11:27
The momentum has shifted on Chatrier. Altmaier consolidated the break back by serving well and securing a quick love hold. Altmaier 6-2 6-5* Berrettini.
11:26
So much of tennis is about asking the opponent the right questions: retrieving the last ball, remaining close in the score even when down, imposing pressure whenever possible. After losing his opening service game of set two, Altmaier has done all of that with aplomb. As he served out the set, Berrettini finally faltered, allowing the German to break for 5-5.
On the break point, Altmaier found an excellent deep backhand return. When Berrettini tried to attack his forehand and move forward, the German slotted a slick forehand passing shot down-the-line to break.
11:20
Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski are going very well against 2nd seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, now leading 6-3 *2-3.
11:17
On Chatrier, Daniel Altmaier just held for 4-5 against Matteo Berrettini, who will serve out the first set.
This has been impressive from the German after dropping serve in the opening game of set two. He has not gone anywhere, challenging the Italian to keep his focus.
11:16
Andrey Rublev did indeed serve out the second set and is now cruising 6-3 6-2 over Kevin Anderson.
Pablo Carreno Busta continues to roll with his momentum, establishing a 6-4 2-0 lead on Roberto Bautista Agut.
11:14
Total rallies over 9 shots today:
Berrettini vs Altmaier – 5/89 (5.6%)
Bautista Agut vs Carreno Busta – 31/77 (40.3%)
Anderson vs Rublev – 6/88 (6.8%)
An illustration of how different the match between Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta is compared with the other two singles matches in play.
11:07
Andrey Rublev’s stat line so far:
- 15 winners
- 10 unforced errors
- 32/38 service points won
- 45% return points won
- 0 break points faced.
He now leads 6-3 *5-2 and will serve out the second set. This man is in a hurry.
11:03
Things are moving much faster on Simonne-Mathieu as Kevin Anderson dumps a forehand into the net, handing Andrey Rublev a 6-3 *4-1 lead with a double break.
11:00
After 47 minutes, Pablo Carreno Busta will serve for the first set against Roberto Bautista Agut at* 5-4.
He sealed it exactly how anyone would expect from these two: with an exhausting 32 stroke rally. Carreno chased down a big Bautista forehand, then an overhead and then a drop volley before slipping a backhand past the elder Spaniard as he stood helpless at the net.
This one could be very long.
Updated
10:52
There were many question marks surrounding Andrey Rublev coming into this event, but none were down to his form.
As the first round action in Paris was nearing its 5th hour on Sunday, Rublev recovered from 3-5 down to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas and win his first ATP 500 title in Hamburg. Both he and Tsitsipas had to immediately rush to their hotels, fly to Paris, adjust to completely different balls and conditions on Monday and then play their second round matches on Tuesday. Both Rublev and Tsitsipas understandably found themselves down two sets in their opening round matches – Rublev was down two sets and 5-2 to big server Sam Querrey – but they recovered.
It seems that the Russian has been able to slowly adjust to the conditions and find a rhythm over the past week. He is playing great, relentlessly destroying his forehand from on top of the baseline and he now leads Anderson 6-3 2-0* with a set and a break.
10:46
Andrey Rublev’s love service game to hold for a 6-3 lead against Kevin Anderson is a good measure of his confidence right now.
The sequence: ace out wide, searing point-ending crosscourt forehand, unreturned serve, ace down the T.
10:44
Andrey Rublev has been strolling on serve since his early break, but now he will attempt to serve out Kevin Anderson at 5-3. Let’s see if any nerves surface.
On Chatrier, Berrettini immediately breaks Altmaier to start set two.
10:40
A big story is potentially already brewing on Philippe Chatrier as No 186 Daniel Altmaier takes the first set 6-2 on Matteo Berrettini.
Altmaier isn’t particularly physically imposing, but he has been so proactive in these early exchanges. He has a sweet single-handed backhand, which he has uncorked up the line a few times now. He has tried to mix things up with a couple of net forays and dropshots, and he is returning extremely well. It is working.
Across the net, Berrettini looks a bit frazzled. From 40-30 up at 5-2 to Altmaier, Berrettini sprayed a routine forehand wide and then dumped a simple drop shot into the net. On set point, Altmaier pounced with an excellent return which forced a Berrettini error.
Updated
10:31
Andrey Rublev is rolling early on against Kevin Anderson. He leads 4-1* with one break.
Pablo Carreno Busta has already pulled back Roberto Bautista Agut early break, with the elder Spaniard up 3-2* on serve.
10:29
An interesting start on Chatrier as German qualifier Daniel Altmaier, ranked 186, leads 7th seed Matteo Berrettini by an early break at 4-1*.
Altmaier is an interesting story. He is a year younger than Zverev and he was considered a decent young talent. But he spent 2018 injured and he was unranked last year when he returned.
He has had to build step by step since last Febuary, first playing a large amount of ITF events [Futures], then moving consistently to ATP Challengers this year, culminating in his first ever slam qualifying event.
It is very unusual for a player to qualify and reach the third round in their first slam qualifying, but here he is and he looks comfortable so far.
10:20
The Spanish derby on Court Suzanne Lenglen between 10th seed Roberto Bautista Agut and 17th seed Pablo Carreno Busta promises to be an exhausting affair and it is already delivering. Carreno just saved a break point in a tough 17 stroke rally. Two gruelling exchanges later, the 10th seed has broken in the opening game.
Updated
10:15
On Court Simonne-Mathieu, 13th seed Andrey Rublev versus former top 5 player Kevin Anderson is about to begin. Eurosport commentator Frew McMillan on Rublev’s anger: “He’s the sort of chap, I don’t know, maybe having a shower and the soap slips from his hands, he’ll crack the wall next to him because he’s so upset that he lost the soap”
Updated
10:03
Preamble
Hello! Welcome to day 7 of Roland Garros as the second half of the men’s and women’s singles third round draws commence. We start with three men’s matches on the main courts as 7th seed Matteo Berrettini takes on German qualifier Daniel Altmaier, 10th seed Roberto Bautista Agut faces US Open semi-finalist Pablo Carreno Busta in an all-Spanish derby and Andrey Rublev will Kevin Anderson, who has quietly pieced together a resurgent week on his worst surface. Later, Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, men’s number one Novak Djokovic, Petra Kvitova and Stefanos Tsitsipas will be in action. Here is the full order of play on the singles courts:
Court Philippe Chatrier
Daniel Altmaier vs [7] Matteo Berrettini
Irina Bara vs [4] Sofia Kenin
Fiona Ferro vs Patricia Maria Tig
[1] Novak Djokovic vs Daniel Elahi Galan
Court Suzanne Lenglen
[10] Roberto Bautista Agut vs [17] Pablo Carreno Busta
Aljaz Bedene vs [5] Stefanos Titsipas
[7] Petra Kvitova vs Layla-Annie Fernandez
Danielle Collins vs [11] Garbine Muguruza
Court Simonne-Mathieu
Kevin Anderson vs [13] Andrey Rublev
Clara Burel vs Zhang Shuai
Roberto Carballes Baena vs [18] Grigor Dimitrov
Paula Badosa vs Jelena Ostapenko
Court 14
[6] Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut vs Vasek Pospisil/Jack Sock
[8] Aryna Sabalenka vs [30] Ons Jabeur
[20] Cristian Garin vs [15] Karen Khachanov
Court 7
Kaitlin Christian/Giuliana Olmos vs [2]Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic
Marton Fucsovics vs Thiago Monteiro
[13] Petra Martic vs Laura Siegemund