Berdych enters second round, Radwanska crashes out

Paris, May 25

World number four Tomas Berdych eased into the French Open second round Monday as heavyweights Maria Sharapova and Andy Murray waited to make their 2015 Roland Garros bows.

But there was more Paris misery for ex-world number two and former Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska, who was a shock first-round loser.

Berdych, a 2010 semi-finalist, continued his solid claycourt season with a 6-0, 7-5, 6-3 win over Japanese qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka, the world number 146.

The 29-year-old Berdych will face Davis Cup-winning teammate Radek Stepanek, the oldest man in the draw at 36, for a place in the last 32.

“There are still a lot of places to improve which is good. It is always good to have the first one down and now I’ll just keep focusing on my next opponent,” said fourth-seeded Berdych.

Stepanek became the oldest man to win a match at Roland Garros since 38-year-old Jimmy Connors in 1991 when he saw off Croatian journeyman Ivan Dodig 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.

Spain’s 11^th seed Feliciano Lopez was the biggest men’s casualty so far on the day when he lost to Russian world number 74 Teymuraz Gabashvili, 6-3, 7-6 (11/9), 6-3.

In the women’s event, Spanish eighth seed Carla Suarez Navarro, a quarter-finalist in 2008 and 2014, beat Romania’s Monica Niculescu 6-2, 6-2.

But Polish 14^th seed Radwanska went down 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to Germany’s Annika Beck.

The defeat was only the third time in 34 Grand Slam tournaments that 26-year-old Radwanska had lost in the first round.

There were home wins for French 29^th seed Alize Cornet, who defeated Roberta Vinci 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 for her first victory over the veteran Italian in five attempts, and wildcard Amandine Hesse, ranked 272, who hit back to beat Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Hesse’s reward is a second-round match-up with 2010 runner-up Samantha Stosur, the winner in Strasbourg at the weekend, who defeated Madison Brengle of the United States 6-1, 6-3.

Virginie Razzano, playing in her 17^th French Open, edged out Paraguay’s Veronica Cepede Royg 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

German 11^th seed Angelique Kerber, the champion on clay in Charleston and Stuttgart this season, needed just 50 minutes to make the second round.

Kerber, a quarter-finalist in 2012, brushed asided Timea Babos of Hungary 6-0, 6-1.

Later Monday, defending women’s champion Sharapova, the second seed behind Serena Williams, tackles experienced Estonian Kaia Kanepi, who was a quarter-finalist in 2012.

Despite a healthy 4-0 career record over the world number 49, Sharapova will not underestimate a player who she also defeated in Paris seven years ago.

British third seed Murray may be able to count on some Paris support as he is coached by former French world number one Amelie Mauresmo.

Murray comes into Roland Garros having picked up his first ever titles on clay this year in Munich and Madrid, where he beat Rafael Nadal in the final.

His claycourt record this season reads 10-0.

Murray, twice a semi-finalist, tackles Argentine qualifier Facundo Arguello, who reached the main draw as a lucky loser having lost in the final round of qualifying.

Ranked 139 with a career high of 104, the 22-year-old from Cordoba is a pupil of 2004 Roland Garros champion and former world number five Gaston Gaudio. — AFP