Defending champion Simona Halep was taken to three sets by Poland Magda Linette on a day when Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka, the top seeds, both went through
Kevin Mitchell on Kyle Edmund’s demise closes our blog for the day.
Related: Kyle Edmund limps out of French Open amid doubts for grass season
Linette’s own serve causes her problems, and she goes 0-30 down before hitting a crushing passing shot down the line for 15-30, before an unforced error forces two match points. When Linette hits into the net, Halep can punch the air in delight. The defending champion is through, but had a real fight to get there.
Khachanov recovered his step to beat Barrère by the way. Meanwhile, Halep’s serve wobbles badly as she tries to see out the match. She is broken, and broken badly. It’s 5-3 in the third set.
Linette tries to serve her way back in, and takes it to 5-2 with a gutsy hold. Halep will serve for the match.
Halep looks like she really wants to get this one done. The second serve is proving a problem, on which Linette is having plenty of joy. And a double fault takes her to deuce, which is seen out for 5-1. Linette plays a tired backhand into the net.
And Linette claims the next game by serving to love. Reports of her demise clearly exaggerated….It’s at 3-1 to Halep, who needs to hold the next game.
Karen Khachanov, the 11th seed, looked to be cruising through against the Frenchman Grégoire Barrère, but lost the third set 6-0 and it’s going with serve in the fourth. Linette, meanwhile, is not done, and has just broken back against Halep.
And Halep goes 3-0 up in that third set with a second break. In truth, Linette looks a little weary, the efforts of saving match points and then winning the second set have clearly drained her.
Halep breaks in the first game of the third set, and looks full of energy despite that setback. She serves to love to go 2-0 up.
Time for me to say goodbye. John Brewin will take you through to the end of the day’s play. See you tomorrow.
Magda Linette steals the set! A huge forehand forces Halep to scamper on set point and the Romanian can only send her reply long. The plucky Pole was a set and a break down, but she’s dragged the third seed into a decider after taking the second set 7-5. How inconvenient for Halep.
Fair play to Magda Linette, who’s spent most of the match peppering the lines. It hasn’t always worked but her gutsy approach is causing Halep some problems now. Halep is serving to get a tie-break.
Simona Halep has just blown a series of match points and allowed herself to get broken by Magda Linette. Ouch. It’s 5-5 in the second set.
The big man finishes it off with a trademark forehand at the end of a marathon rally. He looks mightily relieved to have come through that, but he’ll be worried about the state of his right knee before facing Jordan Thompson in the third round.
A hold for Del Potro takes him within a game of victory. He leads Nishioka 5-2 in the fifth set. Simona Halep is also one game away from beating Magda linette.
Juan Martin del Potro ups the pace of his groundstrokes and rumbles into a 0-40 lead on Nishioka’s serve. He breaks to 15 and leads 3-1 in the fifth set.
Simona Halep is being made to work hard by Magda Linette, but she has what should prove the crucial break in the second set. As for Delpo and Nishioka, they’re still on serve in the fifth set. A couple of other top seeds in the men’s draw are in action as well. Fabio Fognini, the ninth seed, is a set up against Federico Delbonis. Karen Khachanov, the 10th seed, is two sets up against Gregoire Barrerre.
Oh Delpo! It’s going to a fifth on Simonne-Mathieu, where the increasingly impertinent Yoshihito Nishioka has won that fourth-set tie-break, sealing it when Del Potro sent a backhand long. The eighth seed, who’s been troubled by a knee injury since the first set, could be set for an early exit.
Simona Halep is a set away from the third round. It was tight, but she’s won the first set 6-4 against Magda Linette. Meanwhile Martin Klizan has taken the first set 7-6 off Lucas Pouille on Philippe-Chatrier, while Borna Coric has beaten Lloyd Harris in straight sets.
Del Potro forces that tie-break. He’d really, really, really like it if he’s back in the locker room soon.
