Schwartzman d Anderson from 2 down

Kevin Anderson was leading Diego Schwartzman 6-1 6-2 4-3 with serve to come, but the Argentine managed to gather two break points. Anderson was cool under this pressure, and solved the problem, held serve to lead 5-3 and be one game from a quarter final.

Schwartzman held, forcing Anderson to serve for the match.

An ace was a good start but four errant forehands led to a break point, which was converted and 5-5.

A forehand put away at the net from Schwartzman followed by two South African forehand errors gave the Argentine three game points.

A double fault was only a blip as a solid backhand winner took him to 6-5.

Two brilliant backhand winners from Schwartzman and two successive double faults from Anderson gave the second service break in a row to Diego and he took the set from the grasp of Kevin 7-5, winning the final four games.  24 unforced errors from Anderson for the set was telling.

Three Anderson forehand winners and two Schwartzman double faults led to a service break in the first game of set four - Anderson 1-0

Errors and a double fault handed the service break back to Schwartzman and games were 1-1

A drop shot winner on break point presented Anderson with the third service break in a row in set four - Anderson 2-1

Overcoming three double faults, Anderson held serve and led 3-1.

A forehand winner was insufficient for Anderson to prevent Schwartzman from holding serve and trail 2-3.

At long last a quick big serving game from Anderson and the lead stretched to 4-2.  Schwartzman struggled to 3-4, surviving a double fault, which seemed to be arriving with monotonous regularity in the past two sets.

Schwartzman opened game eight with a sizzling backhand winner but couldn’t follow up with enough and Anderson held for 5-3 - déjà vu set three.

After having three game points, Schwartzman let it slip to deuce, but he hung tough to force Anderson once again to serve for the match.

Failure a second time, Schwartzman winning all four points with pieces of excellence, including an exquisite lob winner. 5-5

The set went to a tie break and Schwartzman streeted the South African who was bereft of any confidence at this point. His lead was deleted and the match score was 6-1 6-2 5-7 6-7(0).

So now Schwartzman was the favourite going into the fifth set, although he had never won a match having lost the opening two sets.

After four straight service breaks, Anderson was at the line attempting to stop the trend.

The fifth game had everything - two forehand winners and a drop shot to perfection from Schwartzman, and an ace, an overhead winner, and a touch backhand winner from Anderson.

However, one error too many cost the sixth seed his serve and Schwartzman led 3-2.

That signalled the end for Anderson - from 30-15 in the seventh game he was broken again and Schwartzman led 5-2.

The eleventh seed collected three match points and on the first of these he delivered an ace to advance to the quarter finals in incredible style 1-6 2-6 7-5 7-6(0) 6-2.

This is Diego’s best Roland Garros performance, passing his third round effort of last year.

It also betters his career high Grand Slam performance which was a fourth round at this years Australian Open.

Another gain for Schwartzman is a new career high live world ranking of 11, previously 12.

Of course this is under potential threat depending on the progress of Schwartzman, Fabio Fognini and Novak Djokovic.

Kasatkina dashes Wozniacki hopes

While Simona Halep was destroying Elise Mertens, Kevin Anderson (6) was in the process of doing a similar job on Diego Schwartzman (11), taking the first two sets 6-1 6-2.

Following the Halep match was the unfinished clash between Caroline Wozniacki (2) and Daria Kasatkina (14)

3-3 in the second set with Kasatkina serving.

A double fault left Kasatkina at 15-30 but Wozniacki threw in three straight errors and the Russian led 4-3

Kasatkina hit a forehand winner to set up a break point - it was saved

Kasatkina hit another forehand winner and it was saved 

Kasatkina hit another brilliant forehand forcing a Wozniacki error and she broke to lead 7-6(5) 5-3 

Serving for the match, Kasatkina hit a forehand winner, followed by a drop shot which Wozniacki couldn’t handle.  Three match points were achieved when Kasatkina forced an error, and the second of these was converted to victory when Wozniacki hit a forehand wide.

7-6(5) 6-3 and Daria Kasatkina has made a quarter final at Roland Garros for the first time, and in fact the first quarter final at any Grand Slam tournament - her best previous was the fourth round at last years US Open.

Mertens no answer to hot Halep

Simona Halep (1) broke Elise Mertens (16) in the third game of their fourth round match in Paris as the 2018 Roland Garros tournament progressed towards the substantial moments.

After a close game the Romanian consolidated the break, the forehand important in moving to 3-1.

Mertens stepped up, the first serve helping her stay close at 2-3.

