French Open 2022: Anisimova rocks Osaka, Krejcikova crashes out to Parry – as it happened
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Japan’s former world no 1 was beaten as a home heroine dumped out last year’s women’s champion, as Rafa Nadal cruised through
Updated
Mon 23 May 2022 12.10 EDT
First published on Mon 23 May 2022 05.33 EDT
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And that concludes our live blog for the second day. Reports to follow on Emma Raducanu and Novak Djokovic’s match later tonight. Thanks for reading.
Rafa Nadal speaks to Àlex Corretja, first in Spanish, slightly in French, and only very briefly in English. “It’s only one match,” he says, talking of the comeback trail he is currently on. “I have a lot of history here. I will try to give my best, this court is special, it’s very big and it helps my game.”
Nadal beats Thompson 6-2 6-2 6-2
Nadal serves out a game in which Thompson misses a sitter of a smash. Still, that would only have delayed the inevitable. Nadal, fastidious as ever over his ball selection, pulls himself towards match point. That’s snaffled up as Thompson nets, and there’s a 106th win at Roland Garros for the 13-time champion. He and Thompson embrace warmly enough, Thompson at last smiling.
Nadal goes 4-2 up in the third set on Thompson, whose temper is fraying as he gives up two break points, saving the first, but then handing over another. Nadal will serve for the match. He’s not anywhere his best but this has been an easy ride for him.
And off we go with Raducanu, with Noskova serving first, and looking pretty comfortable with it, though she sets up a break point by blamming a winner down the wrong side of the line. Then, on second serve, deals up a double fault. 1-0 to Raducanu, an early break.
Cameron Norrie’s win means that Emma Raducanu replaces him on Court Simonne-Mathieu, and she will play Linda Nosková, who is 17 and was the winner of last year’s junior singles at Roland Garros, and the youngest player in the main draw. Raducanu is cheered to the court by the plucky Brit contingent.
Tumaini Carayol is our man in Paris, and he’s reporting on the latest farrago to envelop tennis, that of ranking points.
I’m not sure why, but I feel like if I play Wimbledon without points, it’s more like an exhibition. I know this isn’t true, right? But my brain just like feels that way. Whenever I think something is like an exhibition, I just can’t go at it 100%. I didn’t even make my decision yet, but I’m leaning more towards not playing given the current circumstances, but that might change.
And Dan Evans, two sets up on Francisco Cerundolo, break in the first game of the third to go 1-0 up, and now 2-0 up. It’s all coming up Team GB.
Norrie beats Guinard 7-5 6-2 6-0
And Norrie gets the job done, serving out with ease. Guinard’s spirit was broken in the first set, and the tenth seed goes through.
Stan Wawrinka, the *other* Swiss player, and winner here in 2015, is possibly in a spot of bother, 2-1 in sets down to France’s Corentin Moutet. Meanwhile, Guinard is running out of ideas, even trying an underarm serve that dribbles into the net. Cameron Norrie, at 5-0 up in the third set, 2-0 up on sets, will serve for the match.
Nadal takes the second set, as Thompson chunners away in his seat. He’s been given a right going over. Dan Evans meanwhile, is 2-0 up in sets on Francisco Cerundolo, and it’s something of a magic hour for the Brits, with Cameron Norrie now 4-0 up on Guinard.
Norrie now a double break up in the third set to go 3-0 up, and Guinard’s first appearance at his home slam is coming to a hurried end. Nadal, meanwhile, is serving for the set against Thompson at 5-2.
Cameron Norrie, by the way, is two sets up on Thierry Guinard, having won the second set 6-2, and he immediately secures a break in the first game of the third set. The Frenchman’s fans are being kept very quiet.
Whatever was distracting Jordan Thompson has clearly gone as he’s making a better fist of this set. With Nadal suffering from his foot problems, a test of endurance may be the way to beat the great man. At 2-1 up, and on his serve, Nadal is taken to deuce. And then Thompson starts complaining again when he makes a mess of a standard-issue shot. He castigates himself when missing on Nadal’s second serve.
“I need all the help I can get,” says Jordan Thompson, complaining to the umpire over a distraction off the court. “I can’t see the ball.” Coincidentally, he’s just dropped the first game of the second set to Nadal, and is soon enough 2-0 down.
