Barty limps out as Djokovic cruises on
World No.1 and former champion Ashleigh Barty limped out of Roland Garros on Thursday, throwing the battle for the women’s title wide open as Novak Djokovic eased into the third round for the 16th straight year. Top seed Barty, already suffering from a left hip injury, retired injured midway through the second set of her second-round match against Poland’s 45th-ranked Magda Linette. The Australian, who won the title on her last visit to Roland Garros in 2019, left the court for medical treatment after losing the first set 6-1. She then called it quits at 2-2 in the second set on Court Philippe Chatrier. “It’s heartbreaking,” Barty said. “It’s a miracle I got past the first round. We did absolutely everything we could to give myself a chance. It sucks.” The 25-yearold’s withdrawal, following the exit of Naomi Osaka, leaves the tournament already without the world’s top three-ranked women’s players.
PARIS: World No.1 and former champion Ashleigh Barty limped out of Roland Garros on Thursday, throwing the battle for the women’s title wide open as Novak Djokovic eased into the third round for the 16th straight year.
Top seed Barty, already suffering from a left hip injury, retired injured midway through the second set of her secondround match against Poland’s 45th-ranked Magda Linette.
The Australian, who won the title on her last visit to Roland Garros in 2019, left the court for medical treatment after losing the first set 6-1. She then called it quits at 2-2 in the second set on Court Philippe Chatrier. “It’s heartbreaking,” Barty said. “It’s a miracle I got past the first round. We did absolutely everything we could to give myself a chance. It sucks.”
The 25-year-old’s withdrawal leaves the tournament already without the world’s top threeranked women’s players.
World No.2 Naomi Osaka pulled out following a media boycott, saying she has suffered “bouts of depression” for three years. Third-ranked Simona Halep, the 2018 French Open winner, withdrew before the event with injury. That leaves world No.4 Aryna Sabalenka as the top remaining player in the draw.
Djokovic continued his bid for a 19th Grand Slam title with a straight sets win over Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas. The 34-year-old, who is looking to become the first man in more than 50 years to win all four Slams multiple times, won 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. “I stayed concentrated. I thought the third set was very difficult for me because he lifted the level of his game,” said the top seed after his 350th Grand Slam match in which he fired 31 winners. Djokovic will face Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis for a place in the last 16.
Birthday boy Nadal
World No.3 Rafael Nadal, bidding for a 14th French Open and record setting 21st Grand Slam title, celebrates his 35th birthday by facing Richard Gasquet, a player he first met when they were 12 years old.
However, schedulers have handed the Spaniard the evening session, meaning no fans on site as the match clashes with a 9pm Covid-19 curfew.
Gael Monfils’ 6-0, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat by Mikel Ymer means Gasquet would have to beat Nadal to avoid the hosts suffering their worst year in men’s singles since 1968.
Federer loses cool
Roger Federer became entangled in a rare running dispute with a chair umpire before safely securing his place in the last 32. Federer saw off Marin Cilic for the 10th time in 11 meetings, winning 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 but only after a second set bust-up with umpire Emmanuel Joseph.
The 20-time Grand Sam title winner was handed a time violation at 1-3 down in the for taking too long between points. “I don’t even dare to go my towel anymore,” he said to Joseph.
Federer, the oldest man in the draw at 39, lost his cool and the set before recovering to defeat former world No.3 Cilic. “I had very good moments, in the tiebreak in particular, and I served really well to finish,” said Federer, the 2009 champion, after hitting 47 winners.
Playing in only his second French Open since 2015, Federer goes on to face Germany’s 59th ranked Dominik Koepfer for a place in the last 16.
Elsewhere on Thursday, fourth seed Sofia Kenin, the 2020 runner-up, saw off American compatriot Hailey Baptiste 7-5, 6-3. Three-time quarter-finalist and fifth seed Elina Svitolina was similarly untroubled against Ann Li of the United States, winning 6-0, 6-4.
However, ninth seed Karolina Pliskova exited at the hands of 2018 runner-up Sloane Stephens as the 59th-ranked American won 7-5, 6-1.
Alcaraz record
At the other end of the spectrum is 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who on Monday became the youngest player to win a match at Roland Garros since Djokovic in 2005.
If the Spaniard beats 28th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili, he will be the youngest man to reach the French Open last 32 since Andrei Medvedev in 1992.