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Key events
It’s really crazy how many good French tennis players we have these days and Mpetshi Perricard looks like business. He leads Goffen 3-2 on serve.
Ah, it stopped again. Okay.
Ah, it’s raining again – now harder. So when Evans and Rune show up, theirs will be the only match in progress.
Next in Lenglen: Dan Evans v Holger Roon (13).
Daria Kasatkina (10) beat Magdalena Frech 7-5 6-1
Then she meets Stearns or Cirik Bagarich; the former currently leads 6-3 5-4.
Fresh resists bravely, forcing Kasatkina to escape, but she still holds on and now, at 7-5 5-1, is a game away from the second round.
For what it’s worth Mpetshi Pericard is still there… and what do you know, it’s stopped raining, so clay is clay, we’ll be back on the road in a second.
Kasatkina breaks Fresh again to lead 7-5 4-1, then it starts raining again, meaning it’s our only game in progress.
Next for Mathieu: Madison Keys (14) vs. Renata Sarazua.
Alex de Minaur (10) beat Alex Michelsen 6-1 6-0 6-2
It’s a very impressive performance, but it gets tougher in the second round, Munar or Bautista Agut is his next opponent.
Meanwhile, De Minaurserved for the match, leading Michelsen 6-1 6-0 5-2, and he will also imagine himself, the highest seed in his eighth Daniil Medvedev.
Now Martic beat Mladenovic 6-4 6-4 and Rous dispatched Kerber 6-4 6-3, but Mertens, after winning the first set, has a break in the second set against Carle, while Blinkova – who defeated Rybakina in a belt at Flushing Meadow – leads Kirstea with a break in the third.
Now I binned Fritz, tied a set apiece with Coria, but to a break, to watch Goffen vs Mpetshi Perikar. I chose the latter as my best home hope and he has since won Lyon; the veteran Belgian should be a really good test for him.
ha! Thomas Martin Etcheverry bought a dog a long time ago, which he named Ronald-Garros – and now look. Nobody will want to meet him and with Ruud the highest seeded in his eighth position, the last eight looks a decent and achievable target.
Kasatkina followed her break to win set one with another break to take the lead in the second set; Frech has work to do but is playing pretty well. Meanwhile, Fritz now leads Coria 2-6 6-1 1-0 with a break; Martic serves to lead Mladenovic in the match 6-4 5-4; Mertens leads Carle 6-3 3-4; Rous leads Kerber 6-4 4-2; and Kirstea just leveled her match with Blinkova at 3-6 6-3.
Next in Chatrier: Novak Djokovic vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert (but in the night session).
Sabalenka thanked the crowd, admitting that it was raining so they had no choice but to watch her; Alex Corretja informs her that we are now playing everywhere.
She’s trying to do well on clay, she says, and also have fun — which you can’t do if you’re not playing your best. She’s good at drops in practice, she says, and now she’s able to integrate them into her power game, making her opponents think.
Arina Sabalenka (2) beat Erika Andreeva 6-1 6-2
It was a good match and a good check in the first round for Sabalenka. Next, she meets Burillo Escorihuela or Uchijima, while Andreeva will be much better for this competition; I look forward to seeing her again.
Andreeva’s resistance seems to be running out: Sabalenka breaks her for the second time in the second set and soon serves for the match, 6-1 5-2 for good.
She wins two set points, but Kasatkina eventually hangs on and holds and now leads Frech – who is playing well – 7-5. Meanwhile, Fritz leads Coria 4-1 in the second set after losing the first 6-2.
At Chatrier, Andreeva has fun, it’s still a break, but she’s really leaning into her groundstrokes and when Sabalenka goes long from the backhand, she has a couple to try to break. And look! The world number 2 hits a forehand wide… then hits the exact same shot inside the lines and quickly closes for 6-1 4-2. Teen makes her work.
Hey, De Minaur beats Michelsen to lead 6-1 6-0 – imagine how much she’s enjoying the third – as Freh goes long from behind, giving Kasatkina a break and a chance to serve for the first set at 6-5.
I know Fritz probably thinks clay is for making models, but he is placed number 12, so I changed De Minaur’s view to him; he is now a break in the second set.
And the rest of the relevant results: Frech 5-5 Kasatkina, De Minaur 6-1 5-0 Michelsen, Martic 6-4 2-2 Mladenovic, Mertens 6-3 Carle, Rus 6-4 Kerber, Blinkova 6-3 1-2 Kirstea, Fritz 2-6 1-0 Korea.
Okay, Daniel back in the seat. Andreeva may have been able to get Sabalenka back, but Sabalenka then grabbed the advantage again; she leads 6-1 2-1 0-15.
Sabalenka starts the second set with a break – but Andreeva is not done yet and breaks to level things at 1-1.
Elsewhere, De Minaur led Michelsen by a set and a double break, while Frech broke back to level the first set with Kasatkina at 4-4.
Andreeva punishes a great backhand down the line – she can play – but Sabalenka held on to secure a 6-1 set; she is great. I’m off to do the school run now, but stay with us as the coverage continues…
Kasatkina breaks Fresh for 2-1 while Andreeva is too slow on a Sabalenka forehand boom – the only response is to shorten the backswing that leaves her facing deuce – and on advantage, a double means she’s now 1-5 behind.
Andreeva started well, but the barrage Sabalenka unleashes is too much and earns her a break; she leads 4-1.
De Minaur takes the first set from Michelsen 6-1 and he’s another big step up this year. I wonder if clay might turn out to be his best surface as well, as that’s where his main strength – rushing and pulling – is most useful, and where his biggest weakness – not having enough power to hit winners – is noticeable least.
Frech and Kasatkina are also far away now and I think the latter improved a lot last year. She lacks the weapons – or weapons – to compete with the best in the majors, but she remains a very good player. She sticks Frech; Fresh holds 1-0.
I am congenitally incapable to mention dear ronald without posting this:
Did Alex de Minaudo you look like ian ronald bell?
Sabalenka, meanwhile, despite not being fully fit on clay, is hitting the ball hard enough – I think it’s harder than any woman ever to play the game—to be a factor on any surface. For a while she struggled to cope with the pressure, but since then she has won two Aussie Opens on a spin, while also reaching the US final, and is close to full sporting maturity.
Andreeva and Sabalenka are guests, Sabalenka holds quickly for 1-0. I haven’t seen much of Andreeva senior – her younger sister was one of the heroes of last year’s Wimbledon at just 16 – while Erika is the sage of 19.
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