Plucky Brit news: Dan Evans is a set up on Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo after winning the first set tie-breaker. And Cameron Norrie’s war with Guinard continues, though he’s now a break and 2-1 up in the second set, having won the first.
Nadal takes the first set from Thompson 6-2, the highlight of the last game a bullying backhand winner down the line.
Jordan Thompson, sporting the moustache of countrymen like Merv Hughes and John Newcombe, tries to make Nadal serve out for the first set but the king of the court then wins a rally with a dazzling smash. Then, Nadal nets and he will indeed have to serve out the first.
Norrie takes the first set 7-5 from Guinard, his backhand volley at the net completing the job. That had to be the quickest game of the set
Norrie and Guinard’s first set is at 5-5, and already longer than Swiatek’s win earlier. In fact, this game might be longer than that. They’ve broken each other’s serve once each but go to deuce on Guinard’s serve. And on the third break point, Guinard double faults and Norrie will serve for the first set.
It’s Nadal time, and he’s on court, facing Jordan Thompson as he goes for the decimocuarto, and immediately goes a game down to the Australian. Like Krejcikova, Nadal is coming back from an injury and that may spell danger, even on this, his natural habitat. “Vamos”, he says at 15-15, trying to edge himself into the match. It’s soon 1-1 in the first set.
Plucky Brit time, where Cameron Norrie is beating Manuel Guinard 3-2 in the first set, now that the clouds have cleared. Each game is a long affair but it’s going with serve.
Parry beats Krejcikova 1-6 6-2 6-3
Krejcikova will go down fighting, if she will go down fighting at all. A stop volley takes it to 0-30 on the Parry serve. But then Parry smashes an ace, then tempts Krejcikova into baseline error. Then a forehand winner from the Czech flies wide, as confirmed by the umpire, who gets from her chair. Match point. And it’s taken at the first opportunity, as a backhand smashes into the net. Victoire!
The home crowd roaring on their girl when she lands a break point, and then Krekcikova blams what looked a winner into the stands. Parry will now serve out for the match, and will do so with the home fans chanting her name. 5-3 in the final set.
Nerves now for Parry, as she overhits her returns for Krejcikova to level the third set at 3-3. But she then aces the next service game to race to 4-3.
Thanks to the gaffer for stepping in, and we have a story on our hands on Chatrier. Krejcikova’s trackie bottoms don’t seem to be having the desired effect, and Parry is now ahead, and the stadium full. It’s 3-2 to Parry.
Parry breaks back inside Chatrier and it’s 2-2 in the final set. And with that, here’s John again.
Fingers crossed, but there looks to be better news outside on the weather front. Cameron Norrie is starting against Manuel Guinard, while Stan Wawrinka is also opening up against Corentin Moutet.
A big game and no mistake. Krejcikova tosses in some double-faults, much to the delight of the increasingly partisan Chatrier crowd. At 30-30, Parry is in control of the point but sends a forehand wastefully long, but she gets back to deuce. Game points for both, but chances aren’t taken. After a third deuce, Parry advances to a soft drop shot and fires a backhand winner. A third break point, though, falls short with a netted return. As the game clock ticks past 10 minutes, it’s Krejcikova’s turn for game point. The pair exchange baseline returns until Parry sends one long. 2-0 to the champion and a vital hold in this decider.
A lengthy break for Barbora Krejcikova, as she changes into a warmer outfit while the crowd impatiently whistles in the face of what they perceive a real momentum-stifler. The champion re-emerges and it’s immediately a different story; Parry looks a little tighter and, eventually, on the third break point, Krejcikova takes it as her opponent hits long.
Diane Parry races to 0-40 and three set points, only for Krejcikova to save the first two. A dismal double-fault then does for her, though. Six games on the spin for the home player, who takes the second set 6-2 and the match to a decider.
Osaka raises Wimbledon doubts after exit
Naomi Osaka has been talking after her straight-sets defeat to Amanda Anisimova (11.42am) and is unsure if she’ll head to SW19, especially after the decision to strip Wimbledon of its rankings points.
