Roger Federer comes through deuce to earn a third-set tie-break against Caspar Ruud. Elsewhere Rafa Nadal is making mincemeat out of poor David Goffin.
It’s the Japanese fans who are making all the noise on Court 1 now! Laslo Djere was two breaks up in the fifth set against Kei Nishikori, but he hasn’t managed to hold on to his lead. Nishikori got one back and he’s just broken again thanks to a wild forehand from his Serbian opponent. Nishikori will serve at 4-4 in front of an increasingly boisterous crowd.
Caspar Ruud leads 6-5 in the third set against Roger Federer, who needs to hold to force a tie-break. Federer’s not had it all his own way against the Norwegian youngster.
Nicolas Mahut is a set up against Leo Mayer on Simonne-Mathieu. The French veteran is having a whale of a time this week.
That Nadal chap’s broken already against David Goffin. I’ve got my eye on the Spaniard. Think this could be his year.
Caspar Ruud has been going for broke in the third set and his gutsy approach is threatening to pay off. Yet Roger Federer can always rely on his serve. An ace gets him out of danger when he was facing a break point that would have given Ruud a chance to serve for the set. Federer holds for 6-3, 6-1, 4-4.
Laslo Djere comes up with a magnificent pass to break for a second time in the fifth set against Kei Nishikori. He leads 4-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 3-0, and the Serbian fans on Court 1 are loving it.
Laslo Djere has landed the first blow in the fifth set against Kei Nishikori. The 31st seed has broken in the first game of the decider.
A man called Rafael Nadal has arrived on Suzanne-Lenglen. Apparently he’s won a few trophies here. Will try to find out more about that. Might be worth keeping an eye on how he gets on against David Goffin, then.
The reason I called news of Federer being broken “mildly diverting” is because I expected him to break back straight away. And he has broken back straight away. It’s 2-2 in the third set.
Shock! Horror! Kei Nishikori has been dragged into a fifth set by Laslo Djere. I’ll try to contain my surprise. That’s so unlike Nishikori.
Meanwhile Casper Ruud has broken at the start of the third set against Roger Federer. That’s a mildly diverting development.
Garbine Muguruza beats Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-3
A big backhand earns Muguruza two match points. She wastes the first with a double-fault. She takes the second, though, and sails into the fourth round in very convincing fashion. The former champion will play Sloane Stephens or Polona Hercog next.
Garbine Muguruza is starting to wallop that tennis ball. She’s mainlining winners. Always a great sight. She’s brilliant when she gets going, though that might not be a view shared by Elina Svitolina at the moment. The Ukrainian led by a break in the second set, but she’s been under pressure for a while. Serving at 3-4, she finds herself down two break points and concedes the second with an errant backhand. Muguruza will serve for the match.
Lovely tennis from Garbine Muguruza sees her cancel out a break for Elina Svitolina midway through the second set on Philippe-Chatrier. The Spaniard volleys smartly to make it 6-3, 3-3. Elsewhere Roger Federer is into a two-set lead over Caspar Ruud. He leads 6-3, 6-1.
Roger Federer just did a double-fault! Not that it matters. A crisp serve on the next point is enough for him to hold for 6-3, 5-0.
Casper Ruud’s father played in the French Open when Roger Federer made his main draw debut back in 1999. Twenty years ago! Makes you think, right? Sort of. Anyway Ruud Sr’s son isn’t faring well against the king of tennis, who has a handsome 6-3, 3-0 lead on Suzanne-Lenglen.
Garbine Muguruza is seeded 19th, Elina Svitolina ninth. It feels the rankings aren’t entirely reflective, though. Is Svitolina really a whole ten places better than Muguruza, the winner of two grand slams? Svitolina’s never even been in the final of a major. Ultimately it tells you a lot about Muguruza’s inconsistency. Svitolina’s a good player, especially on clay, and could win this tournament one day. But it’s really hard to accept Muguruza being so low down the rankings. She isn’t doing herself justice.
Don’t be so modest, Will. You did great.
This is great banter, it really is.
Anyway, what else is going on? Garbine Muguruza, the 2016 champion, won the first set of her match against Elina Svitolina 6-3. Kei Nishikori is 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 up against Laslo Djere.