Del Potro and Nishioka have been going at it for three hours. Nishioka leads 6-5 in the fourth set. Del Potro, who always looks knackered, will serve to force a tie-break.
Yoshihito Nishioka bashes an ace down the middle to wipe out a Del Potro break point at 4-4 in the fourth set. The underdog really has played some good tennis today. He holds to lead 5-4. Can he force a fifth set?
Roberto Bautista Agut is through to the third round after thumping Taylor Fritz. Elsewhere Simona Halep remains a break up against Magda Linette on Suzanne-Lenglen.
Juan Martin del Potro has the trainer on again. That right knee’s still bothering him. At least he’s got it back on serve in the fourth set against the pesky Yoshihito Nishioka.
Simona Halep has come flying out the blocks. She’s broken Magda Linette already.
Simona Halep is on Suzanne-Lenglen, ready to face Magda Linette. Meanwhile Juan Martin del Potro fans will be alarmed to hear their man’s a break down in the fourth set. Yoshihito Nishioka won’t stop bashing away. He’s come up with 101 winners so far.
Juan Martin del Potro fans might be worried about the big man’s right knee, but they’ll be pleased to see him race into a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 lead over Yoshihito Nishioka. Meanwhile Gael Monfils will face another Frenchman in the next round. Antoine Hoang has stunned Fernando Verdasco, beating the 23rd seed 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.
Gael Monfils is celebrating wildly on Suzanne-Lenglen. He’s walloped Adrian Mannarino, beating his fellow Frenchman in three comfortable sets.
Roberto Bautista Agut, always strong on clay, is 6-2, 6-3 up against Taylor Fritz. Bautista Agut is a bit better than Bernard Tomic, who was thumped by Fritz in the first round. Borna Coric is also moving along smoothly – the Croatian leads 6-2, 6-3, 2-2 against South Africa’s Lloyd Harris.
The applause is muted but respectful on Philippe-Chatrier. Anna Blinkova, the world No79, has just dumped Caroline Garcia out of the tournament. The 20-year-old Russian was a set and a break down against her French opponent, but she kept plugging away and has won 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. That’s a tough one for Garcia to take.
Caroline Garcia was a break up in the third set against Anna Blinkova. Not any more. Blinkova comes up with a lovely forehand pass on break point and they’re back on serve at 4-4 on Chatrier, where it’s getting very tense indeed.
Del Potro seems to be taking charge now. He’s up a break in the third set against Nishioka.
Gael Monfils is two sets and a break up against Adrian Mannarino. There’s surely no way back for Mannarino. Simona Halep should start getting ready to make her entrance on Suzanne-Lenglen.
Juan Martin del Potro is feeling satisfied as he rumbles back to his chair. He’s levelled it up against Yoshihito Nishioka on Simonne-Mathieu. He was in danger of going two sets down.
That’s some win for Andrea Petkovic. The unseeded German has fought back from a set down to beat the very tricky Hsieh Su-wei 4-6, 6-3, 8-6. At least Hsieh amused the crowd when she ran into the hoardings, picked up someone’s phone and pretended to make a call. She’ll always have that special moment. She’ll sleep easy tonight.
Hsieh (info – @vrcsports @tumcarayol @BenRothenberg )(@Eurosport_RU ) pic.twitter.com/XwUfglNLzS
Gale Monfils breaks through against the shaven headed Adrian Mannarino. He leads 6-3, 4-3.
Juan Martin del Potro continues to struggle. Down a set, limping a little, he broke at the start of set two against Yoshihito Nishioka. But the Japanese has hit straight back, breaking to make it 3-3.
All square on Philippe-Chatrier, where Anna Blinkova has taken the second set off Caroline Garcia. In better news for home fans, Antoine Hoang is 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 up against Fernando Verdasco.
Here’s the slip that led to Del Potro asking for a medical timeout. Let’s hope it’s nothing serious.
Oh…(@Eurosport_RU ) pic.twitter.com/wk8O6IzzcS
Gael Monfils, everybody.
