French Open 2015: Friday Results, Highlights, Scores, Recap from Roland Garros
International superstars Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova highlighted Friday's play at the 2015 French Open, but there was no shortage of intriguing action throughout the day as players attempted to advance to the fourth round in the men's and women's draws.
Fed is in search of his second career title at Roland Garros, while Sharapova is hoping to win her second in a row and third in four years. They both managed to move into the next round with relative ease, although there were some much tighter and more competitive matches among less-heralded players Friday.
As the French Open approaches its midway point, here is a full rundown of Friday's men's and women's singles results, as well as a closer look at some of the biggest storylines that dominated Paris.
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Men's Singles Results
| 2 | No. 20 Richard Gasquet | Carlos Berlocq | 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 |
| 3 | No. 5 Kei Nishikori | Benjamin Becker | Walkover |
| 3 | No. 2 Roger Federer | Damir Dzumhur | 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 3 | No. 12 Gilles Simon | Nicolas Mahut | 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1 |
| 3 | Teymuraz Gabashvili | Lukas Rosol | 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 3 | No. 4 Tomas Berdych | Benoit Paire | 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 |
| 3 | No. 8 Stan Wawrinka | Steve Johnson | 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 3 | No. 13 Gael Monfils | No. 21 Pablo Cuevas | 4-6, 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 3 | No. 14 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga | Pablo Andujar | 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-3 |
Women's Singles Results
| 3 | No. 19 Elina Svitolina | Annika Beck | 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 |
| 3 | No. 29 Alize Cornet | Mirjana Lucic-Baroni | 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 |
| 3 | No. 7 Ana Ivanovic | Donna Vekic | 6-0, 6-3 |
| 3 | No. 13 Lucie Safarova | No. 20 Sabine Lisicki | 6-3, 7-6(2) |
| 3 | No. 9 Ekaterina Makarova | Elena Vesnina | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 3 | No. 21 Garbine Muguruza | No. 11 Angelique Kerber | 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 |
| 3 | No. 2 Maria Sharapova | No. 26 Samantha Stosur | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 3 | No. 28 Flavia Pennetta | No. 8 Carla Suarez-Navarro | 6-3, 6-4 |
Recapping Biggest Storylines
Roger Federer Cruises Into Fourth Round
After showing some frustration in his second-round win over Marcel Granollers, second-seeded Federer had no such issues Friday as he easily defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in straight sets to book his place in the fourth round.
Although the French Open has been dominated by Rafael Nadal over the years, Fed has enjoyed his fair share of success at Roland Garros. That is evidenced by the fact that Friday's win continued his long-running streak of reaching the fourth round of the tournament, according to BBC Sport:
There is no question that clay is Federer's worst surface, but he has performed fairly well on the red stuff over the course of 2015.
Per ESPN Tennis, he has now won 80 percent of his clay-court matches this season after dispatching Dzumhur:
"Smooth sailing into Round of 16 for Federer with 6-4 6-3 6-2 win over Dzumhur. Roger now 12-3 on clay in 2015. #RG15 pic.twitter.com/whLoRuVhSl
— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) May 29, 2015"
There was never much doubt that Federer would take care of his underdog opponent from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it was a significant moment in Dzumhur's career since he looks up to Federer and considers him to be the best.
According to ATPWorldTour.com, Dzumhur tipped his hat to his Swiss opponent and praised his level of play:
"I guess it was entertaining. I really was excited before the match. I didn't feel that much pressure like I felt with (Tomas) Berdych last year, or with (David) Ferrer. So I came a bit more relaxed on the court and started good. That was okay. So I feel that everything was okay. My game was good. I just can say that Roger played really too good today. He was playing so aggressive with all kind of shots. Big congratulations to him. Of course I was always saying that he's the best tennis player for me, and today he show why.
"
Federer is in a great position entering the fourth round as he is on the opposite side of the bracket from stars like Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. He is very much the player to beat in the bottom half of the draw, and he is playing some great tennis.
If Fed is able to keep it up moving forward, then he stands a great chance to play for his second career French Open title.
Maria Sharapova Continues Quest for Repeat Title
Serena Williams may be the favorite to win the French Open on the women's side, but after winning the title at Roland Garros in two of the past three years, Sharapova is making it clear that she doesn't intend to step aside.
The No. 2-seeded star was excellent once again Friday as she scored her third consecutive straight-sets victory to start her title defense. The Russian's opponent was no pushover as No. 26 Samantha Stosur is a former U.S. Open champion and a French Open finalist, but Sharapova enjoyed a straightforward 6-3, 6-4 win.
With that victory, Sharapova extended what is quickly becoming a hugely impressive winning streak at Roland Garros, according to ESPN Tennis:
"Sharapova beats Stosur 6-3 6-4 for her 10th straight victory and 28th win in last 30 matches at @rolandgarros. #RG15 pic.twitter.com/i71ALizocZ
— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) May 29, 2015"
Sharapova is now 15-2 in her career against Stosur, but she didn't enter Friday's match overconfident. Per WTATennis.com, the five-time Grand Slam winner knew she needed to be at her best in order to advance to the fourth round:
"I was just really happy to win this one. I knew it was going to be a tough one going into the match. I just wanted to be as ready as I could, and I was really happy I was able to win it. ... Against Sam I know I have to take care of my service games because she's capable of serving really well. I'm also a tall girl, so the kick she's able to give on the second serve maybe doesn't bother me as much as other players. I quite like that ball. But we've had many tough matches despite my record, and it's not something I look at very lightly when I go up to that match. I know I have to beat a good player.
"
Sharapova's form through three rounds has been excellent, and it is particularly impressive since she isn't necessarily 100 percent physically.
According to Carole Bouchard of The Yellow Ball Corner, the 28-year-old superstar has been battling a bad cough:
It didn't slow her down at all Friday, and there has been no indication that it will prevent her from reaching the French Open final for the fourth year in a row.
Sharapova has a tough matchup on tap against No. 13 Lucie Safarova in the fourth round, but if she continues to play at her current level, there may not be anyone other than Serena capable of beating her.
Berdych, Nishikori and Wawrinka Advance to Fourth Round
While Federer was undoubtedly the biggest name in action among the men Friday, a handful of potential contenders continued to roll as No. 4 Tomas Berdych, No. 5 Kei Nishikori and No. 8 Stan Wawrinka won their respective matches.
All three players are in Federer's half of the draw with Djoker, Nadal and Murray up top. Fed is certainly the favorite to reach the finals, but he isn't bulletproof by any means.
Berdych could be his toughest competition prior to the final as a former French Open semifinalist. He had a few tough moments against France's Benoit Paire but ultimately managed to get through 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4.
Nishikori had a much easier time as he defeated Benjamin Becker via a walkover since Becker suffered an injury and couldn't play.
While Nishikori now has the benefit of extra rest, he expressed some disappointment that his opponent was unable to compete:
Wawrinka hasn't traditionally enjoyed a ton of success on clay, but the former Australian Open champion made quick work of American Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
The Swiss star has a tricky round-of-16 match on tap against Gilles Simon, but if he can win that contest, then he may be on a collision course with his countryman, Federer, in the quarterfinals.
The bottom half of the men's draw is wide open, with the exception of Federer, and since he hasn't exactly dominated at Roland Garros over the years, the door is open slightly for someone else to break through.
Berdych, Nishikori and Wawrinka all kept that possibility very much alive Friday.
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