Roland Garros Day 4 – Dimitrov Beats Cilic in Five Sets, Bertens Retires, Nadal, Federer, Pliskova and Stephens Advance
(May 29, 2019) Just a year ago they were seeded third and fourth at Roland Garros, this year Grigor Dimitrov and Marin Cilic met in the second round in Paris – what a difference a year makes. The 11th seed Cilic lost a four-hour and 24-minute battle against the now 46th -ranked Dimitrov 6-7(3), 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 on Wednesday at the French Open.
“Every win that I have now, I appreciate it,” said the 2017 Year-End champion Dimitrov to media. “It was a very, very important match to me, without a doubt, though. Clearly I have struggled the past two, three months. The shoulder hasn’t been great. So a lot of moving parts. A lot of changes overall. I feel great, and I’m very, so to speak, focused and excited for what’s ahead.”
The Bulgarian will face yet another big test on Friday when he takes on 2015 winner 26th seed Stan Wawrinka.
Eleven-time winner Rafael Nadal continued to cruise on the red clay of Paris. The Spaniard beat German qualifier Yannick Maden 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the third round.
No. 3 seed Roger Federer also beat a German player on Wednesday, world No.144th Oscar Otte 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. Federer will play Casper Ruud next, the son of a former player, Christian Ruud, who played on the tour when Federer began his pro career 20 years ago.
“I know probably more about his dad than about him, “Federer admitted. “Even though I never played him, the father.”
In women’s play, No. 4 seed Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands retired with a GI illness after playing four games against Viktoria Kuzmova.
“Vomiting. Diarrhea. All night long, all day long. I felt a little bit better before the match. I had some sleep, and I just wanted to give it a try,” she said during her news conference. “But then as soon as I start warming up right before the match, it started again. There was not any energy left.”
Promising Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu, the 22nd seed, pulled out of the tournament with an injured right shoulder. As a result, American Sonia Kenin advances to the third round.
RESULTS – MAY 29, 2019
Women’s Singles – Second Round
[2] Ka. Pliskova ) d [Q] K. Kucova 62 62
V. Kuzmova d [4] K. Bertens 31 ret.
[7] S. Stephens d S. Sorribes Tormo 61 76(3)
[9] E. Svitolina d K. Kozlova w/o
[12] A. Sevastova d M. Minella 62 64
[19] G. Muguruza d J. Larsson 64 61
[20] E. Mertens d [WC] D. Parry 61 63
[23] D. Vekic d R. Peterson 16 61 62
[26] J. Konta d [WC] L. Davis 63 16 63
[28] C. Suarez Navarro) d S. Rogers 61 67(4) 63
[31] P. Martic d K. Mladenovic 62 61
P. Hercog d J. Brady 63 67(8) 64
M. Vondrousova d A. Potapova 64 60
V. Kudermetova d Z. Diyas 75 61
K. Kanepi d S. Zhang 67(4) 60 75
Men’s Singles – Second Round
[2] R. Nadal d Yannick Maden 61 62 64
[3] R.Federer d Oscar Otte 64 63 64
[6) S. Tsitsipas d H. Dellien 46 60 63 75
[7] K.Nishikori d Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 46 64 64 64
G. Dimitrov d [11] M. Cilic 673 64 46 76[2] 63
C. Moutet d [19) G. Pella 63 61 26 75
Pablo Carreno Busta d [21] A. de Minaur 63 61 61
[24] S. Wawrinka d Cr. Garin 61 64 60
[27] D. Goffin d M. Kecmanovic 62 64 63
C. Ruud d [29] M. Berrettini 64 75 63
[31] L. Djere d Alexei Popyrin 64 76(4) 64
F. Krajinovic d R. Carballes Baena 64 64 67(1) 36 86
JI Londero d R. Gasquet 62 36 63 64
N. Mahut d P. Kohlschreiber 63 63 63
B. Paire d Pierre-Hugues Herbert 62 62 57 67(6) 11-9
