Roland Garros: Yuki Bhambri’s maiden appearance at the French Open ended with a first round defeat even as Rohan Bopanna began his Men’s Doubles campaign with an easy win along with French partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin, here on Tuesday.
Yuki lost his opening Men’s Singles match 4-6, 4-6, 1-6 to Belgium’s Ruben Bemelmans in straight sets. It was second clash between Yuki, ranked 93, and the Belgian, who is placed 110 on the ranking chart.
Yuki had got the better of Bemelmans at the ATP Delhi Open semifinals in 2015. With his defeat India’s challenge ended in the Men’s Singles.
Bopanna, who won his maiden Grand Slam title here last year in Mixed Doubles with Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski, and Roger-Vasselin, seeded 13th, knocked out the American team of Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-1 in just 63 minutes.
Serena back, Sharapova, Nadal survive scares
Serena Williams, coming back after a one-year break, won her first round match against Kr. Pliskova 7-6(4), 6-4 in the Women’s Singles event.
Former champion Maria Sharapova also entered the second round with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win over R. Hogenkamp.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal brushed aside the stiff challenge put up by Italian S. Bolleli 6-4, 6-3 7-6 (11-9) and sailed into the Men’s Singles second round.
In other matches, J. Zoop bt J. Sock 6-7(4), 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3, while Zverev beat F. Mayer 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (3). M. Cilic beat J. Duckworth 6-3, 7-5, 7-6(4).
This post was published on May 30, 2018 6:03 pm