Canada’s Leylah Fernandez was a double winner on the clay courts of Roland Garros on Monday.
The 16th-seeded Fernandez, from Laval, Que., advanced to the third round of the women’s singles tennis competition at the Paris Olympics with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 win over Spain’s Cristina Busca on Monday.
The Canadian, who will next face Germany’s Angelique Kerber, broke Busca seven times on 14 chances in a match where both players struggled to hold serve. Busca converted five of her eight break-point opportunities.
WATCH l Fernandez advances in straight sets:
Sixteenth seed Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., defeats Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the women’s singles second round at Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Fernandez later teamed with Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski to record a 6-1, 7-5 (5) win over France’s Clara Burel and Varvara Gracheva in women’s doubles. The Canadian duo will next meet Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara of Japan.
In other action, Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., had her Olympic debut come to an end with a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the second round, suffering an apparent thumb injury early in the second set.
Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime and Milos Raonic were eliminated from men’s doubles play on Monday with a tough first-round 7-6 (14), 6-4 loss to third-seeded Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.
WATCH l Andreescu eliminated with loss to Vekic:
Croatia’s Donna Vekic advances to the third round of the women’s singles at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont. The Canadian suffered an injury early in the second set but was able to finish the match.
Djokovic defeats Nadal in likely final matchup
Novak Djokovic dominated rival Rafael Nadal at the start, then held off a comeback attempt to win 6-1, 6-4 at the Paris Olympics in the second round Monday, the 60th — and likely last — head-to-head matchup between the two tennis greats.
Djokovic claimed 10 of the initial 11 games, with Nadal nowhere near the skilled and ever-hustling version of himself that won a record 14 French Open trophies on the same red clay at Roland Garros that is hosting Summer Games matches. Instead, Nadal was diminished, showing every bit of his 38 years, and looking like someone who might be ready to head into retirement after playing only sparingly the past two seasons because of a series of injuries, including hip surgery.
Then, suddenly, the indefatigable Nadal got going, making a push to turn this contest competitive, which surely no one — least of all Djokovic — found too surprising. Nadal captured four consecutive games in the second set, including a forehand winner to break to make it 4-all. He raised his left fist, drawing roars from a packed Court Philippe Chatrier crowd that repeatedly tried to encourage him with chants of “Ra-fa! Ra-fa!”
And that’s when Djokovic regained control. He broke right back, pointing to his left ear while walking to the sideline as if to taunt Nadal’s supporters and ask, “Where are your cheers now?” Djokovic then served out the victory.
Swiatek pummels France’s Parry
Poland’s Iga Swiatek powered past France’s Diane Parry 6-1 6-1 on Monday to cruise into the third round and stay firmly on course for an Olympic gold medal.
The world number one, who less than two months ago clinched her fourth French Open title on the same court, gave Parry no chance despite the home crowd’s vocal support, racing through the first set in 38 minutes.
The 23-year-old Pole, the overwhelming favourite for the Olympic title, broke Parry again early in the second set to go 2-0 up and stay in control.
With Parry’s errors quickly piling up, Swiatek cruised through the second set, sealing her win on her opponent’s serve, when the French player sent a forehand wide.