Paris: Fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov reached the French Open second round here Sunday, even if he wasn’t exactly sure who he was facing on the other side of the net.
Dimitrov had been drawn to face experienced Viktor Troicki in the tournament opener on Philippe Chatrier Court. However, just before he was due to go on court, Troicki withdrew with a back injury, allowing Egyptian World No.182 Mohamed Safwat to make his Grand Slam debut. In the process, he became the first Egyptian since Tamer El Sawy at the 1996 US Open to feature in a major.
There was a world of difference between the two men on a sun-kissed centre court in the first two sets. But Safwat, one of seven lucky losers in the men’s draw, then overcame blisters on his right hand to put up a solid challenge in the third set before Dimitrov raced through the tiebreaker to win 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1). Dimitrov next faces either Jared Donaldson of the United States or Chile’s Nicolas Jarry.
Meanwhile, women’s fourth seed Elina Svitolina, a quarterfinalist in Paris in 2015 and 2017, overcame a first set 1-5 deficit to see off Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 6-3. Svitolina next faces either 2010 champion Francesca Schiavone, the 37-year-old Italian, or Slovakia’s Viktoria Kuzmova.
Other early winners included Estonian 25th seed Anett Kontaveit who downed Madison Brengle of the United States 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.
Kyrgios pulls out
Paris: Australian Nick Kyrgios was forced to withdraw from the French Open Sunday after failing to recover from a right elbow injury, saying a potential five sets on clay was too risky. The 23-year-old was seeded 21st at Roland Garros and was due to play compatriot Bernard Tomic in the first round.
At a glance
Grigor Dimitrov bt Mohamed Safwat 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)
Elina Svitolina bt Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 6-3
Alize Cornet bt Sara Errani 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
Anett Kontaveit bt Madison Brengle 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
