Key events
Mirra Andreeva (6) beats Ashlyn Krueger 6-3 6-4
The kind of win, against a solid opponent, that’s becoming routine for Andreeva; she’s improved a lot the last six months, and I’d expect her to go deep here and threaten the usual suspects. Next for her: Garland or Putintseva.
Andreeva and Krueger are pretty similar players, except Andreeva is a fair bit better, and she breaks to love for 6-3 5-4; she’ll shortly serve for the match. Fils does indeed take the first set against Munar, 7-6(3); Pegula has broken Li back for 2-2; Kartal was broken back again but has 0-40; mensik leads Rocha 6-2 5-1; Frech, after being bagelled in set one, has taken set two against Vondrousova; and Davidovich Fokina has levelled at a set apiece against Lehecka.
Three breaks on the spin on 14, where a gentle drop puts Kartal back in front in set two. On Lenglen, Fils’ power has given him a 4-1 lead in the first-set breaker, and a double from Munar for 5-1 means he’s nearly there.
The D-Mon is in a hurry and now leads Bublik 6-2 6-2; Munar and Fils has the feeling of an epic, and they’re playing a first-set breaker; Kartal ahs returned her break so trails Bouzkova 1-6 2-2; we’re under way on Chatrier, where Li has broken Pegula for 2-0; and Andreeva leads Krueger 6-3 3-3.
Yup, that length! Kartal makes 30-40 and when she hits close to the line, Bouzkova swipes a backhand wide so leads 6-1 1-2, a break down, and do we got ourselves a ball-game?
After saving set point, Munar held on for 5-5, while Davidovich Fokina, down a set to Lehecka, has broken in the second to lead 4-1.
Kartal has some serious forearms, and she’s controlling her power a little better now, her length closer to the baseline; she holds for 1-6 1-1. On clay, though, you need to be looking for angles and Bouzkova’s greater variety in that aspect is one reason she took the first set so easily. If it remains the case, she’ll win.
De Minaur has broken Bublik in set two to lead 6-3 3-2; Mensik leads Rocha 6-2; Vondrousova leads Frech 6-0 2-3; and Fils has a set point at 5-4 in the first … which is saved by Munar, who sticks in the rally until his opponent forces it and the error comes.
Andreeva break immediately in set two but three doubles and she’s down three break-back points. She saves the first when Krueger nets, then lasers a backhand winner down the line, after which Krueger forces it, larruping a backhand long for deuce. What a wasted opportunity that is … but two further errors from Andreeva restore parity in set two.
Kartal just can’t get herself going, broken a third time to cede the first set 6-1. I bet Bouzkova expected a tougher assignment than this has been so far – but there’s still time.
At change of ends, Andreeva removes a notebook from her bag; perhaps she’s working on a novel. It actually reminds me that lying in bed last night I had a thought I decided wasn’t worth the hassle of getting up to record and now I’m annoyed I can’t remember it.
Krueger forces a break-back point then initiates an exchange of moon-balls, then Andreeva steps in, runs around her forehand, and punishes a winner for deuce. From there, she closes out the first set 6-3, her class now telling.
On 14, the Demon is also a set up, leading Bublik 6-2 0-1, while Mensik leads Rocha 4-1.
Andreeva has got Krueger’s measure now, her extra subtlety helping her craft a break for 5-3. She’s now serving for the first set, something Lehecka has already sone against Davidovich Fokina, who he leads 6-3. On Lenglen, Fils has broken Munar back and now leads 4-3, while Kartal is on the board at 1-4.
Andreeva, though, is on the move, breaking Krueger back before holding for 4-3. She’s another I wonder about: will she win a slam? At 18, she should get much better, though she’s already so good she might be much closer to the best version of herself than your average outrageously talented 18-year-old. With her, I’m going yes, because women’s tennis tends to allow a greater variety of champions.
Another long game on 14; another long game on 14 won by Bouzkova, who now leads Kartal 3-0 with a double break. There’s not loads in it, but Bouzkova is moving better and winning the big points.
