Paris: Former World No.1 Maria Sharapova of Russia downed Donna Vekic of Croatia 7-5, 6-4 in the women’s singles to enter the third round of the French Open tennis tournament here Thursday.
Garbine Muguruza also cruised past French wild card player Fiona Ferro 6-4, 6-3 to advance into the third round. Among others Saimona Halep of Romania, Samantha Stosur of Australia and Andrea Petkovic of Germany also advanced into the next round after registering victories in their second round matches.
Halep triumphed over Taylor Townsend of USA 6-3, 6-1 while Stosur scripted a fighting win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-2, 7-6 (7-1). Petkovic got the better of Bethanie Mattek-Sands of USA 6-0, 7-6 (7-5).
In the men’s singles Austrian No.7 Dominic Thiem, Croatia’s No.3 Marin Cilic and French No.1 Lucas Pouille also stormed into the third round after prevailing over their respective opponents in their second round matches.
Thiem overcame Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Cilic defeated German qualifier Hubert Hurkacz of Poland 6-2, 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 7-5. Pouille put down a spirited comeback by unseeded Briton Cameron Norrie to beat him 6-2, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(7-3).
Yuki, Sharan advance
Paris: The Indian pair of Yuki Bhambri and Divij Sharan advanced to the men’s doubles second round of the French Open after blunting the challenge of Fabrice Martin and Purav Raja. Bhambri and Sharan, who had also teamed up at the inaugural Maharashtra Open, sent Raja and Martin packing with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 win in the opening round of the clay court Grand Slam. They will next face second seeds Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic.
