Next Gen stars run amok at Roland Garros

WHOEVER branded Roland Garros as “Couture On Clay”, has clearly never been. The French Open is no catwalk, nor cakewalk.

- DEBORAH CURTIS-SETCHELL

It ‘s the most physically grueling and unpredictable of all four Slams, synonymous with bad injuries and major upsets: 16th Seed Grigor Dimitrov, one of the fittest on Tour, retired injured at two sets up, in his opener, versus American, Ethan Quinn.

Former No 1, Daniil Medvedev and former Finalists, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karolina Muchovanot to mention Top 10, Alex De Minaur were all exiting turnstiles come Round 2, at the hand of rank outsiders.

Tsitsipas’ loss to Italian qualifier, Matteo Gigante, 6-4,5-7,6-2,6-4, being the most significant, in that it shone a spotlight on yet another emerging, aggressive Next Gen. As for leading Next Gen star, teenage Joao Fonseca, he reached another milestone, in progressing to the third round of a Major on debut, becoming the youngest Brazilian to win a clay court match since 1963 and leapfrogging up the rankings to No 54.

He had to fell in form, 30th seed, Hugo Hurkacz, followed by French wild card, Pierre-Hughes Herbert, in a tight three-setter, 7-6(4), 7-6(4),6-4.