Halep continued her strength on serve, and the follow up produced winners or forced errors from Mertens. 4-2.

A backhand winner from Mertens was not enough to overcome three unforced errors and a backhand winner from Halep - another break and 5-2 with the top seed serving for the set.

Two shots hit long and one into the net from Mertens gave Halep two set points, and she only needed one.  A solid serve and 6-2.

Mertens served first in set two, needing desperately to hold serve.  She missed the first two points with errant forehands and the third was a Halep winner.  The second break point was converted and Halep won her fourth straight game - 1-0.

A backhand error from the Romanian left her at 15-30 but Mertens replied with two mistakes of her own and Halep used the game point well and led 2-0.

Mertens netted the first point of her next service game and pushed a backhand wide for 0-30.  Another wide reply to an attacking Halep drive followed by a netted ground stroke and Mertens was broken again.

3-0 to Halep and she was looking ever close to the finish.

Mertens had been trying too hard from the start, instead of playing her usual measured game, and now she was just running out of ideas.

Down 15-30, Halep rallied to win the game and lead 4-0, taking the last seven games.

Three break points and Mertens was going down quickly.  A ground stroke long saw the break and Halep at 5-0 was serving for the match.

Against the flow, Mertens gathered three break points, the first for her of the match.  She converted the second, and it was 1-5.  Backhands were the backbone of the game that stopped the Romanian run.

That was it for Elise and Halep moved from 30-30 to a match point on the Mertens serve.  Unfortunately a double fault ended the battle 6-2 6-1.

It was Halep at her best, certainly for this tournament, and sounding a warning to her future opponents, the next whom will be the winner of Caroline Garcia (7) and Angie Kerber (12).

Cecchinato upsets Goffin in 4th round

The bottom half of the draw played the 2018 Roland Garros round of sixteen and for the third match in a row, Sascha Zverev (2) had to come from two sets to one down and claim victory.

He defeated Karen Khachanov 4-6 7-6 (4) 2-6 6-3 6-3 and reached the quarter finals, the first time in a Grand Slam tournament.

He won’t want to give Dominic Thiem (7) the same sort of start when the two clash in a blockbuster quarter final.

Thiem lost a set in his fourth round match to Kei Nishikori (19) but he had already wrapped up the first two and he comfortably won the match   6-2 6-0 5-7 6-4

Thiem has his best record at Grand Slam level here in Paris, semi finalist the past two years.

Two American women are in the final eight - Madison Keys (13) defeated Mihaela Buzarnescu (31) 6-1 6-4 and Sloane Stephens (10) accounted for Anett Kontaveit (25) 6-2 6-0.

The winners were finalists in the 2017 US Open and they been solid in this years Open.

Next for Keys will be a quarter final battle with Yulia Putintseva whose best Roland Garros performance was another quarter final in 2016.

For Madison, her best effort prior to this year was a fourth round, also in 2016.

Yulia defeated the final Czech player left in the draw, Barbora Strycova (26) 6-4 6-3

Sloane Stephens has to meet the winner of the fourth round match between Caroline Wozniacki (2) and Daria Kasatkina (14) which was called off due to darkness, with Kasatkina ahead 7-6(5) 3-3.

For Stephens, this is her first Roland Garros quarter final, her previous best performances fourth rounds in consecutive years 2012-2015.

Wozniacki has been a quarter finalist in 2010 and 2017, but no further on the red clay in Paris.

Kasatkina, in her two forays before this year at Roland Garros, made the third  round on both occasions in 2016 and 2017

Novak Djokovic (20) has made the quarter finals here for the twelfth time in the last thirteen years, missing only in 2009, after disposing of Fernando (30) in straight sets 6-3 6-4 6-2

The 2016 champion will play Marco Cecchinato, who upset David Goffin (8) 7-5 4-6 6-0 6-3

Before this year, Marco in four attempts had only made it past qualifying once - in 2016, where he lost in the opening round.

His previous career high ranking was 59, but his efforts here have seen that jump to a live position of 42 - last week he was sitting at 72.

Sloane Stephens has moved from her previous career high of nine to a live position of eight, and a quarter final win would move it to six.

Serena and Maria to meet in 4th round

Excitement has really built in Paris as the 2018 Roland Garros round of sixteen has arrived.

The one upcoming match about which organisers have dreamed has come to fruition.

It contains two players who both have achieved the world number one ranking.  Both have been crowned Roland Garros champion more than once. OBoth have won the Australian and US Opens and Wimbledon.

