Russia’s Daniil Medvedev reacts during his second round match against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic at the French Open tennis championship 2024 at Rolland Garros, in Paris on May 30, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Daniil Medvedev cantered into the French Open third round when his Serbian opponent, Miomir Kecmanovic, retired due to injury on May 30.
World number 57 Kecmanovic called on the trainer when he was trailing 6-1 5-0 on court Suzanne Lenglen on another humid, grey day in Paris.
Russian fifth seed Medvedev, who has never made it past the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, will next face either Argentina’s Mariano Navone or Czech Tomas Machac.
Sabalenka eases past qualifier Uchijima
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka beat Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima 6-2 6-2 under the roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier to move into the French Open third round.
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning her second round match against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
Uchijima, playing in the second round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, could not cope with Sabalenka’s powerful serve and groundstrokes.
Sabalenka won six points in a row at the start of the match but once Uchijima had overcome her nerves she settled down against the Belarusian.
Uchijima held her serve but when she trailed 3-2, Sabalenka pounced on a break point with a fierce winner before taking the first set in 29 minutes.
The Japanese number one wore a sombre expression during the changeover before the second set and she had no answer to the power of Sabalenka who also played some telling drop shots.
Uchijima afforded herself a smile when she got the better of the Belarusian on a long rally to make it 4-2 but Sabalenka refocused to save a break point before breaking the Japanese player’s serve to seal victory.
Rybakina sees off Rus to move into third round
Fourth seed Elena Rybakina made a sluggish start before beating Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus 6-3 6-4 to move into the third round of the French Open.
Rybakina, a former Wimbledon champion, made an early double fault but held in the opening game under the roof on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
The 24-year-old Kazakh seized control, firing three consecutive aces from 15-30 down for a 3-2 lead and sealed a break to take the opening set in 35 minutes.
Kazakhstan Elena Rybakina serves against Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands.
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“With a lefty I’m trying to cover the right sides of the court. In the end I’m also focusing on myself a lot and trying to push myself today with a little bit of ups and downs,” Rybakina said.
“A lot of games I was 0-40 down which I would say is not that usual for me. But she’s an experienced player and it’s not easy to play her.”
There was little to separate the duo early in the second set before the lanky Rus took advantage of mistakes from her opponent to break for a 4-2 lead, only to surrender her serve in the next game.
“No one wants to play three sets… so I was trying to focus point by point and push myself. Energy-wise I wasn’t that happy today with myself,” Rybakina added.
Having levelled up at 4-4, Russian-born Rybakina broke again to set up the chance to settle the match on serve and she completed in style to book a meeting with Petra Martic or Elise Mertens.