Novak Djokovic stars on day three of the French Open following Rafael Nadal’s dramatic first-round defeat to Alexander Zverev on Monday.
The defeat for the 14-time champion could spell the end of his time at Roland Garros and Nadal will now decide on his plan for the summer, with Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics on the agenda.
Djokovic, meanwhile, begins his bid for a 25th grand slam and faces French wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert tonight.
Elsewhere, there is British interest with Katie Boulter and Dan Evans in action in what promises to be a fascinating day in Paris.
Follow all the latest tennis scores and results from Day 3 at Roland Garros below, plus the latest reaction to Nadal’s potential French Open farewell:
French Open 2024: Day Three
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Aryna Sabalenka races to first set
Just 26 minutes on the clock and Aryna Sabalenka is a set in front. Fearsome hitting from the Belarusian.
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Harry Latham-Coyle28 May 2024 15:53
Aryna Sabalenka* 5-1 Erika Andreeva
Erika Andreeva pulls at the strings and slaps at her heels, a game she had seemingly had control of blown away by a few forceful forehands from the Australian Open winner. Aryna Sabalenka looks in frightening touch.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 May 2024 15:50
Aryna Sabalenka* 3-1 Erika Andreeva
But here comes Sabalenka, belting her way three break points and gifted the second of them as Erika Andreeva double faults.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 May 2024 15:40
Aryna Sabalenka 2-1 Erika Andreeva*
Three holds to open the match, with Aryna Sabalenka showing off her varied toolbox with a clever drop shot and serve-and-volley finish in her second service game.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 May 2024 15:36
Aryna Sabalenka gets title charge underway
A second Australian Open already in her pocket this year, it is surely only a matter of time before Aryna Sabalenka adds another of tennis’s biggest events to her CV. The Belarusian is out on Philippe Chatrier to begin her campaign against Erika Andreeva, elder sister of Mirra and making her second appearance at Roland Garros.
Sabalenka starts punchily to hold to 15.
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Harry Latham-Coyle28 May 2024 15:30
Who is Pierre-Hugues Herbert? Novak Djokovic faces wildcard in French Open first round
The number one seed is a three-time champion at Roland Garros but has endured a frustrating 2024 so far and is yet to win a title this season.
Djokovic, 37, says he therefore has “low expectations and high hopes” as he targets a 25th Grand Slam ahead of a busy summer which also includes Wimbledon and the Olympics in Paris.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 May 2024 15:24
Rain relents at Roland Garros
There’s good news, meanwhile, from the outside courts – play has, at last, started, with a few matches just getting going with the gloom having lifted slightly.
Tomas Martin Etcheverry is through – an early scare against Arthur Cazaux, but the 21-year-old couldn’t sustain his fast start, and Etcheverry takes it in four sets. He may well be on a collision course with Casper Ruud with the pair likely third round opponents.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 May 2024 15:17
Casper Ruud reacts to his first round win
“It felt great to be back here at Roland Garros. I feel very welcome here. It was a good start level-wise for me, I was quite steady all the way. I played well last week in Geneva and I’m hoping to bring that here.
“I think it has been a good clay season for me. Madrid and Rome could have gone a little bit better but other results have gone well. This is one of the biggest tournaments for me every year, one of my highlights, and the last two years have given me so much here in Paris. Hopefully I can make it another good year here.
“Today it is a little bit cold, not what we are used to here in Paris. It makes the ball a little bit slower, the ball doesn’t bounce as high. With this kind of weather, it slows everything down a little bit – it worked out well for me today but it is definitely a little bit different.”
Ruud will face the winner of the match between Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Valentin Vacherot next.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 May 2024 15:09
Casper Ruud beats Felipe Alves in straight sets
And through Casper Ruud goes (6-3, 6-4, 6-3). The Norwegian was calm and composed in the face of his opponent’s furious forehand, and never really looked like ceding a game even with the firepower at Felipe Alves’ disposal.
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Harry Latham-Coyle28 May 2024 15:05
Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-4, 5-3 Felipe Alves
A rare moment of improvisation from Casper Ruud, pulling out an audacious (and likely needless) front-facing tweener, which fades on him and comes down half-a-foot wide. Felipe Alves chuckles in delight, not at all expecting that sort of shot from someone so understated.
That’s funky, too – a deliciously deft drop shot that buries itself in the clay. 15-30…and now two match points as Alves throws a forehand wide.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 May 2024 15:03