I would say like the decision is kind of affecting, like, my mentality going into grass, like I’m not 100% sure if I’m going to go there. I would love to go just to get some experience on the grass court, but like at the same time, for me, it’s kind of like – I don’t want to say pointless, no pun intended, but I’m the type of player that gets motivated by … seeing my ranking go up.”
Make that five games in a row for Parry. She leads 5-2 in the second set.
John’s just off for a well-deserved break. And things continue to liven up as Diane Parry holds and then breaks to 15. She leads 4-2 in the second set after reeling off four games in a row.
Ructions under the roof on the centre court as fans peel into the stadium. Seems the rules prevent them from coming in after the third game of a set. And then someone tried to sit in the wrong seat. Zut alors! It’s 2-2 and Krejcikova looks very rusty after being broken. Does this give Parry some self-belief? Another shock in the offing? The crowd seem to think it could be.
Parry and Krejcikova continues to be a slow-burner, not really much doing at all, though the defending champion is 2-0 up after another break of serve. The home fans are cheering on Parry but she’s not giving them much to work with.
Krejcikova completes the first set over Parry, taking it 6-1, though at a somewhat pedestrian pace. It’s all a bit slow out there, with Parry’s greenness easing the defending champion back into a rhythm after her long absence. The centre court is still rather empty, despite the Parisian weather outside.
Krejcikova surges to 4-0. looking in good nick despite having been out for three months with an elbow injury. Here’s what she said before the match with Parry.
I don’t really expect much. don’t think expecting is something good for me. Expecting myself to do well after being injured for a long time, I don’t really think that. But I think that I can be a good opponent. I think I can play well. And even after being injured, I think I had some time to recover and to practice, so I have been preparing for this. “So I believe when I start playing matches, I can be really dangerous again and I can do well here as well.
Per PA Media.
Britain’s Harriet Dart narrowly avoided a dreaded double-bagel for the second time at a grand slam, losing 6-0 6-2 to Italy’s Martina Trevisan in the first round of the French Open. The 25-year-old from London failed to win a game in a first-round defeat by Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open in 2019.
Dart must have feared a repeat at 6-0 3-0 down, but she at least managed to get a couple of games on the board and can console herself with almost 53,000 in prize money for her hour and 25 minutes’ work.
On Philippe-Chatrier, the defending champion and no 2 seed Barbora Krejcikova takes on France’s Diane Parry, and takes an early lead by holding her serve and then breaking to go 2-0 up.
No Darty, no party? Another plucky Brit bites the dust. Cameron Norrie is due on court about now but rain has delayed that.
Harriet Dart’s first taste of the French Open main draw was not a particularly enjoyable one. She’s been beaten 6-0 6-2 by the 2020 quarter-finalist Martina Trevisan
— Russell Fuller (@russellcfuller) May 23, 2022
Il pleut. It’s raining very heavily in fact.
🌧️ Rain has stopped play on some courts at Roland-Garros.
— Tennis on telly 🎾📺🇬🇧 (@tennisontelly) May 23, 2022
Mats Wilander, a three-time winner at Roland Garros, speaks to Swiatek. “I found my rhythm. It’s more humid [under the roof]. The roof is pretty tricky. I just want to keep going, I am aware one day my streak may stop. I am really happy that I finish early and then maybe I will go somewhere in Paris. You’re going to see in my Insta story.”
Swiatek beats Tsurenko 6-2 6-0
Swiatek races to match point in the second set against Tsurenko, delivering a second break of serve to get to 5-0 ahead. There’s the germ of resistance on the Ukrainian’s final service game, with a series of deuces, but a third match point arrives eventually. On a second serve, the Pole swats a winner home. The former champion and top seed got the job done in under an hour, 54 minutes to be precise.
No Barty, no party, but Australia had a good Sunday at Roland Garros thanks to Jason Kubler.
It is still weird thinking someone wants your autograph. It is just me. It is not like I am anyone super famous. I don’t know if I saved the day [for Australia] but I am personally happy that I won through. It is only the second time that I have won a main draw match, so in itself it is pretty exciting.
Swiatek is finding life easier under the roof, having won the first set 6-2, and then broken Tsurenko in the second game of the second set to lead 2-0.
