French Open day 5: Serena channels a ‘will to win’
Serena Williams donned her cat suit again and came back in a major way from a set down against the 17th seed. Rafael Nadal made easy work of Guido Pella. No big surprises except for Denis Shapalov going home, and Estonia’s Jurgen Zopp remained the last ‘lucky loser’ left standing.
Serena Williams played into the twilight against a formidable opponent, Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, battling back after losing the first set. Wearing her now famous cat suit, several noted that she looked like a ‘superhero,’ all in black dramatically contrasting the orange clay. After losing the first set to the 17th seed, she bounced back in commanding form, earning her spot into the third round, 3-6 6-3 6-4.
“I have definitely always had that will to win,” new mom Williams said afterwards. “It was something I was born with, thank goodness.
“This is a grand slam, my first one back. I want to do the best that I can. I want to be able to just do my best and one day tell my daughter that I tried my best. When I was out there, that’s all I was trying to do.”
Rafael Nadal needed just over an hour to clock in a win over world No. 78 Guido Pella, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1. Next up is a familiar opponent, France’s Richard Gasquet who’s lost to the ‘king of clay’ 15 times.
“It will be a good match against a good friend in the most important place in my career, and for him a very special place, too,” Nadal said.
Maria Sharapova — seeded No. 28 here — had an easier time this round and beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic, 7-5, 6-4. She will have her work cut out for her facing Karolina Pliskova — the sixth seed — in the third round. If she gets through the former world No. 1 Pliskova, she could potentially face Serena Williams, a tantalizing prospect for the two-time French Open champ.
When looking at the draw, a lot of people didn’t factor in the ‘lucky loser,’ Estonian Jurgen Zopp, making it this far. He was not only lucky enough to secure a lucky loser spot into the main draw, but he got through his next two rounds, including against another lucky loser Ruben Bemelmans, in a captivating five sets, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
“I didn’t even dream about winning…it’s quite a big surprise for me, as I haven’t had any good results at Challenger level so far this year,” said Zopp. “I feel very pleased right now.”
Former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber was relieved to win a straight sets match against Romania’s Ana Bogdan, 6-2, 6-3, as well as Simona Halep, who defeated American Taylor Townsend in a much easier match than she had the day before, 6-3, 6-1.
Former French Open and the defending Wimbledon champ Garbine Muguruza clinched in a trouble-free win over French wildcard Fiona Ferro, and will now face off against Australia’s Sam Stosur.
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“It probably wasn’t the best tennis out there but I’m happy that I managed to fight and to win,” said Muguruza.
Delpo also enjoyed an easy win over crowd favorite, Frenchman Julien Benneteau, defeating him in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Meanwhile another Frenchman prevailed over compatriot James Chardy in a five setter that went the distance—2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7—to set up a meeting with John Isner on Saturday, who also won his match in four sets over Horacio Zeballos.
Third round matches begin on Friday, viewable on the Tennis Channel.