Monfils/@Gael_Monfils /(@Eurosport_RU ) pic.twitter.com/y6CkDlZcFA
Juan Martin del Potro is a set down! Yoshihito Nishioka has taken it 7-5. Worryingly Del Potro has asked to see the trainer during the changeover. He asks for his right knee to be taped up. Over on Suzanne-Lenglen, Gael Monfils has taken the first set 6-3 against Adrian Mannarino.
Del Potro’s broken back against Nishioka and will serve to stay in the set at 4-5. An untimely loss of nerve from the underdog.
Dusan Lajovic has beaten Elliot Benchetrit in straight sets. He’ll play Alexander Zverev next. Meanwhile a possible upset’s brewing on Simonne-Mathieu, where Yoshihito Nishioka’s about to serve for the first set against Juan Martin del Potro.
Hold that thought. Nishioka has battled back to level the first set against Del Potro. Adrian Mannarino will hope to do the same against Gael Monfils. He’s down 0-3 against his fellow Frenchman.
The first break goes to Del Potro, who leads 3-1 against Nishioka. The eighth seed looks strong.
It’s a set apiece on Court 14. Andrea Petkovic has levelled it up against the tricky Hsieh Su-wei, the 25th seed. On Court 6 the unseeded Puerto Rican Monica Puig is a set up against Daria Kasatkina, the 21st seed.
On Court Simonne-Mathieu you’ll be pleased to hear Juan Martin del Potro is up and running. He faces Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. On Chatrier, meanwhile, France’s Caroline Garcia is 3-0 up in the first set against Anna Blinkova.
A doddle for the world No1, who’s running through his customary celebration now; you know the one, the one where he showers the crowd with love. Lovely. During the match, however, Djokovic was cold and ruthless and he won easily to set up a third-round match with Italy’s Salvatore Caruso.
Unlike in the first round the fifth seed finishes it off quickly. His young Swedish opponent was no match for him. Zverev is likely to face Dusan Lajovic next; the 30th seed is two sets to the good against Elliot Benchetrit.
An ace finishes the job for the great American, who’s finished in 67 minutes. She’ll play Sofia Kenin next.
Novak Djokovic is cruising against Henri Laaksonen. He’s 6-1, 6-4 up against the Swiss. File under “nothing to see here”.
Fernando Verdasco, conqueror of Britain’s Dan Evans in round one, is a set down to Antoine Hoang, the world No146. That’s good news for French fans. Unfortunately Elliot Benchetrit, who beat Cameron Norrie on Tuesday, is 6-3, 3-0 down to Dusan Lajovic.
Kurumi Nara is game, Serena Williams is better. Williams breaks to love and leads 6-3, 2-1.
Related: Kyle Edmund limps out of French Open second-round match with knee injury
Unwingate Update: Will sends his regards.
Hello again. Will’s darted off without saying goodbye. Naughty Will! Anyway it’s me, Jacob, back from a lunchtime run, and here to note that Alexander Zverev is bashing poor Mikael Ymer round Simonne-Mathieu.
Williams takes the first set, winning the 10th game with relative ease. Williams has upped it in the last couple of games, maybe aided by a tiring Nara who has had to work extremely hard to get around the court to keep up with Williams, who now leads 1-0.
Williams breaks! The first of the match as Williams gets on top of Nara and doesn’t give her opponent a chance. Williams leads 5-3.
What a great result for the Italian!
Williams might be letting out a few more screams to get through her service game. She has made a few unforced errors to really help Nara out. An ace wins the game for Williams to lead 4-3.
Nara clips the top of the net to get a lucky opening point in the sixth game, apologising for good fortune. Williams doesn’t take it too kindly, as she gets up to break point but it goes to deuce after a forehand goes long. Nara is running all over the place to keep up with Williams, forcing a second deuce with a forehand smash across court. There are some great bits of scuttling from Nara to put the pressure back onto Williams, who gives away her advantage by needlessly smashing one into the net. A miscued shot from the baseline loops very long. We are left in a constant state of deuce, including a second Nara ace of the game as she nails the line. Williams gets possibly the 18th advantage of the game and releases an absolutely huge scream. She is very frustrated, made worse by Nara taking things back to deuce. Nara seems to be able to find the line on serves, something has resulted in poor returns from Williams, aiding her to hold after saving six break points. The score is 3-3.
