Denis Shapovalov, the No. 25 seed, made a winning start on his Roland Garros debut on Tuesday in a rain-interrupted first-round win. The #NextGenATP Canadian recovered from a 2-5 deficit in the first set, then experienced few problems in a 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 victory over John Millman of Australia in two hours and three minutes. “It was really tough conditions today with the rain," said Shapovalov. "The court was getting pretty heavy, but the balls especially, they were getting really fluffy and heavy. But, at the same time, I felt like I played really well… I'm really happy with the win. It's not an easy match against John. He's such an experienced player. “I wasn't too concerned 2-5 down, I...
The past several days have been difficult ones for Roberto Bautista Agut after the passing of his mother, Ester, one week ago. Things didn't get any easier on Monday, but the Spaniard persevered and battled his way into the second round at Roland Garros by defeating Denis Istomin 6-2, 6-7(3), 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 in three hours and 30 minutes. "That was a very emotional match, especially with everything that's happened in the past week," Bautista Agut said. "It was an encounter filled with highs and lows ... it isn't easy to keep your mind on the court when you've got all these thoughts and feelings inside your head." The 13th seeded Spaniard managed to gather himself going into the fourth...
Sam Querrey of the U.S. had not won a clay-court match this year before Monday. The American had gone 0-3 before heading to Roland Garros. But apparently he just needed to play in Paris. The 12th seed avoided a winless European clay-court swing by beating #NextGenATP compatriot Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(6). Querrey hit 11 aces and controlled play with his big serve to beat the 20-year-old Tiafoe for the second time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series (Shanghai 2017). Tiafoe had reached his second ATP World Tour final at the Millennium Estoril Open earlier this month (l. to Sousa). Querrey will try to match his best Paris showing (3R, 2013) when he meets Frenchman Gilles Simon, who saved four...
World No. 155 Jaume Munar provided a vision of Spain’s tennis future on Monday at Roland Garros, landing the biggest victory of his career in a battle of the generations. The 21-year-old, in only his ninth tour-level match (3-6) and just his second at a Grand Slam championship, knocked out David Ferrer, a Spanish tennis legend of the past 15 years. Munar recovered from an 0-2 sets deficit and 3-5 in the deciding set to beat 2013 finalist Ferrer 3-6, 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 7-5 in four hours and 15 minutes for a place in the second round. "It's the most important victory of my career," said Munar. "Regardless of how the match went, I came back two-sets-to-love down to...
There are three things that are virtually guaranteed on any given day at Roland Garros: the sun will rise, the sun will set, and Rafael Nadal will win. But the 10-time champion was in a battle in the opening round on the terre battue Monday. Play was suspended due to rain with Nadal leading lucky loser Simone Bolelli 6-4, 6-3, 0-3, as the Spaniard attempts to extend his best-of-five-set clay-court record to 105-2. The match will be resumed on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Tuesday. Nadal, who already captured his 11th titles at Monte-Carlo and Barcelona this year, seeks his 11th Coupe des Mousquetaires. That would equal Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam singles trophy record, which she earned at the Australian Open....