Swiatek could face 2 past champs in Australia; Djokovic-Tsitsipas rematch would be a quarterfinal
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek will face 2020 champion Sofia Kenin in the first round and potentially 2016 winner Angelique Kerber or Danielle Collins in the second in a tough start to her bid for a first Australian Open title.
Does Djokovic's next foe have hope? 'I was wondering that'
Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves against Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis in the second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS โ At the mere mention of Novak Djokovicโs name, at the mere thought of sharing a court with a 17-time Grand Slam champion and the French Openโs No. He used these phrases: โreally, really excitedโ and โreally, really happyโ and โreally, really special.โGalan is, after all, ranked 153rd and never had won so much as one main-draw match at any major tournament until this week. Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champ, plays 87th-ranked Paula Badosa, who arrived in Paris with a 1-5 Grand Slam record. โWell,โ came Galanโs reply, โI was wondering that, to be honest.โAnd then he launched into a story about how he was โreally, really nervousโ before playing former top 10-member David Goffin in the Davis Cup Finals last November.
The Latest: Earliest French Open exit for Stephens since '11
(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)PARIS โ The Latest from the French Open (all times local):____6:10 p.m.Former runner-up Sloane Stephens lost in the second round for her earliest exit at Roland Garros since a first-round defeat on her debut in 2011. ___4:15 p.m.Novak Djokovic's biggest concern seemed to be dealing with a rare bit of sunshine during his second-round victory at Roland Garros. ___2:30 p.m.Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin reached the third round at Roland Garros by beating Ana Bogdan 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. ____1:10 p.m.Danish teen Clara Tauson's surprise run is over after losing to American player Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-3 in the second round. Pliskova's twin sister, Kristyna, was also playing a former French Open champion when she faced 2016 winner Garbiรฑe Muguruza.
Mladenovic pins French meltdown on US Open lockdown, no-call
France's Kristina Mladenovic plays a shot against Germany's Laura Siegemund in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)PARIS โ Kristina Mladenovic blamed her French Open meltdown on her U.S. Open lockdown โ and she wasnโt too pleased about a no-call on a double bounce that helped her opponent avoid ceding the first set Wednesday, either. Mladenovic was furious that chair umpire Eva Asderaki didnโt spot the extra bounce that came during a 10-stroke exchange. โIf she would have done it, she would have all my respect and be super fair play,โ Mladenovic said. โItโs brutal for the body when you (have) eight days (of) lockdown in a hotel room,โ Mladenovic said Wednesday.