Elsewhere … Djokovic is not messing about and has just won the first set against Laaksonen 6-1.
Williams might have been angered by conceding an ace there, so speeds into a 30-0 lead, then forces Nara around the court, smashing a winner into a vacant corner of the court. Williams lets Nara back into the game with some unforced errors but she eventually takes the spoils after a cracking rally. Williams leads 3-2.
Nara is not a tall woman at 5ft1 but it is not impacting her at the moment as she tries to push Williams around the court. Williams sends a return to a second serve long giving the qualifier a 40-15 lead in the game. Completing the win with an ace! It looks pretty sedate but Williams gets nowhere near it. Score is 2-2.
Serena Williams is up against Nara and is about to become the focus on this live blog. Williams holds her second service game to love. Williams leads 2-1, as things go with serve.
I am not sure Zverev will give up much else as he looks to get the job done with the most minimal of fuss. He just wants to get this finished without wasting too much energy by using plenty of power, taking the game to love. Zverev leads 6-1, 4-1.
Zverev smashes a backhand across the court but it lands well wide to gift Ymer a 30-0 lead. The advantage is quickly taken away thanks to a couple of powerful shots from the tall German and he eases through to break Ymer with wonderful passing forehand down the line. Zverev leads 6-1, 3-1.
Zverev tries to do some serving and volleying, which is novel. An ace then takes him into a 30-15 lead, finishing off the game with some big hitting from behind the baseline, forcing Ymer to hit the net. Zverev leads 6-1, 2-1.
Ymer is showing flashes of what he can do after an unconvincing first set but he starts the second game of the set with a powerful winner beyond Zverev’s forehand. He is then done by some clever work from the German who plays a clever chip just over the net, leading to him claiming the point. Ymer just cannot cope with Zverev’s sharpness, but a mistake from the more senior player takes the game to deuce, which Ymer wins with relative ease. All level in the second. Zverev leads 6-1, 1-1.
Zverev double faults in the first game of the second set but there is certainly no stopping him as he powers to hold his serve with some cracking shots. Zverev leads 6-1, 1-0.
Good afternoon! Zverev is certainly looking in good nick, taking the first set against Ymer 6-1.
I’m going to take a quick break. Will Unwin will take you through the next hour or so.
But Osaka gets there in the end, converting her third match point when Azarenka hits a forehand return long. A fine win for the world No1, who trailed the former No1 by a set and a break at one point. She’s into the third round after another cracking comeback.
Serving for the match for a second time, Naomi Osaka has just seen two match points come and go. Victoria Azarenka is threatening to turn this into an ordeal…
A cracking win for a delighted Ashleigh Barty – the excellent Australian has beaten the spiky American Danielle Collins 7-5, 6-1 to reach the third round.
A minor upset’s brewing on Court 14, where the Italian qualifier Salvatore Caruso leads by two sets against the 26th seed Gilles Simon. And in a battle between two Argentinians, Leonardo Mayer is closing in on a four-set win over Diego Schwartzman.
Naomi Osaka will have to wait a little longer. Serving for the match at 5-1 in the third set, she’s broken back by a defiant Victoria Azarenka. Osaka should still win. On Court 1 Ashleigh Barty, the No8 seed, leads Danielle Collins 7-5, 3-1.
A drop shot brings Bublik forward and the Kazakh can only dab his riposte into the net. Thiem is through to face Pablo Cuevas, conqueror of Kyle Edmund earlier.
Naomi Osaka’s pumping her fist. She has two break points in the fourth game of the third set. Victoria Azarenka’s under pressure and Osaka comes up with the killer shot, a sharp forehand that leaves her opponent stranded on the baseline. Osaka leads 4-6, 7-5, 3-1.
