Roland Garros - Day 2 - Bertens firing early

Day two of Roland Garros 2019 saw fourth seed Kiki Bertens open her campaign against veteran French player Pauline Parmentier on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

The pair had met three times previously, and interestingly Parmentier won on each occasion. However, those were from 2014, 2015 and 2016, and careers since have taken markedly different turns. Bertens is now firmly entrenched in the top echelon of women’s tennis, while Parmentier is closer to 100 than 50, having once reached a career high of 40.

Bertens served first, and held, not letting two double faults concern her. Parmentier failed to impress when it was her first turn at the line, missing with both a forehand and backhand to trail 0-30. A Dutch backhand forced another French error, and two break points arose. A double fault arrived on the first of these and Bertens had the start she wanted. 2-0.

Heavy serving, including an ace, helped Bertens to 3-0, and it took Parmentier a 14 point game to finally bother the scoreboard. After leading 30-15, she lost the next two points with a netted forehand and a Bertens cross court forehand winner. The break point was saved. and two game points came and went. Bertens had a second chance to crack the serve when Parmentier found the net with a forehand. A powerful service winner prevented the break and another fine serve set up a third game point. This one was converted.

Bertens came under pressure in the seventh game, after both players had held serve for Bertens to lead 4-2. The fourth seed pushed a forehand long, hit the net with a backhand, and double faulted to be down two break points. These were saved, and Bertens was just a game away from the set. 

In another 14 point game, after leading 40-15, Parmentier saved two set points and asked Bertens to serve it out.

A long forehand and a double fault put Bertens down 15-30, but a service winner and forehand put away produced set point. Another double fault brought it to deuce. Then a service winner resulted in set point once more. A deep forehand caused issues for Parmentier and the set wwas Dutch, 6-3.

Six games were negotiated in set two, and a mere one break point required handling, which Parmentier did capably in the third of those six. The seventh game was the crucial one. Here, at 30-30, Parmentier was the contributor of a double fault, and her forehand into the net gave the break and 4-3 to Bertens.

The following two games went to serve, meaning Bertens could serve for the match at 5-4. A Dutch forehand winner was made possible after a Parmentier backhand return hit the top of the net and bounced up in friendly fashion for Bertens to pick off. A spinning wide backhand forced Parmentier into error and it was 30-0. A drop shot surprised Parmentier and she wasn’t in position to play a proper shot. Three match points. A sizzling backhand down the line was the perfect finish for Bertens who won 6-3 6-4.