Share

Osaka, Halep open Roland Garros campaigns

Paris - World number one Naomi Osaka begins her French Open campaign on Tuesday looking to take another step closer to a third successive Grand Slam title.

Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro also features in his first major since finishing runner-up to Novak Djokovic at the 2018 US Open while Simona Halep starts her title defence admitting "the pressure is off".

A preview of three matches to watch on Tuesday:

Naomi Osaka (JPN x1) v Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK)

Head-to-head: First meeting

- World number one and top seed Osaka begins her bid for a third successive major with half an eye on a calendar Grand Slam, a feat only previously achieved by Steffi Graf in 1988, Margaret Court in 1970 and Maureen Connolly in 1953.

"If you're talking about longer goals, of course I haven't won Wimbledon yet and it would be really cool to win everything in one year," said the Japanese star.

Osaka has yet to get past the third round in Paris and comes into the tournament under an injury cloud after an abdominal strain forced a pullout from Stuttgart and a hand injury sparked an early departure from.

A former top 30 player, the 24-year-old Schmiedlova is now at 90 in the world but boasts solid form at Roland Garros having defeated Venus Williams on her way to the third round in 2015.

The Slovak also has three titles - two on clay - and has been a runner-up on two occasions including at Hobart in January.

Simona Halep (ROM x3) v Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)

Head-to-head: Halep leads 1-0

- Defending champion Halep won her first major in Paris in 2018 in her fourth final at the majors and admits the pressure is off.

"It's much better and much easier, because I have the title already," said Halep, who was also the runner-up in Paris in 2014 and 2017.

Born in Croatia but now an Australian citizen, the 26-year-old Tomljanovic is ranked 47 in the world. A four-time finalist on the WTA Tour.

Reached the fourth round in Paris in 2014, beating former champion Francesca Schiavone in the first round and third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the last 32.

Halep won the pair's only previous encounter, coming from a set down in Cincinnati last year.

Juan Martin del Potro (ARG x8) v Nicolas Jarry (CHI)

Head-to-head: First meeting

- Del Potro is coming off the back of another injury absence having undergone knee surgery which has restricted him to just three events this year. However, the giant Argentine is still a force to be reckoned with, forcing Novak Djokovic to save two match points in an epic Rome clash earlier this month.

The two-time Roland Garros semi-finalist will face an in-form Nicolas Jarry, the world 58 who was runner-up to Alexander Zverev in Geneva last weekend.

The 22-year-old has yet to win a main draw match at the French Open.

Results from the second day of the French Open on Monday (x denotes seeding):

Men

First round

Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-4, 6-2, 6-2

Henri Laaksonen (SUI) bt Pedro Martinez (ESP) 6-1, 6-0, 7-6 (7/4)

Salvatore Caruso (ITA) bt Jaume Munar (ESP) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

Gilles Simon (FRA x26) bt Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-3, 6-3, 6-4

Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Denis Shapovalov (CAN x20) 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 6-4

Radu Albot (MDA) bt Tennys Sandgren (USA) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 6-1

Lloyd Harris (RSA) bt Lukas Rosol (CZE) 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2

Borna Coric (CRO x13) bt Aljaz Bedene (SLO) 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4

Dominic Thiem (AUT x4) bt Tommy Paul (USA) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2

Alexander Bublik (KAZ) bt Rudolf Molleker (GER) 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 7-6 (7/2)

Pablo Cuevas (URU) bt Maxime Janvier (FRA) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2

Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) bt Alexandre Muller (FRA) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2

Filip Krajinovic (SRB) bt Frances Tiafoe (USA x32) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0

Stan Wawrinka (SUI x24) bt Jozef Kovalik (SVK) 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-3

Cristian Garin (CHI) bt Reilly Opelka (USA) 7-6 (7/0), 7-5, 7-6 (9/7)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) bt Peter Gojowczyk (GER) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3

Alex De Minaur (AUS x21) bt Bradley Klahn (USA) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4

Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-3, 6-1, 6-2

Benoit Paire (FRA) bt Marius Copil (ROU) 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-0, 6-1

Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) bt Daniil Medvedev (RUS x12) 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5

Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) bt Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO x15) 6-4, 6-1, 6-3

Richard Gasquet (FRA) bt Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3

Corentin Moutet (FRA) bt Alexey Vatutin (RUS) 6-4, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4

Guido Pella (ARG x19) bt Guido Andreozzi (ARG) 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 1-6, 6-1

Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) bt Denis Kudla (USA) 6-0, 6-7 (7/9), 5-7, 6-3, 6-4

Yannick Maden (GER) bt Kimmer Coppejans (BEL) 7-6 (7/0), 7-5, 6-3

Rafael Nadal (ESP x2) bt Yannick Hanfmann (GER) 6-2, 6-1, 6-3

Women

First round

Serena Williams (USA x10) bt Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) 2-6, 6-1, 6-0

Sofia Kenin (USA) bt Giulia Gatto-Monticone (ITA) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2

Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE x25) bt Viktorija Golubic (SUI) 6-4, 3-6, 6-0

Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt Alison Riske (USA) 2-6, 6-3, 7-5

Danielle Collins (USA) bt Tatjana Maria (GER) 6-0, 6-2

Ashleigh Barty (AUS x8) bt Jessica Pegula (USA) 6-3, 6-3

Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) bt Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU x30) 6-4, 6-4

Samantha Stosur (AUS) bt Barbora Strycova (CZE) 6-2, 7-6 (7/3)

Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov (ESP) bt Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 6-4, 6-2

Sorana Cirstea (ROU) bt Kaja Juvan (SLO) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5

Jennifer Brady (USA) bt Ivana Jorovic (SRB) 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-5

Polona Hercog (SLO) bt Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR x32) 4-6, 6-2, 8-6

Rebecca Peterson (SWE) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-3, 7-5

Donna Vekic (CRO x23) bt Liudmila Samsonova (RUS) 6-2, 6-4

Johanna Konta (GBR x26) bt Antonia Lottner (GER) 6-4, 6-4

Lauren Davis (USA) bt Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) 6-2, 6-4

Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK) bt Alize Cornet (FRA) 6-4, 6-3

Kiki Bertens (NED x4) bt Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 6-3, 6-4

Shelby Rogers (USA) bt Astra Sharma (AUS) 6-3, 6-3

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP x28) bt Dayana Yastremska (UKR) 2-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-0

Elise Mertens (BEL x20) bt Tamara Zidansek (SLO) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Diane Parry (FRA) bt Vera Lapko (BLR) 6-2, 6-4

Mandy Minella (LUX) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 6-4, 6-2

Anastasija Sevastova (LAT x12) bt Luksika Kumkhum (THA) 6-1, 6-4

Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) bt Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x13) 0-6, 6-3, 6-3

Zarina Diyas (KAZ) bt Audrey Albie (FRA) 6-2, 6-2

Zhang Shuai (CHN) bt Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 6-1, 6-1

Kaia Kanepi (EST) bt Julia Goerges (GER x18) 7-5, 6-1

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1818 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1778 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1084 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 461 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 187 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 254 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE