PARIS, Oct 2, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Rafael Nadal anticipates a stiffer challenge
at the French Open on Friday after strolling through the first two rounds
while top seed Simona Halep faces a rematch with Amanda Anisimova, the
American teenager who knocked her out of last year’s tournament.
Unsurprisingly, Nadal has yet to drop a set in Paris against opponents with
a combined ranking of 319, but the Spaniard knows tougher examinations await
in his pursuit of Roger Federer’s record 20 major titles.
“I’ve won two matches in three sets. When you win like this it’s not bad,
it means you don’t make many mistakes and manage to make a difference,” said
12-time champion Nadal.
“It’s a good thing. I know in the next round more is going to be asked of
me and I need to be ready for that.”
The 34-year-old Nadal next takes on 74th-ranked Italian Stefano Travaglia,
who reached the last 32 of a Grand Slam for the first time after beating Kei
Nishikori in five sets.
Halep’s status as the women’s favourite was reinforced following the
withdrawal of Serena Williams, on top of the absence of world number one and
defending champion Ashleigh Barty, as well as US Open winner Naomi Osaka.
The Romanian is riding a career-best 16-match winning streak but is well
aware of the threat posed by her upcoming opponent.
Anisimova, who turned 19 in August, became the first player born in the
2000s to reach the last four at a major when she defeated Halep in the
quarter-finals last year.
“I’m going to talk with the coach, I know it’s going to be tough because
she’s hitting the ball strong and flat, so it’s going to be tough,” said
Halep.
“I remember the match from last year, I remember also that I didn’t play
what I wanted, so I will do some changes and I will just try to play better
and to take my chance.”
– Thiem, Zverev in action –
US Open winner Dominic Thiem play Norway’s Casper Ruud, the 28th seed, for
a place in the last 16.
“I’m very happy with my game in the first two rounds,” Thiem, the runner-up
to Nadal in Paris the past two years.
Last year at the tournament, Ruud was beaten in the last 32 by Roger
Federer who had also played at the 1999 tournament which featured Christian
Ruud – Casper’s father.
Ukrainian third seed Elina Svitolina is full of confidence after capturing
her 15th career WTA at Strasbourg last weekend.
She will next play Russian 27th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who has never
been beyond round three at a major.
Sixth seed Alexander Zverev tackles Italian qualifier Marco Cecchinato, who
famously beat Novak Djokovic on his way to a semi-final appearance at Roland
Garros in 2018.
Zverev was again taken to five sets in round two — 31 percent of his Grand
Slam matches have now gone the distance, compared to just nine percent for
Nadal.
Kiki Bertens will attempt to move on her from her stormy win over Sara
Errani after which the Dutch fifth seed departed the court in a wheelchair.
Former finalist Errani accused Bertens of faking injury during a three-hour
clash which left her in cramps and the Italian screaming an obscenity.
Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 French Open winner, goes up against the lone
Frenchman remaining in the draw, Hugo Gaston.