News

French Open 2018 First-Round Results: Stan Wawrinka Out, Rafael Nadal Advances

There were several disappointments, excitements and surprises in the opening round of the 2018 French Open on Tuesday, including Stan Wawrinkas early exit and Rafael Nadal advancing to the second round.

French Open 2018 Opening-Round Results

Wawrinka, the 23rd-seeded Swiss who won the 2016 US Open, lost in five sets on Monday to 67th-ranked Spaniard Guillermo García-López 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Wawrinka just recently returned to competitive tennis after being sidelined three months with a knee injury.

SLIDESHOW: SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2017

Ten-time Roland Garros champion Nadal — the French Open top seed — reached the second round of the tournament in Paris on Tuesday by defeating unseeded Italian Simone Bolelli  6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (9) in a match that was delayed by rain and thus had to be completed over two days.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Third-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic also advanced to Round 2 by beating Australian youngster James Duckworth in straight sets. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov, a rising star, eliminated Australia’s John Millman 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.

Cilic’s game was also interrupted by rain for around an hour.

According to ESPN, Nadal — who will be 32 next week — hasn’t lost a set in Paris since the 2015 French Open quarterfinals.

John Isner, the ninth seed, and Kevin Anderson, the sixth seed, also reached Round 2.

Nadal next faces Argentine Guido Pella on Thursday. Also on Thursday, Cilic will play Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. After beating fellow American Noah Rubin in the first round, Isner will face Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos on Thursday.

Sam Johnson will take on 28-year-old German Jan-Lennard Struff in Round 2.

On the women’s side, Serena Williams won her first Grand Slam match in almost 16 months when she eliminated the Czech Republic’s Kristyna Pliskova, 7-6 (4), 6-4 in a first-round match on Tuesday.

 

Pablo Mena

Writer and assistant editor for usports.org. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Recent Posts

Chargers Legend Billy Ray Smith Jr. Dies At 64 After Battle With CTE-Related Dementia

Billy Ray Smith Jr., the College Football Hall of Fame linebacker who became one of…

1 day ago

Taysom Hill’s Saints Era Ends After Nine Seasons

Taysom Hill's nine-year run in the New Orleans Saints is over. The versatile utility man…

1 day ago

WNBA Deletes Its Own Post Showing Paige Bueckers & Angel Reese Making Illegal Bet On Their Game

The WNBA found itself in an awkward spot Wednesday night after posting — and then…

1 day ago

Aaron Rodgers, 42, Declares 2026 His Last Season, Crediting Coach Mike McCarthy & Mysterious ‘Wife’ For One More Run

Aaron Rodgers erased any lingering ambiguity about his football future this week, telling reporters at…

2 days ago

Patrick Mahomes Says He Wasn’t At His Best Before ACL Tear, Vows Sharper Decision-Making in Comeback

Patrick Mahomes opened the Kansas City Chiefs' training camp this weekend with a blunt self-assessment,…

2 days ago

Former UFC Title Challenger Anthony Smith Arrested For Allegedly Assaulting His Wife & Making Terroristic Threats

Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith was arrested Monday night in Sarpy County,…

2 days ago