Strong start for Harris in Paris
SOUTH Africa’s unseeded Lloyd Harris made a strong start to his French Open campaign with a solid 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 win over 26th seed and world No 28 Lorenzo Sonego of Italy in their first-round clash at Roland Garros in Paris yesterday.
World No 54 Harris was up against an opponent who has been in great form of late.
Last week the rangy Italian warmed up for the claycourt Grand Slam by taking a set off world No 1 Novak Djokovic.
Harris, playing in his third French Open, will meet Britain’s Cam Norrie in the second round on Thursday. Lefthander Norrie won through after defeating American qualifier Bjorn Fratangelo 7-5, 7-6, 6-2.
It is a match-up that promises so much for Harris because the winner of this encounter will advance to meet ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal in the third round.
Meanwhile, SA tennis fans will be keeping an eye on veteran 35-yearold Kevin Anderson, the former world No 5 who will go up against 23-year-old Korean Kwon Soon-woo in the first round today.