French Open 2019: Novak Djokovic Cruises, Naomi Osaka Upset in Saturday Play
Novak Djokovic eased into the fourth round of the 2019 French Open on Saturday after he bested Salvatore Caruso 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 to continue his run of highlight-reel displays at Roland Garros.
Djokovic went through, but Serena Williams slipped to s shock straight-sets defeat against Sofia Kenin. The latter attacked the Williams serve early and often en route to a memorable 6-2, 7-5 victory.
Alexander Zverev also advanced after beating 30th seed Dusan Lajovic in yet another five-set match. He'll face Fabio Fognini next, the No. 9 seed who got the better of No. 18 Robert Bautista Agut to clinch a 7-6 (5), 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory.
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Stanislas Wawrinka and Stefanos Tsitsipas were also back in action on Saturday and completed wins over respective third-round opponents Grigor Dimitrov and Filip Krajinovic to progress in Paris.
Top women's seed Naomi Osaka slipped to a surprising straight-sets defeat to Katerina Siniakova, 6-4, 6-2.
Simona Halep also returned to Court Philippe-Chatrier and dominated 27th seed Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-1 to notch a valuable victory in her title-defence run at Roland Garros.
Saturday's Early Results
Men's Singles
(1) Novak Djokovic bt. Salvatore Caruso: 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
(5) Alexander Zverev bt. (30) Dusan Lajovic: 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 1-6, 6-2
(9) Fabio Fognini bt. (18) Roberto Bautista Agut: 7-6 (5), 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
(6) Stefanos Tsitsipas bt. Filip Krajinovic: 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6)
(24) Stan Wawrinka bt. Grigor Dimitrov: 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8)
(8) Juan Martin del Potro bt. Jordan Thompson: 6-4, 6-4, 6-0
(14) Gael Monfils bt. Antoine Hoang: 6-3, 6-2, 6-3
(10) Karen Khachanov bt. Martin Klizan: 6-1, 6-4, 6-3
(4) Dominic Thiem bt. Pablo Cuevas: 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
Jan-Lennard Struff bt. (13) Borna Coric: 4-6, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(1), 11-9
Women's Singles
Sofia Kenin bt. (10) Serena Williams: 6-2, 7-5
(8) Ashleigh Barty bt. Andrea Petkovic: 6-3, 6-1
(14) Madison Keys bt. Anna Blinkova: 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4
(3) Simona Halep bt. (27) Lesia Tsurenko: 6-2, 6-1
Katerina Siniakova bt. (1) Naomi Osaka: 6-4, 6-2
Iga Swiatek bt. Monica Puig: 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
Amanda Anisimova bt. Irina-Camelia Begu: 7-6(6), 6-4
Aliona Bolsova bt. Ekaterina Alexandrova: 6-2, 7-5
Visit RolandGarros.com to see the schedule in full.
Djokovic was in the mood early on against an outmatched Caruso. The world No. 1 shifted seamlessly through the gears to maintain his run of not dropping a single set so far at this year's tournament.
He also added to a pair of enviable winning runs at this level:
"24 consecutive wins at Slams... and counting?
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2019"
How far can @DjokerNole go? He defeats Caruso 6-3 6-3 6-2 for a place in the R16. #RG19 pic.twitter.com/sxkfV7dQ7B
"Make that straight appearances in Week 2 of Roland Garros for @djokernole!#RG19
— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) June 1, 2019"
Unforced errors proved to be the bane of Williams' existence against an intense Kenin. The latter went after Williams' second serve with powerful dropshots.
Kenin also aimed most of her own fast and formidable serves right on the line, challenging Williams to mount consistently strong returns. The pressure in both phases of the game proved too much for the 37-year-old, who suffered through an uncharacteristically high number of mistakes:
"No.35 Sofia Kenin knocks out Serena Williams 62 75 to advance to the Round of 16 @rolandgarros.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) June 1, 2019"
Big win for the 20yo American, who did well to withstand a Serena comeback surge late in the second set.
23 winners, 17 UFE for Kenin
30 winners, 24 UFE for Serena#RG19
Zverev pulled clear of another five-set test against Lajovic and proceeded to tee up a meeting opposite Fognini in the fourth round.
Having garnered something of a reputation for not being efficient with his match times, Zverev lost the third and fourth sets before sealing a triumphant 6-2 in the fifth with a quaking forehand, via the Tennis Channel:
"Say hello to the Rd. of 16.
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 1, 2019"
Alexander Zverev defeats Dusan Lajovic in five sets to advance at #RG19. pic.twitter.com/kUAc10THbl
Tsitsipas was in action on Friday and looked eager to book his fourth-round berth with a win over Krajinovic in straight sets until their match was suspended at 7-5, 6-3, 5-5 in favour of the young Greek.
Play got back under way on Saturday and didn't get off to the start he wanted, as Krajinovic took the fourth set via tiebreak, but 20-year-old Tsitsipas demonstrated his talent to overcome 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6):
"He's in.@StefTsitsipas battles past Krajinovic 7-5, 6-3, 6-7. 7-6(6) to advance at #RG19. pic.twitter.com/yArgXXck4r
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 1, 2019"
Halep was unforgiving in her clash against Tsurenko and needed less than an hour to beat her Ukrainian opponent in straight sets to record her best display at Roland Garros so far this year.
The Romanian had to play three sets in each of her first two outings, and tennis writer Tumaini Carayol noted how the spotlight has been taken off the defending champion somewhat:
"Simona Halep bulldozes Tsurenko 6-2 6-1 to reach the Roland Garros R16. Considering how normal and comfortable she looks, it's easy to forget that she is defending her first slam title.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) June 1, 2019"
Things didn't go Osaka's way early on against Siniakova. Unforced errors put the world No. 1 in trouble during the opening set. So did the determination of Siniakova, who stayed strong in crucial moments to protect her serve and earn vital points.
" Upset of the tournament@K_Siniakova takes out world No. 1 Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 in R3 of #RG19 pic.twitter.com/D8zzYlqNSd
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) June 1, 2019"
The defeat means Osaka joins a group no top player wants to be in:
"Katerina Siniakova defeats Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 in the French Open's 3rd rd.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 1, 2019"
Osaka joins Simona Halep & Ana Ivanovic with the earliest losses by a woman in their 1st major as World No. 1 (all in 3rd rd).
It's Siniakova's 1st time reaching the 2nd week of a major in singles. pic.twitter.com/lwkm4ZxbKL
Osaka joins Williams as high-profile exits from the WTA bracket, but Ashleigh Barty and Madison Keys continued to impress.
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