As the second week of Roland Garros approaches the French women have produced expected results. Caroline Garcia seeded #31 lost in the opening round as she did last year. Where as last year Garcia succumbed to the pressures of playing her home slam she lost to the much more formidable opponent of Ana Ivanovic. This week she lost to the young Croatian Donna Vekic, who is ranked considerably lower at #165, in three sets.
Also losing in the opening round was the unseeded Pauline Parmentier. Parmentier currently ranked at #95 lost in straight sets to #97 ranked Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa.
French Women at Roland Garros
A surprising winner in the first round was veteran Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano. Razzano was granted a wild card into the main draw and she used it to defeat #173 in the world, Veronica Cepede Royg of Paraguay. The most notable point in the match came when Razzano served underhanded on match point. In her second round match against the #8 seed, Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, Razzano lost the first set 3-6. At the changeover Razzano called for the trainer and after the first game of the second set, she was forced to retire with what appeared to be a leg injury.
Still alive heading into the weekend are Alize Cornet and Kristina Mladenovic. In the first round Mladenovic currently ranked #44 in the world defeated sixth seeded Canadian Genie Bouchard in straight sets. Although Bouchard is currently struggling through the sophomore slump Mladenovic played a controlled aggressive game. The Frenchwoman also used the dropshot numerous times to catch her Canadian opponent off guard. In the second round Mladenovic defeated Danka Kovinic in straight sets. The defeat of the 89th ranked player from Montenegro sets up a third round clash with 93rd ranked Belgium Alison Van Uytvanck.
Alize Cornet is also having a good tournament giving the French fans something to cheer about. In the first round the #29 seed needed three sets to defeat the Italian Roberta Vinci. In the second round Cornet defeated Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru, current ranking #51, in straight sets. Cornet matches are usually drama filled affairs but she maintained her composure throughout the match even as Dulgheru received time violations on her serve. Cornet’s third round match was against the resurging player Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, currently ranked #70. Lucic-Baroni had pulled off a big upset earlier in the week defeating Simona Halep. Cornet dropped the first set but managed a comeback three set win. Cornet will meet 19th seed Elina Svitolina in the fourth round. Svitolina is currently ranked #21 on the WTA rankings so this could be a closely contested match.
If both Mladenovic and Cornet can play up to their potential the French fans could have an exciting second week on the terre battu.