Both have made come backs to reach this battle of which promoters have dreamed.

Maria Sharapova is on her journey back from a time out from the WTA Tour due to her drug related ban.

Serena Williams is back from a happier absence - the birth of her first child.

The two have produced their A games at just the right times to knock out some of the highest rated opposition available.

Maria, seeded 28 here, defeated Richel Hogenkamp and an in form Donna Vekic, before ousting sixth seed Karolina Pliskova in no uncertain fashion 6-2 6-1

18 winners to 5 and 57% of points won on return indicate the dominance of Sharapova in probably her best performance since her come back.

Serena, ranked 451 coming into Paris and therefore unseeded, had dismantled three distinguished players en route to her meeting with Maria.

First it was the other Pliskova twin, Kristyna, in a tight clash which essentially rated as a warm up for a terrific battle with Ash Barty (17) requiring three sets, and finally the disposal of Julia Goerges (11) 6-3 6-4 which served as a pass to the fourth round.

The player most afraid of the Maria Serena clash will be Garbiñe Muguruza.  The third seed is scheduled to meet the winner should she win her round of sixteen match.

Although Garbine needn’t concern herself too much since she is firing pretty well.

The 2016 champion here, claimed the trophy by defeating Serena in the final so she knows how to beat the best.

And she hasn’t dropped a set this tournament, her latest victim 2010 finalist Sam Stosur, given a drubbing 6-0 6-2.

So the other matches to finalise the last sixteen:

Karen Khachanov defeated Lucas Pouille (15) 6-3 7-5 6-3

He will play Sascha Zverev in the round of sixteen 

Sascha Zverev had already defeated Damir Dzumhur the day before

Lesia Tsurenko defeated Magdalena Rybarikova (19) 6-2 6-4

She will play Garbiñe Muguruza in the round of sixteen 

Rafa Nadal (1) defeated Richard Gasquet (27) 6-3 6-2 6-2

He will play Maximilian Marterer in the round of sixteen 

Maximilian Marterer defeated Jurgen Zopp 6-2 6-1 6-4

Juan Martin del Potro (5) defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas (31) 7-5 6-4 6-1

He will play John Isner in the round of sixteen 

John Isner (9) defeated Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-6(1) 6-4 7-6(4)

Fabio Fognini (18) defeated Kyle Edmund (16) 6-3 4-6 3-6 6-4 6-4

He will play Marin Cilic in the round of sixteen 

Marin Cilic (3) defeated Steve Johnson 6-3 6-2 6-4

David Goffin (8) defeated Gaël Monfils (32) 6-7(6) 6-3 4-6 7-5 6-3

He will play Marco Cecchinato In the round of sixteen 

Marco Cecchinato had already defeated Pablo Carreno Busta the day before 

Caroline Garcia (7) defeated Irina-Camelia Begu 6-1 6-3

She will play Angie Kerber in the round of sixteen 

Angie Kerber (12) defeated Kiki Bertens (18) 7-6(4) 7-6(4)

Anett Kontaveit (25) defeated Petra Kvitová 7-6(6) 7-6(4)

She will play Sloane Stephens in the round of sixteen 

Sloane Stephens (10) defeated Camila Giorgi 4-6 6-1 8-6

Kevin Anderson (6) defeated Mischa Zverev 6-1 6-7(3) 6-3 7-6(4)

He will play Diego Schwartzman in the round of sixteen 

Diego Schwartzman defeated Borna Coric 7-5 6-3 6-3

Simona Halep (1) defeated Andrea Petkovic 7-5 6-0

She will play Elise Mertens in the round of sixteen 

Elise Mertens (16) defeated Dasha Gavrilova (24) 6-3 6-1

Of the sixteen players left in the women’s draw, 13 countries are represented 

Of the sixteen players left in the men’s draw, 12 countries are represented 

In total, 20 countries are represented with the final 32 singles players

Zverev 2nd escape - Svitolina out

The round of sixteen Roland Garros 2018 has been reached for some, and the highlight has to be the second successive five set escape concocted by second seed Sascha Zverev.

In doing so the German equaled his best effort at a Grand Slam tournament, that of a fourth round at Wimbledon last year.

Damir Dzumhur (26) began on the back foot, losing the opening set and trailing 1-3 in the second.

Zverev lost only four points in his first five service games and he appeared on track for a much easier win than his second round struggle against Dusan Lajovic.

However he somehow lost his way, losing the next five games and the second set.

Dzumhur broke the Zverev serve late in the third set and saved break points when serving out for a two sets to one lead.