Federer gets inside the baseline on the second serve, allowing him to get on top of it early to bash a forehand past Ruud. The Norwegian is an aggressive hitter, which is causing Federer problems. The game is taken to deuce thanks to a wayward backhand from Ruud across court. Federer picks up the advantage but whacks one into the net when under little to no pressure. Ruud gets ahead but Federer finds the line with a lovely sweeping forehand to take us back to deuce. After a few times of asking, Federer takes the set with a smash. He leads 1-0.
New balls do not bring good fortune to Federer as he whacks one long and then another into the net. He levels it at 30:30 after a complete mishit of a bouncing ball from Ruud. Federer then finds the net again after a fierce rally. The break point is quickly annulled as Ruud can only find the net. The new balls certainly have some bounce. Deuce goes the way of Federer. Federer leads 5-3.
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Federer goes into a 30:0 lead on Ruud’s serve but the Norwegian bounces back by probing his more senior opponent’s backhand before moving onto the forehand. Federer gets the chance of a break, he takes a win lovely backhand from the baseline which the stretching Ruud cannot reach. Federer leads 4-3.
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Federer knows he is in a game here but he is certainly the best at managing tough occasions like this. He nails his second ace of the game and it sets the tone for the game, as he levels things at 3-3.
Pablo Carreño Busta retires against Benoît Paire
Carreño Busta is forced to call it quits due to injury.
Ruud not getting many first serves in and it costs him with a double fault to level things at 30:30. He does not let it affect him, taking the next point with a great forehand across court. Ruud takes a 3-2 lead thanks to a confident shot past Federer’s forehand.
The umpire gets out of her chair to rule Federer has gone long but he quickly recovers to earn the advantage with some smart hitting around the court. Both are hitting it well from the back of the court, maybe Federer is little more composed at the moment, proved by a winning drop shot to take the game and level it at 2-2.
Ruud has hit quite a few long already. It looks like he is really trying to put pressure on Federer, which is the right thing to do, at the baseline but he is yet to find his accuracy. Federer hits a couple into the net to aid the Norwegian, who completes the job with a big serve the Swiss can’t return. Ruud leads 2-1.
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Federer’s first service sees Ruud smack a through long and then the Swiss picking up an ace. He wins it to love. Easy peasy. All level at 1-1.
Ruud gets us going but sends one very long to gift Federer the first point of the match. He quickly settles and moves Federer around, allowing him to smash a forehand into space to level it. A good rally is finished off by Federer whacking one out of Ruud’s reach. The Norwegian is certainly hitting it well but he will need more than that to stay in this but it gets him to serving for the opening game, winning it with a great backhand. Ruud leads 1-0.
The players are warming up, while a man is getting the fans going with some cracking chat in French. Everyone appreciates it, so I’ll assume it was all very positive.
Ruud and Federer are out on court. It’s pretty warm out there, so Federer will be looking to keep this game short and certainly will have a plan. Ruud is coached by his dad. My father used to practise rugby scrummages against me. Needless to say, the result was not me becoming a professional.
Martin Klizan beats Lucas Pouille (7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 9-7)
An impressive win for Klizan who gets the better of Pouille at his home Grand Slam. It went all the way but Klizan just about had enough.
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Casper Ruud is yet to drop a set in this tournament but I have a sneaky feeling Roger Federer might put an end to the Norwegian’s record.
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Anastasija Sevastova beats Elise Mertens 6-7, 6-4, 11-9
Sevastova, hitting the ball ferociously now, thumps a volley away for three match points. She’s fought so hard to get to this point and she clambers over the line when a devastated Elise Mertens, who was denied by Sevastova brilliance on all her five match points, fires a forehand wide.
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Elise Mertens is the first to blink! After failing to take five match points there’s a feeling of inevitability about her losing her serve. Anastasija Sevastova, spiky and stubborn, breaks to lead 6-7, 6-4, 10-9 and will serve for the right to play Marketa Vondrousova in round four.
Lucas Pouille is out. The Frenchman, seeded 22nd, has lost 7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 9-7 to Martin Klizan, the world No55.
They’re past the three-hour mark on Suzanne-Lenglen. Elise Mertens leads 9-8 in the third set. They’re past the four-mark on Philippe-Chatrier. Martin Klizan is serving to go 8-7 up against Lucas Pouille.
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