Dominic Thiem is making a meal out of this, but he’s just broken back when Alexander Bublik served for the fourth set. It’s not a great look for Thiem, though. He should be racing through this kind of match, not spending too long on court in the first week.
Told you it would go to three sets. A perfect backhand down the line from Naomi Osaka is enough for her to snatch the second set 7-5. Victoria Azarenka will be kicking herself. She had the chance to go a set and two breaks up, but she’ll have to work extremely hard to stop the Japanese now.
There goes that semblance of order on Philippe-Chatrier. Alexander Bublik is a break up in the fourth set against Dominic Thiem, who’s in danger of being dragged into a fifth by the Kazakh entertainer.
The British No1’s tournament comes to a sad end. After a short discussion with the trainer he decides he can’t continue. How much did that long match against Jeremy Chardy take out of him? Edmund’s premature exit means Jo Konta is the last Brit standing in Paris. Can someone please give Andy Murray a bionic hip?
Kyle Edmund has called for the trainer on Court 6. Over on Philippe-Chartrier Dominic Thiem has restored some order against Alexander Bublik. The fourth seed leads 6-3, 6-7, 6-3.
Naomi Osaka: never knows when she’s beaten. She almost found herself down by a set and two breaks to Victoria Azarenka, but she’s managed to get the second set back on serve on Suzanne-Lenglen. It’s fascinatingly poised.
Kyle Edmund is fading fast. Paolo Cuevas easily establishes a two-set lead over the British No1, who trails 7-6, 6-3.
There’s so much happening I’ve missed Alexander Bublik winning two points with underarm serves against Dominic Thiem. Thiem will be very annoyed if he loses this one.
The Nick Kyrgios effect!!! #Bublik #FrenchOpen #Thiem pic.twitter.com/XWwpaIwpFP
The normally mild-mannered Kyle Edmund is fuming on Court 6. He’s mainly furious with himself and the lack of movements in his legs. He’s frothing as he walks back to his chair after dropping his serve to love. It was a dreadful service game from the British No1 and he trails Paolo Cuevas by a set and a break.
Dominic Thiem’s been dragged into a grind with Alexander Bublik, who’s won a second-set tie-break 8-6 on Philippe-Chatrier. Thiem’s going to have to spend longer on court than he would have liked.
It’s all over for Aryna Sabalenka, beaten 6-4, 6-2 by a very impressive Amanda Anisimova. Sabalenka, the 11th seed, was well and truly outplayed by her 17-year-old American opponent in the end. Anisimova really does seem to have something special. She reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in January and appears to have Sabalenka’s number, having beaten her 6-3, 6-2 in Melbourne.
Victoria Azarenka is closing in on victory. Having saved those break points, there’s a feeling of inevitably about what happens next. She carves out a break point in the next game and takes it with a clever volley to lead 6-4, 3-2. Naomi Osaka needs another miracle.
Naomi Osaka is wearing a look of irritation. She had 0-40 on Victoria Azarenka’s serve, but she couldn’t capitalise. Azarenka holds and leads 6-4, 2-2 on Suzanne-Lenglen. Elsewhere Amanda Anismova is well on her way to knocking out Aryna Sabalenka, while while Katerina Siniokova has snatched the first set off the 29th seed Maria Sakkari on Court 7.
Anisimova very composed and clear on how to play her game efficiently. So young, but quite wise already this one. As for Sabalenka, she’s all over the place: so much fire, so many options, no clear path yet. So frustrating for her.
Iga Swiatek won the Wimbledon juniors last year. A year on she’s in the third round of the French Open. She also won the French Open junior doubles last year. The 17-year-old appears to have a bright future.
Iga Swiatek has knocked out the 16th seed, Qiang Wang. The 17-year-old Pole won 6-3, 6-0. Emphatic.
