The first true full day in Paris saw things go mainly by the book, most of the contenders breezed through, some had to fight and a few just weren’t at the races. All this amidst some classic marathon encounters involving the home favourites.
Contender round up
Rafa and Novak were on autopilot in their openers here, Kiki Bertens and Ashleigh Barty too were left relatively untroubled.
But Serena, Thiem and Wawrinka all dropped a set en route.
We lost Caroline Wozniacki (topsy turvy see-saw encounter) and Shapovalov (not his day at all) as poor Petra Kvitova pulled out with a shoulder/forearm complaint. With Wimbledon so close it is a wise and non-too subtle decision by the likeable Czech.
Other seeds/household names
Former champ Stosur rolled back the years beating Strycova, as the resurgent Jo Konta continued to find her form at the right time. Mertens, Coric, Vekic and Petkovic all won but Tiafoe and Basilashvilli and Goerges are all out.
French favourites
Simon, Gasquet and Paire are through, so too is the swansonging Tsonga but Cornet is no more. Jeremy Chardy and Kyle Edmund were locked at 5-5 in the fifth before bad light spoiled their party and Pierre-Hughes Herbert repeated his doubles partner Mahut’s heroics by winning from two sets to love down against 12th seed Medvedev. Quite the scalp!
Day 3 picks
Fognini Vs Seppi
Ostapenko Vs Azarenka
Sabalenka Vs Cibulkova
Karlovic Vs Lopez
All Things Tennis 