French Open day five highlights

Seventh seed Andrey Rublev moved into the third round after beating Argentina’s Federico Delbonis 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-3. The Russian will face Chile’s Cristian Garin in his next match.

France’s Gilles Simon celebrated his 500th career win by beating American Steve Johnson 7-5 6-1 7-6(6) in the second round.

The 37-year-old, who is playing in his final French Open, becomes the third Frenchman in Open Era to reach the landmark after Richard Gasquet (574) and Gael Monfils (523).

American ninth seed Danielle Collins was knocked out in a 6-4 6-3 defeat to fellow countrywoman Shelby Rogers in the second round.

Collins’ exit means only three of the top 10 seeds remain in Paris — Iga Swiatek (1), Paula Badosa (3) and Aryna Sabalenka (7).

Former world number one and 2018 French Open champion Simona Halep crashed out in the second round after losing 2-6 6-2 6-1 to the unseeded 19-year-old Qinwen Zheng of China.

Earlier, seventh seed Sabalenka enjoyed a comfortable 6-1 6-3 win over American Madison Brengle and will face Italian Camila Giorgi in the third round.

World number one and 2020 champion Swiatek reached the third round with a dominant 6-0 6-2 win over American Alison Riske.

Swiatek, the favourite to win the title in Paris, is on a 30-match unbeaten streak.

In the men’s draw, 20th seed Marin Cilic recovered from a set down to beat Marton Fucsovics 4-6 6-4 6-2 6-3 in a match that went on for nearly three hours.

American 22nd seed Madison Keys advanced to the third round with a 6-4 7-6(3) win over Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.

Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, the 12th seed, reached the third round by beating Italian Marco Cecchinato 6-1 6-4 6-2 in just under 1-1/2 hours.

Belgium’s David Goffin overcame a slow start to defeat American 24th seed Frances Tiafoe 3-6 7-6(1) 6-2 6-4 and reach the third round in Paris for the first time since 2019.

France’s 21-year-old Hugo Gaston advanced after beating Pedro Cachin 6-4 6-2 6-4.

Men’s second seed Daniil Medvedev reached the third round with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 6-3 win over Laslo Djere, while women’s 16th seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan beat American Katie Volynets 6-4 6-0.

Spanish third seed Badosa reached the third round by beating Kaja Juvan 7-5 3-6 6-2, while American 11th seed Jessica Pegula recovered from a mid-match slump to defeat Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-1 5-7 6-4.

In the men’s draw, Norwegian sixth seed Casper Ruud advanced with a solid 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori.

Czech eighth seed Karolina Pliskova, who reached the French Open semi-finals in 2017, suffered a 6-2 6-2 defeat at the hands of French hope Leolia Jeanjean in the second round.

It is 26-year-old Jeanjean’s first appearance in a Grand Slam.

REUTERS