An email fro the other day, courtesy of Richard Caulfield: “One point maybe worth mentioning as a result of Fritz’s defeat to Altmaier: it moves Jack Draper provisionally up to no 4 in the rankings. Very handy for him if he can stay there until the Wimbledon seedings are confirmed – no chance of meeting Alcaraz or Sinner (or Zverev, although that’s not such a scary prospect recently) until at least the semis.”
Spotter’s badge. The question with Draper, who definitely is one of the best four players in the world now, is whether he’ll get good enough to win a major. I’d say it’s not far-fetched or impossible, but if you’re asking me to pick a side, I’m tentatively and regretfully going no. I really hope he proves me wrong: he is, I’m assured, a great lad.
Kartal misses a chance to break back and trails 0-2; Munar misses a point for a double break but leads Fils 2-1; and Andreeva is on the board at 1-2, but so far, Krueger is not for breaking.
Elsewhere, De Minaur leads Bublik 3-2 with a break, Mensik leads Rocha 2-0, Vondrousova leads Frech – who, remember belted Oor Ons in round one – 5-0, and Lehecka leads Davidovich Fokina 4-3 on serve.
I can’t lie, I’d like further detail on the Roland-Garros tattoo parlour. How busy is it? Who’s been? What kind of thing are people getting? Any spider webs on faces or tears beneath eyes?
Krueger is playing nicely. Andreeva forces her through deuce in order to endorse, but she get there in the end; they’re both smacking it, but it’s the American whose radar is working better so far and she leads 2-0.
Email! “Isn’t it nice, at Roland-Garros, to have the umpire giving the score only in French,” writes Michael Bulley. “Sadly, in all other tournaments where the local language is not English, the umpire gives the score bilingually, with an English translation. It’s really irritating. Nobody needs it. If the tournament’s in Germany, German will do fine.”
I agree. We want the local flavour, and the translation of “égalité” is not “deuce”.
Similarly, Krueger breaks Andreeva and Bouzkova breaks Kartal, but neither has yet consolidated.
Fils is unusual for a French player, in that he’s not got much in the way of feel. Rather, he knocks the cover off it, so is betters suited top hard courts than to clay and, as I type, Munar – a specialist on the red stuff – breaks then consolidates for 2-0.
Oh! Another oversight! Ethan Quinn, the 21-year-old American who benefitted from Griggzy Dimitrov getting injured, also features; he meets Alexander Shevchenko.
Decision time: which matches to watch? I’m going to start with Kartal v Bouzkova, Andreeva M v Krueger, and … one of De Minaur v Bublik, Rocha v Mensik , Fils v Munar and Lehecka v Davidovich Fokina. Let’s go Fils v Munar to begin with…
Kartal had, we’ve just learnt via TNT, planned to get a tatt yesterday – there’s a parlour in the players’ lounge, because why wouldn’t there be? In the event, doubles got in the road, but I’m sure she’ll find a slot in the fullness of time.
Oh! An oversight! Sonay Kartal, so impressive in round one, is first on Court 11, playing Marie Bouzkova. Anyone got any spare sets of eyes?
Preamble
Salut et bienvenue à Roland-Garros 2025 – cinquième jour!
And – of course – it’s another ridiculous bangeur. Premières portes, we’ve got Mirra Andreeva – Ashlyn Kruger might give her a decent game – Arthur Fils, Jakub Mensik, Alex de Minaur and Jessica Pegula.
Then, as the day unfolds, local legend Richard Gasquet takes on Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev meets Jesper de Jong, with Coco Gauff, Andrey Rublev and Barbora Krejcikova also in action.
Mais ce n’est pas ça! Later in the day comes potentially the match of the day, MC Corentin Moutet against Novak Djokovic, impressive in round one but now facing a much sterner, more mercurial test.
Meantime, Paulo Badosa, so impressive in beating Naomi Osaka, also returns; the US Open Madison Keys – and what a thrill it remains to type those words – plays Katie Boulter; it’s Jacob Fearnley v Ugo Humbert; an Italian derby as Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi convene; Cameron Norrie, now with the no 11 seed’s path through the draw, has a winnable contest against Federico Gomez; and we’ve another chance to enjoy the future legend, Joao Fonseca; before, in the evening session, Jack Draper encounters Gaël Monfils.
Franchement, c’est absolument ridicule! Chauette et on y va!
Play: 11am local, 10am BST.
