Martic Upsets Pliskova: Nadal, Federer, Stephens Reach Round of 16 at Roland Garros
(May 31, 2019) No. 2 seed Karolina Pliskova had a chance to surpass Naomi Osaka for No. 1 on the WTA Tour dependent on how deep she progressed in the draw but lost the opportunity when she was upset by No. 31 seed Petra Martic 6-3, 6-3 on Friday at Roland Garros.
This was the Croatian’s 14th victory on clay this year and her fourth career win over a Top Ten player. This marks the third time that Martic had made the round of 16 at the French Open.
“The key was to focus on my game and try to dictate instead of letting her dictate, which is her biggest strength,” Martic said.
“I had to kind of try to take it away from her, and at times it was difficult, especially when she broke me and when she got a few winners, which she’s known for. I’m just happy that I managed in the end to hold my nerves and to finish it off.”
“The court is pretty slow, so you just have to play some extra shots,” Pliskova said of what she deemed was a very slow playing clay court. “I was a little bit, passive, maybe not that fast. My serve wasn’t really working. I don’t think she did much wrong today. I just did too many mistakes.”
Last year’s finalist [7] Sloane Stephens needed six match points to eliminate Paula Hercog 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. Stephens will face 2016 Roland Garros winner [19] Garbine Muguruza for a chance at the quarterfinals. Muguruza eliminated ninth seed Elina Svitolina.
No. 12 seed Anastasija Sevastova saved five match points in toppling No. 20 Elise Mertens 6-7 (3), 6-4, 11-9 in 3 hours, 18 minutes.
Completing matches carried over from Thursday were Madison Keys beating Pricilla Hon 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 and Marketa Vondrousova over 28th seed Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4, 6-4
Eleven-time French Open winner Rafael Nadal dropped his first set French Open in his win over David Goffin 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory to reach the fourth round.
Nadal had won all eight sets that he and Goffin had played on clay — including the opening two
Roger Federer’s 400th match at a major was a 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (8) win over Casper Ruud, a player whose father was in the Roland Garros draw when the Swiss made his French Open debut in 1999.
Kei Nishikori played the second longest match at the French Open on Friday when he came back from 0-3 in the fifth set to stop 31st seed Laslo Djere 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3, 4-6, 8-6 in 4 hours and 26-minutes.
RESULTS – MAY 31, 2019
Women’s Singles – Third Round
[7] S. Stephens (USA) d P. Hercog (SLO) 63 57 64
[19] G. Muguruza (ESP) d [9] E. Svitolina (UKR) 63 63
[12] A. Sevastova (LAT) d [20] E. Mertens (BEL) 67(3) 64 119
[23] D. Vekic (CRO) d [15] B. Bencic (SUI) 64 61
[26] J. Konta (GRB) d V. Kuzmova (SVK) 62 61
[31] P. Martic (CRO) d [2] Ka. Pliskova (CZE) 63 63
M. Vondrousova (CZE) d C. Suarez Navarro (ESP)
K. Kanepi (EST) d V. Kudermetova (RUS) 46 63 60
Singles – Second Round
[14] M. Keys (USA) d P. Hon (AUS) 75 57 63
[27] L. Tsurenko (URK) d A. Krunic (SRB) 57 75 119
Men’s Singles – Third Round
[2] Rafael Nadal d [27) David Goffin 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
[3] Roger Federer d Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-1
[7] Kei Nishikori d [31] Laslo Djere 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 4-6, 8-6
Francesco Forti d Paolo Lorenzi 6-2, 7-5
Benoit Paire d Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 by retirement
Juan Ignacio Londero d Corentin Moutet 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
L Mayer d Nicolas Mahut 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6
Martin Klizan d Lucas Pouille 7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 9-7
