South Africa’s Kevin Anderson has joined Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka in the second round of the French Open, writes GARY LEMKE.
After the surprise of the women’s top seed losing in the first round of the French Open, world No 1 Andy Murray made sure he didn’t suffer the same fate at Roland Garros.
However, the Briton needed four sets to get past Andrey Kuznetsov 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 in his opening match on the famous red clay.
HIGHLIGHTS: Murray vs Kuznetsov
Third seeds Stan Wawrinka and Simona Halep both beat Slovakian players to reach the French Open second round.
Romania’s Halep was a doubt for the tournament after tearing an ankle ligament less than two weeks ago, but thrashed Jana Cepelova 6-2, 6-3.
Switzerland’s former champion Wawrinka overcame world No 152 Jozef Kovalik 6-2, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.
WATCH: Wawrinka press conference
Juan Martin del Potro, in his first match at Roland Garros since 2012, beat fellow Argentine Guido Pella. The former US Open champion, a potential third-round opponent for Murray, has had a number of injuries in recent years but impressed with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory.
Home favourite Gael Monfils, seeded 15th, beat Germany’s Dustin Brown 6-4, 7-5, 6-0 in a match between two of the game’s most entertaining players.
Japanese eighth seed Kei Nishikori, who had a wrist injury going into the tournament, beat injury-plagued Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, while Australian 18th seed Nick Kyrgios also progressed by beating Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
Kyrgios, blessed with talent but a volatile character, will next face South Africa’s big-serving Kevin Anderson in the second round.
Anderson went a break down in the first game of the match, but recovered to beat Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri 7-6, 6-3, 7-6.
The 31-year-old Anderson does not have a great record at Roland Garros. In seven attempts he has only moved beyond the third round twice, and lost in the fourth round on both of those occasions in 2013 and 2014.
He has been eliminated in the first round twice – in 2010 and 2016 – so has at least bettered his performance of last year.
The shock of the day saw German ninth seed Alexander Zverev losing 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco. The 20-year-old was fancied for a strong performance in the tournament as only one of two players – the other being Spaniard Rafael Nadal – to win multiple clay-court titles this season.
Meanwhile, in news off the court, Maxime Hamou has been banned by the organisers of the French Open after he tried to kiss a female reporter repeatedly during a live TV interview.
The French player, 21, kissed journalist Maly Thomas while holding her around her neck and shoulders, despite her efforts to duck away.
The French Tennis Federation condemned the ‘reprehensible behaviour’ and ordered an investigation. Hamou has apologised for his actions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaHbEnr-IWE
Photo: Eric Feferberg/AFP Photo
