French Open 2023Former champion Stan Wawrinka out in 2nd round, local hope Caroline Garcia crashes out

By India Today Sports DeskStan Wawrinka’s bid to reach the 3rd round of the French Open for the first time since 2020 was ended by Thanasi Kokkinakis as the Australian edged past the Swiss in a 5-set marathon in their men’s singles meeting at Roland Garros 2023 on Wednesday, May 31. Kokkinakis defeated Warinka 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 in 4 hours and 38 minutes to progress to the 3rd round for the first time since 2015 at the clay-court Grand Slam.

Stanislas Wawrinka, who spent 4 hours and 35 minutes on the court in the first round in Paris, lost steam after starting the second-round match on a high. Wawrinka had the opportunity to go 2-0 up but he allowed Kokkinakis to fight back and go 2-1 up at the end of the 3rd set.

However, Wawrinka, who kept producing those stunning winners with his silky gameplay, fought back and took the 4th set and forced a decider. Wawrinka proved he is up for the big fight even after multiple injuries.

Kokkinakis, though, showcased steely determination as he took a 4-0 lead in the final set to quash hopes of another Wawrinka comeback. However, the 2015 champion did not go down without a fight as he saved 4 match points in the final set before going down 3-6.

It was a gritty show from Kokkinakis, who lost a similar battle to Andy Murray at the Australian Open earlier this year.

“I looked like I was gonna have a big future, then disappeared for a while,” Kokkinakis said, recalling his run to the 3rd round as a 19-year-old. The Australian, 27, said he is hoping for a better show and better support from the Paris crowd after it was all one-sided at Court Simonne Mathieu on Wednesday.

LOCAL HOPE GARCIA OUT

Earlier in the day, local hope Caroline Garcia suffered a shock exit in the women’s singles 2nd round. The 5th seed lost to Russia’s Anna Blinkova 4-6 6-3 7-5.

It was a 3-set battle where Blinkova, who had knocked out Garcia in 2019 in Paris, had finishing trouble as she fluffed 8 match points of her own serve. However, she finished it with an ace, crushing the hopes of the local crowd.

SABALENKA ROLLS ON

World number two Aryna Sabalenka fought off a determined challenge from fellow Belarusian Iryna Shymanovich on Wednesday to move into the French Open third round with a 7-5 6-2 victory as she eyes the world number one spot.

The 25-year-old, who will take over top spot from Poland’s Iga Swiatek with victory at the Paris Grand Slam, did not have an easy start with qualifier Shymanovich, ranked 214th, matching her power with every groundstroke.

However, she grew into the game before finding rhythm and completing a straight sets victory.

Earlier in the day, Daria Kasatkina, the 9th-seeded Russian, rolled into the 3rd round after defeating former runner-up Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 6-4 in the women’s singles. (With Reuters Inputs)