Feature – James Spencer (Twitter: @jspencer28)
This year’s French Open has produced some interesting surprises on both the women’s and men’s sides.
As I reported earlier in the week, tournament contender Ons Jabeur was beaten by Magda Linette.
Meanwhile, defending champion Barbora Krejčíková and Garbiñe Muguruza also fell.
And Naomi Osaka’s slump continues as she too exited at the first hurdle.
However, some rather big names on the men’s circuit will have to move their attention to Wimbledon and the grass, after some surprise results.
Canadian Denis Shapovalov’s poor clay-court season was concluded as he lost to young Dane Holger Rune.
Going down in straight sets, 6-3. 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).
The teenager from Copenhagen won the Munich Open, his first ATP title on clay and demonstrated his continued prowess on the surface.
Another big result saw Barcelona Open finalist Pablo Carreño Busta beaten in five sets by the outgoing retiring veteran Gilles Simon.
The 37-year-old Frenchman triumphing 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 1-6, 6-4.
This will be his last season on the tour and what a win to celebrate.
He will face American Steve Johnson next who overcame Czech Jiri Vesley in four sets.
And the latest big shock saw Frenchman Hugo Gaston overcome Alex de Minaur in an absolute epic.
The home hope steering across the finish line in five sets to prevail 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (10-4).
A final set tie-break, first to ten eventually separating the two.
Close escapes
There were some nearly shocks though.
Most notably Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas battled back from two sets down against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti to win 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in a thriller.
The fourth seed was left to count his lucky stars as he breathes to fight another day.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd-dVi6qoHu/
Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime was more fortunate than his friend and countryman Shapovalov, as he squeezed past Juan Pablo Varillas.
The little-known Peruvian qualifier made life hard for the ninth seed, before roaring back to win in five sets, 2-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd3d-KZMpiO/
Potential second-round upsets
Looking ahead, Croatia’s Borna Coric is just returning from injury.
But he will be looking to beat Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, who has been playing well of late.
David Goffin has been seen as a perennial clay-court specialist and triumphed a few weeks ago in Marrakesh on the surface.
But he will have to get past 24th seed Frances Tiafoe in order to advance.
Former semi-finalist Marco Cecchinato, who famously beat Novak Djokovic in 2018, will have to put the cat amongst the pigeons if he is to overcome 12th seed Hubert Hurkacz.
