Here oui go
> Murray, Del Potro set up French Open blockbuster
WORLD NO.1 Andy Murray reached the French Open third round yesterday with a bruising 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) win over Martin Klizan of Slovakia.
Murray will face Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro for a place in the last 16.
“I expected a tough match. Martin goes for his shots, he can hit winners with that forehand from anywhere on the court,” said 2016 runner-up Murray.
“I tried to play a solid match, I hit deeper the longer the match went on and tried to dictate the points.”
Murray faced Del Potro in two epic encounters last year.
He beat the Argentine in a marathon Olympic final before Del Potro, now 30 in the world, gained his revenge with a come-from-behind win in five sets in the Davis Cup semifinal.
“It will be very tough. Juan Martin is playing a lot better than his ranking,” said Murray.
“He’s come back from injury and had some tough draws this year. It should be a great atmosphere.”
Del Potro set up the French Open blockbuster match against Murray after a heartfelt display of compassion towards a stricken rival.
The giant Argentine, no stranger to injury after a career-long battle with wrist problems, made the third round after Spanish opponent Nicolas Almagro quit in tears during the third set of their tie with a left knee injury.
In a moving conclusion on Court Two, Del Potro sat next to a sobbing Almagro, offering him water while patting the head of the inconsolable 31-year-old.
Del Potro had also gone to the Spaniard’s aid when he had collapsed at the back of the court, weeping, just moments earlier.
“I tried to find good words for him at that moment. I say to him, try to be calm. Try to think about his family, his baby,” said Del Potro.
“Sometimes the heart is first more than the tennis match.”
Del Potro, 28, had taken the first set of the second round clash 6-3 before Almagro claimed the next by the same score.
They were locked at 1-1 in the third when Almagro quit.
Del Potro, playing in Paris for the first time in five years after battling a series of wrist injuries, also suffered an injury scare himself when he pulled up, holding his left leg in the second set.
“It’s not easy for me when you have a friend on the other side of the court showing an injury or crying. It was really a bad moment for both, but I wish all the best to him,” added Del Potro.
Third seed Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 champion, reached the French Open last 32 for the 10th time with a 64, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 win over Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine. Wawrinka will face Italy’s Fabio Fognini for a place in the fourth round.
Japanese eighth seed Kei Nishikori routed France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 60, 7-6 (7/5). The world No. 9 will face South Korean Hyeon Chung for a place in the last 16.
Former US Open champion Marin Cilic, the seventh seed, cruised to a comfortable 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over 32year-old Konstantin Kravchuk, the Russian world No. 129 making his Paris bow.
Unseeded 21-year-old Karen Khachanov of Russia continued his impressive debut, beating Czech 13th seed Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.
Big-serving John Isner of the United States fired 21 aces to defeat Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2).
Fifth seed Elina Svitolina, a quarterfinalist in 2015 and recent Rome champion, made the third round by beating Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, seeded nine, saw off Belgian qualifier Alison Van Uytvanck 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 63. – AFP to defer her Ramadan fasting obligations until her Roland Garros adventure ends. “I cannot go without eating or drinking, but after the tournament I will give it back, day by day. I won’t be able to do the 30 days but I have time to do it before the next Ramadan,” she explained after her first career win over a top 10 player. Jabeur, who had never won a match at the majors before her visit to Paris, has now bettered the previous best by an Arab woman at the Slams. That mark was set by compatriot Selima Sfar who made the second round at Roland Garros twice, three times at Wimbledon and once at the US Open. Jabeur, who was the French Open girls’ champion in 2011, goes on to face Swiss 30th seed and 2015 semifinalist Timea Bacsinszky for a place in the last 16. “I am very happy to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time,” added Jabeur. – AFP