Alexander Bublik served for the second set on Philippe-Chatrier, but Dominic Thiem has broken back and is serving at 6-3, 4-5 now. Thiem came up with some very good tennis to break there, including one excellent drop shot to confound Bublik when the Kazakh was leading 30-15.
He forced a tie-break, he lost a tie-break. Kyle Edmund’s forehand lets him down on a couple of occasions and that’s enough for Paolo Cuevas to take the first set on a tie-break on Court 6. It’s hard to argue the Uruguayan doesn’t deserve his lead.
Kyle Edmund has forced a first-set tie-break against Paolo Cuevas. Edmund’s battling hard, but there’s a sense the Uruguayan still has the edge. What a boost it would be for Edmund to snatch this.
Naomi Osaka does well to save a break point and hold in the first game of the second set against Victoria Azarenka. I fancy this one to go to three sets.
Alexander Bublik, who chucked in an underhand serve earlier, is giving Dominic Thiem a few problems now. Having lost the first set, he’s a break up against the fourth seed in the second.
But the first set goes to Victoria Azarenka, who clenches her fist as she walks back to her chair. Solid serving was enough for the world No1 to clinch it 6-4, leaving Osaka with plenty to do to get back into this one. Elsewhere Amanda Anismova turned it around against Aryna Sabalenka. The unseeded American fought back from a break down to take the first set 6-4, meaning the 11th seed is in a spot of bother on Court 1.
Naomi Osaka is the player who never knows when she’s beaten. Serving for the opener at 5-2, Victoria Azarenka’s surprised when Osaka turns up at the heat and cancels out one of those breaks. Now Osaka’s threatening to make Azarenka really sweat.
Kyle Edmund has broken back against Paolo Cuevas on Court 6. But the Uruguayan is pressing again on Edmund’s serve. This is a tough test for the British No1.
We have our first completed set of the day. Over on Chatrier Dominic Thiem is looking calm and composed against Alexander Bublik, taking the opener 6-3 against the Kazakh.
Naomi Osaka gets on the board. There’ll be no first-set bagel this time. But she still trails Azarenka by two breaks. Elsewhere the 11th seed, Aryna Sabalenka, is up a break against Amanda Anismova.
Kyle Edmund is wobbling against Paolo Cuevas, who leads by an early break. Cuevas knows his way round the clay. Meanwhile Victoria Azarenka is bossing Naomi Osaka on Suzanne-Lenglen. She’s only gone and broken again, this time with a gorgeous backhand drop shot. Azarenka leads 3-0. Osaka lost the first set 6-0 against Schmiedlova on Tuesday. Might she be on the way to another bagel?
A fast start from Victoria Azarenka and a scratch one from Naomi Osaka, who drops her serve in the first game of the match, too many errors conspiring against her. Over on Chatrier, meanwhile, Dominic Thiem also has an early break against Alexander Bublik.
British No1 Kyle Edmund is also about to get going against Uruguay’s Paolo Cuevas, who’s a tricky proposition on clay. Cuevas has won 19 matches on clay since the Miami Open. This won’t be easy for Edmund, who halted a worrying losing streak when he beat Jeremy Chardy in the first round.
Hello. We begin with a doozy of a match on Suzanne-Lenglen today, with the current world No1 taking on the player who used to sit on the throne. Naomi Osaka might not be the queen of tennis just yet – not while Serena Williams, who faces Japan’s Kurumi Nara, later, is still around – but the wonderfully idiosyncratic Japanese youngster has already established herself as tennis royalty after her wins at the Australian Open and the US Open.
It’s rare to see grand slam triumphs backed up in the women’s game these days, but Osaka’s done it and she’s desperate to make it three in a row here. To keep that dream alive she’ll have to be at better than she was against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova on Tuesday. Osaka was in bits for long spells against Schmiedlova, who twice served for the match, and it remains to be seen how fit she is after a hand injury disrupted her preparations for the tournament. Victoria Azarenka, the two-time Australian Open champion, will be eager to find out.