Anisimova speaks on court where the rain is starting to fall. “I love playing here in Paris, in front of you guys. Merci, Paris.”
Anisimova beats Osaka 7-5, 6-4
Anisimova starts with an ace, then Osaka can only hit the net cord. It’s 30-0. Deep breaths, and then a crashing winner for three match points. The first sees Osaka tee up a smash Anisimova doesn’t complete. Then she crashes into the net. Roars of encouragement on the next point, and with a backhand, the four-time grand slam winner is out. Osaka was rusty, and came up against a talented opponent playing high-quality tennis.
Osaka double faults again, to let Anisimova back into the game, but then the New Jersey girl makes a mess of a chance to hit a winner. She must now serve out the set. Both players look very nervy. 5-4 in the second set, Anisimova leads 1-0.
Anisimova’s turn to malfunction? She coughs up three break points with some wild serving, but gets it back to 30-40, then deuce, with a second serve that was begging to be hit, but was hit wildly wide by Osaka. Then comes an ace, then a winner. That was quite the save, and Osaka is on sudden death, serving to stay in Paris.
Trouble, deep trouble for Osaka, trailing 4-3 now, having been broken. Another Osaka double - the sixth - hands the American a break point. A crashing serve levels it, only for an error to give Anisimova another chance. And then a seventh double duly passes over the lead. At one point, Osaka was down on her haunches, suggesting she may have a physical problem.
Anisimova’s turn to face down a potential break of serve, and she does so to make it 2-2. But then, with Osaka rocking again, the young American has a chance for a winner she smoshes way out of court, handing Osaka a 3-2 lead.
Iga Swiatek is on court, under the roof, and is 3-0 up on her Ukrainian opponent, Tsurenko, find life far easier than Osaka.
It’s been shaky so far by Osaka, and she’s not helped by being up against an opponent now serving well and at the top of her game. And is returning like a demon, too. At 1-1, Osaka is taken to deuce, and then a double fault coughs up another break point. This time, she engineers a winner. Then comes an un-returnable crasher of a serve. And then another. 2-1 in the second set, Osaka hanging on grimly for now.
One year on from her incident, and after taking a break from professional tennis at the end of the season, Osaka has returned to the French Open and on Thursday she conducted her pre-tournament press conference. She admitted that her return to the French Open was a source of consternation.
“I’m not gonna lie,” she said on Friday. “When I first came here, I was very worried. Of course I also didn’t like how I handled the situation, but I was worried that there were people that I offended some way and I would just kind of bump into them. But I think like everyone has been really positive, for the most part.”
And Anisimova serves out for 7-5, Osaka’s game has suddenly gone to pot.
Anisimova saves three break points, and then Osaka’s serve falls apart in the next game, a double fault handing the American a 6-5 lead and the chance to serve for the set.
Osaka and Anisimova has been a largely even contest so far, going with serve, though Osaka can claim the first set with a break of serve with the score at 5-4. Her own serve did not exactly look tip-top in the last game.
Preamble
En Paris, il fait mauvais, so it feels like this could be a day spent on the show courts only. On Suzanne Lenglen, Naomi Osaka, will kick off early doors with her match against Amanda Anisimova, the 27th seed. And on Philippe Chatrier, it’s the no 1 seed, Iga Swiątek takes on Lesia Tsurenko, the Ukrainian, who is likely t0 have the crowd on her side. And in the men’s, Novak Djokovic, back playing grand slam tennis, begins his assault on the title he won for the second time last year, by taking on Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. Djoko is last on Philippe-Chatrier, whereas Rafa Nadal, looking for a title number 14, take the lunchtime shift, playing Australia’s Jordan Thompson.
And there’s some action for the plucky Brits, too, with Cameron Norrie, the 10th seed, taking on France’s Manuel Guinard, Heather Watson taking on Elsa Jacquemot, the French teenager, and Emma Raducanu trying to recover her form on the grandest stage when she takes on 17-year-old Linda Noskova from the Czech Republic.
World No.1s ✅
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2022
Defending champions ✅
Household names ✅
Day 2 is ready to deliver! #RolandGarros