Nadal, Djokovic march on as Muguruza survives
FRENCH Open title r ivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic stormed into the last 32 on Wednesday, while women’s defending champion Garbine Muguruza survived a secondround scare.
Nadal outclassed Dutchman Robin Haase 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 on Court Philippe Chatrier to continue his quest for an incredible 10th Roland Garros triumph.
“I was more or less under control during the whole match, so I’m very happy. Winning in straight sets is always good news,” Nadal said. “I think I did a lot of things well this afternoon.”
The Spaniard wil l f ace Nikoloz Basilashvili for a place in round four after the Georgian matched his best ever run at a Grand Slam.
Defending champion Djokovic battered Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 to make it four wins in as many meetings with the world No59.
The second seed plays Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman for a place in the last 16.
“I think the first two sets went very well, the third was was more difficult,” Djokovic said. “Generally, I felt better than the first round, so that’s exactly what I wanted.”
Sixth seed Dominic Thiem charged into round three with a routine win over Simone Bolelli, sweeping the Italian aside 7-5, 6-1, 6-3.
The Austrian, who is the only player to defeat Nadal on clay this season, will meet American 25th seed Steve Johnson next as he looks to build on last year’s run to the semifinals.
Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin sailed through, but French hopes suffered a huge blow as 12th s e e d Jo - Wi l f r i e d Ts o n g a crashed out to Renzo Olivo in his opening match.
Serving to stay in the contest when darkness halted their tie on Tuesday, Tsonga was bro- ken immediately when play resumed as the Argentine world No91 wrapped up a 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4 win.
Reigning champion Muguruza survived another tough e x a mi n a t i o n f r o m 5 3 rd - ranked Anett Kontaveit, who beat the Spaniard in Stuttgart last month.
Muguruza has endured a difficult 2017 and again found herself in trouble after falling a set and a break behind against the Estonian.
Kvitova ‘fairytale’ over
But the fourth seed recovered to claw out a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-2 win and book a thirdround clash with Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.
“I knew it was going to be a battle out there,” said Muguruza, who beat Serena Williams in straight sets in last year’s final.
“I knew that losing to her not long ago I did something different this time. I think some- thing different in a good way. So I won the match.”
American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands halted Petra Kvitova’s comeback, defeating the popular Czech 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5) in her first tournament since a horrifying knife attack in December.
“I’m disappointed, for sure. I came here to win the matches,” said twice former Wimbledon champion Kvitova.
“But I really fought. I mean, after the match, I didn’t feel that bad as normally I probably do. I’m still happy I’m here and playing. The fairytale ended. Now, in upcoming weeks, I think it will be business as usual.”
Venus Williams shook off a slow start to ease into the third round with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Japan’s Kurumi Nara.
Williams, the 2002 runnerup who turns 37 next month, wil l play Belgium’s El i s e Mertens in the third round.
“Do I sense [the draw] is open? I just am really focused on me and nothing’s a given, or else I’d win every match,” said Venus, who has sister Serena in Paris supporting her.
Caroline Wozniacki dished out a chastening 6-0, 6-0 thrashing to Canadian qualifier Francoise Abanda in just 52 minutes.
The 20-year-old blamed the exertions of coming through three qualifying rounds i n order to reach the main draw.
“Fitness-wise and physically, I was tired. I think that she played her second match. I played five matches.”
Lucky loser Ons Jabeur of Tunisia stunned Slovak sixth seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 6-3 to become the first Arab woman to reach the third round of a Grand Slam.