PARIS, June 1, 2018
Pablo Carreno Busta lost in the third round at Roland Garros. The 10th seeded Spaniard has fallen apart since taking the opening set 6-2 against Marco Cecchinato, going on to lose the next three 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-1. What a win it was for the 25-year-old Italian, who had never won a Grand Slam match before Paris. Now he’s won three in a row and beaten the World No. 11.
“In the first set I started well, being aggressive, but from then he started to play better, without many errors. The conditions were hard, with the rain the ball were very heavy,” Carreno Busta commented in his post-match press conference.
Cecchinato is the first unseeded players to reach the fourth round at Roland Garros this year and will next challenge either Frenchman Gael Monfils of David Goffin of Belgium.
Dominic Thiem put an end to Mario Berrettini‘s run at Roland Garros. Much like compatriot Cecchinato, the Italian had never won a Grand Slam match until this year’s French Open, but the 22-year-old can take plenty of positives from this match. However, it’s the No. 7 seed from Austria who marches on, winning 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and 37 minutes.
“He’s a great player. Very dangerous. Great forehand and great serve,” Thiem said of his young opponent. “It was a good match again, I think, from both of us, and for sure he has a very good future.” The Austrian improved to 23-5 on clay this season.
Thiem will next play Kei Nishikori, who advanced to the Round of 16 for the fourth consecutive year. The 28-year-old from Japan edged out former World No. 6 Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.
“I think everything was working well from the beginning. It was long rallies, but I think he gave me a good rhythm. I was hitting good forehands and backhands crosscourt, down the line,” Nishikori said. “I was happy. In the third set it took a little bit of time to win the match. But I’m very happy with my tennis today.”
Wozniacki cruises
In the women’s draw, No.2 seed Caroline Wozniacki secured a 6-0, 6-3 third-round defeat of French wild card entry Pauline Parmentier in one hour and 18 minutes.
“I feel pretty good,” Wozniacki was pleased afterwards. “I think I played some solid tennis, and I’m happy to be through to the fourth round here again.”
Next up for the Dane will be No.14 seed Daria Kasatkina. Two third-round matches in the women’s singles draw did not make it to court on Friday due to persistent rain and will be rescheduled for Saturday: Petra Kvitova’s showdown with Anett Kontaveit, and reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens‘ clash with Camila Giorgi.
