in the world. This year I’ve been number one and I certainly haven’t been the best player out there.

It was a great experience to get there for the first time here in Paris last November, and obviously I’ve enjoyed keeping hold of it for the past six or seven months.

It’s not easy to stay at the top and the past three or four months have not really been good enough to merit that ranking, but it’s calculated over the past 12 months, and over that time I’ve been the best.

So far this year I obviously haven’t, and I need to try to turn that around.

‘There’s always been a handshake at the end’

The next step will be my second-round match against Martin Klizan – a big hitter with a pretty unorthodox style. He played five sets on Tuesday so hopefully I can make it tough for him again.

The end of his first match was also pretty unorthodox as there was no handshake with Laurent Lokoli. I saw the video, although I didn’t see what happened in the match, but the two of them obviously weren’t happy with each other.

I’m pretty sure that in every match I’ve played professionally, there’s always been a handshake at the end of it.

Hopefully there will be another one in a couple of days, and I’m the one smiling.

Andy Murray was talking to BBC Sport’s Piers Newbery

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Roland Garros 2017 The Main Contenders

Roland Garros 2017 The Main Contenders

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