Paris (France): Alexander Zverev booked his spot in the third round at the French Open for the fourth straight year on Wednesday, seeing off Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin in straight sets.
The German sixth seed, a two-time quarter-finalist, trailed 1-3 in the second and third sets but secured a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) victory.
Last year’s US Open runner-up will face the winner of the all-Serbian tie between Laslo Djere and Miomir Kecmanovic for a place in the last 16.
Norwegian youngster Casper Ruud continued his fine year by easing past Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
The 15th seed, who won the title in Geneva last month and has reached three other semi-finals on clay this season, next faces either Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp.
Results:
Men: 2nd round: Alexander Zverev (GER x6) bt Roman Safiullin (RUS) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 7-6 (7/1); Laslo Djere (SRB) bt Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3; Henri Laaksonen (SUI) bt Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x11) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; Casper Ruud (NOR x15) bt Kamil Majchrzak (POL) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4; Federico Delbonis (ARG) bt Pablo Andujar (ESP) 4-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Women: Elena Vesnina (RUS) bt Petra Kvitova (CZE x11) – walkover; Tamara Zidansek (SLO) bt Madison Brengle (USA) 6-4, 6-1; Katerina Siniakova (CZE) bt Veronika Kudermetova (RUS x29) 7-6 (9/7), 5-7, 7-5; Sorana Cirstea (ROM) bt Martina Trevisan (ITA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; Daria Kasatkina (RUS) bt Belinda Bencic (SUI x10) 6-2, 6-2; Polona Hercog (SLO) bt Caroline Garcia (FRA) 7-5, 6-4; Marketa Vondrousova (CZE x20) bt Harmony Tan (FRA) 6-1, 6-3; Ana Bogdan (ROM) bt Naomi Osaka (JPN x2) – walkover
