On the men's side #10 seed Grigor Dimitrov was upset by American Jack Sock and #11 seed Feliciano Lopez was upset by Teimaruz Gabashvilli.
On the women's side the horrible 2015 season for Agnieska Radwanska and Eugenie Bouchard continues with embarrassing first round losses at Roland Garros. Bouchard is the #6 seed and in 2014 reached the semifinals of the first 3 majors of the year. Unfortunately for her, her 2015 results have been very different and she somewhat predictably lost her first round match to Kiki Mladenovic.
However the marquee match-up of the first round was probably between 7-time major champion Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens. Venus is the #15 seed in the tournament and Stephens is a dangerous floater in the draw who avoided being seeded but has had consistently good results in Paris the last two years. Clay is Venus' is worst surface and she was the oldest player in the men's or women's draw (34 years old). The two played high quality tennis for most of the first set until they got to a tie break where Venus inexplicably hit 4 unforced errors after getting a lead and lost it 7-6(4). Venus then continued to spray the ball and lost the second set 6-1.
The favorites Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep all got through their first round matches relatively easily with only Kvitova dropping a set.
But the 2nd round saw Simona, of all people, defeated.
ReplyDeleteJack Sock's beating of Dimitrov was truly wonderful.
Sock's favorite surface - clay - an American on clay?!
He looks very comfortable out there, yet his match with Carrero-Busta today was closer than he might have liked.
He might have a date with Rafa in the near future, prior to Rafa's destiny match next Wednesday with Novak in the quarters.
Interesting seedings and play so far.
Venus needs to play doubles, maybe with Svetlana or Sam Stosur, to remain viable as
her singles career has become yesterday's news.