When trailing 2-4 in the fourth set, an exit from Paris seemed ever closer for Sascha.

He tightened up his ball striking when it mattered and levelled at 5-5.

Another twist with Dzumhur breaking on his second chance when the second seed double faulted.

Serving for the match,  Damir lost all four points and in the tie break was swamped by a rejuvenated Zverev.

The match score saw Dzumhur now level 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-7(3)

In the decider, Zverev broke Dzumhur in the first game and at 4-2 was set for victory.  Damir wasn’t done yet and at 5-5 the match was up for grabs again.

The class of Zverev finally showed and the final two games were his, as was the amazing battle 6-2 3-6 4-6 7-6(3) 7-5

He will play the winner of Lucas Pouille (15) and Karen Khachanov in the round of sixteen.

Not so fortunate was fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov - after surviving a five setter against Jared Donaldson, he relented against Fernando Verdasco (30) 7-6(4) 6-2 6-4

Other third round results:

Caroline Wozniacki (2) defeated Pauline Parmentier 6-0 6-3

She will play Daria Kasatkina in the round of sixteen 

Daria Kasatkina (14) defeated Maria Sakkari 6-1 1-6 6-3

Madison Keys (13) defeated Naomi Osaka (21) 6-1 7-6(7)

She will play Mihaela Buzarnescu in the round of sixteen 

Mihaela Buzarnescu (31) defeated Elina Svitolina (4) 6-3 7-5

Novak Djokovic (20) defeated Roberto Bautista Agut (13) 6-4 6-7(6) 7-6(4) 6-2

He will play Fernando Verdasco in the round of sixteen 

Dominic Thiem (7) defeated Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2

He will play Kei Nishikori in the round of sixteen 

Kei Nishikori (19) defeated Gilles Simon 6-3 6-1 6-3

Marco Cecchinato defeated Pablo Carreno Busta (10) 2-6 7-6(5) 6-3 6-1

He will play the winner of David Goffin (8) and Gaël Monfils (32) in the round of sixteen 

Yulia Putintseva defeated Qiang Wang 1-6 7-5 6-4

She will play Barbora Strycova in the round of sixteen 

Barbora Strycova (26) defeated Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-3

Ash Barty gives Serena close call

The Roland Garros third round has been decided and the 32 men and women are ready to pit their tennis racquets into action tomorrow.  It has become clear that the elite are holding fort over the rest of the field.

We were excited when Venus Williams and Jelena Ostapenko lost first round matches, together with Sam Querrey, because it looked as though it may be a tournament full of surprises.

Well as we approach the middle weekend, the top ten men’s seeds remain intact, as do the top ten women’s seeds - apart from the Ostapenko and Williams opening fails.  Not many shocks at all, but some close calls which have kept the crowds on their toes.

Grand Slam champions left in the respective draws are:

Rafa Nadal                              Caroline Wozniacki                                                                                       Marin Cilic                               Garbiñe Muguruza

Juan Martin del Potro          Petra Kvitova

Novak Djokovic                     Sloane Stephens 

                                                    Angie Kerber

                                                    Maria Sharapova 

                                                    Samantha Stosur 

                                                    Serena Williams

Second round matches on Thursday included the Serena Williams battle with Ash Barty (17).

Th opening set was all Barty, as the Aussie lost only three points off her first serve, and Serena threw in 12 unforced errors.

Ash immediately broke the Williams serve in set two, taking further advantage of the American consistently finding the net.

However the match turned in the next game, when Serena won her way to break point, and Ash made a crucial error.  At the net, with all the court available for a forehand put away, she decided to feed the Serena forehand rather than use the empty court right in front of her.

Serena hit a withering forehand past the Australian to break back, triggering a four game run and the set win.

The decider was a set where serve dominated, except for the third game in which Serena broke Barty’s delivery for only the second time in the match.  It was enough for the champion to grab victory 3-6 6-3 6-4.

The comeback queen needed to display all her wares, and she did as she has done many times over her illustrious career.

In a quality match, Ash Barty was clearly disappointed, but she played possibly the greatest player, male or female, of all time without any fear, and forced Serena to pull her best out of her bag of tricks.

Other seeds to fall by the wayside:

Denis Shapovalov (24) beaten by Maximilian Marterer 5-7 7-6(4) 7-5 6-4

CoCo Vandeweghe (15) defeated by Lesia Tsurenko 3-6 6-4 6-0

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (30) beaten by Samantha Stosur 6-2