French Open 2022: Halep and Pliskova out, Swiatek and Medvedev through – as it happened

2d ago 17.48 There’s still plenty for play for at Roland Garros, and that includes Tstsipas struggling in the second set with Zdenk Kolar, and Dan Evans’ battle royal with Sweden’s Ymer levelled at 1-1 as I write. But that concludes the blog for the day. Niall McVeigh will be here on Friday for more. But some big stories already today, particularly in the women’s singles, with France’s Leolia Jeanjean, the qualifier, beating Karolina Pliskova, the no 8 seed, and Simona Halep’s loss to the Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen, which looked a possible glimpse of the future, though Halep didn’t look too well. Iga Swiatek, the Polish no 1 seed, had no such issues, winning her 30th straight match, taking just a minute over an hour to beat Alison Riske.

And in the men’s, so far the biggest name in action was Daniil Medvedev, who won in three sets against Laslo Dere but didn’t have it his own way by any means. Tumaini Carayol will be reporting from Paris later on for more details.

2d ago 17.34 Dan Evans is now 5-2 up on Ymer, and seems to be talking to someone or other, perhaps himself, as he sits by the umpire. A coaching warning doesn’t seem to be imminent as Evans is always something of a chatterbox.

2d ago 17.32 Speaking ahead of his French Open second-round men’s doubles match alongside Bruno Soares on Friday, Murray said that he believes most players would prefer to play with ranking points and he said that the UK government had put Wimbledon in a tough position in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The All England Club has banned Russian and Belarusian players, with the ATP and WTA withdrawing ranking points as a result. “I understand the situation that Wimbledon are in,” Murray said. “The government giving informal guidance is not really helping anyone because they are putting pressure on Wimbledon to not have Russian and Belarusian athletes at their tournament. “Then it gets awkward and that is why we are in this situation with ranking points and breaching the agreements and things like that. Unfortunately it is the players that are in the middle of it.” ‘It’s all a bit of a mess’: Jamie Murray laments Wimbledon ranking points row Read more

2d ago 17.28 And Dan Evans has broken Ymer, it’s 4-2 in the second set, the Englishman looking to level. This one could carry on into the Parisian evening. They look highly evenly matched.

2d ago 17.21 Gilles Simon looks to be extending his farewell, as he’s two sets up now on Steve Johnson, having won the second 6-1 on the centre court.

2d ago 17.20 Meanwhile, Tsitsipas has recovered himself and breezes to a 6-3 taking of the first set from Kolar. Dan Evans is having a word with the ump, and that doesn’t bode too well, though it’s going with serve against Ymer.

2d ago 17.11 Zheng speaks briefly in the aftermath of that huge win. She has won a few hearts today.

I have been working really hard, and it was really nice, that was my best performance. I am happy today. When I was a junior i was playing here and now as a pro, the crowd supports me a lot so thanks for that.

2d ago 17.08 Zheng beats Halep 2-6 6-2 6-1 A flicker of a fight from Halep as Zheng serves out, the word being she is feeling unwell out on court. At 15-15 Halep goes for a long one, but misses the back of the court. Zheng gets a bit lucky in rimming a shot down the line for 30-15. But the hitting is fearsome, and to claim match point, the teenager blasts past Halep’s fading defence. And a huge winner for Zheng, right on the angle of line and baseline. Great play and a famous victory. Another big name goes out! Zheng Qinwen knocks out Simona Halep! Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 17.24 BST

2d ago 17.00 Halep is 4-1 down to Zheng now, and in big trouble, the 2018 winner. The Romanian looks tired, and a little anxious. Her first game didn’t happen and she was given a bye so she’s perhaps rusty. But a double fault won’t help, as happens at 0-15. More muddled play and Zheng will serve for the match at 5-1.

Updated at 17.03 BST

2d ago 16.55 Next up on Suzanne Lenglen, it’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, and he’s facing the Czech, Zdenek Kolar, a first-time qualifier. Tsitsipas was taken to five sets by Lorenzo Musetti and struggled with the Italian. His start here is not too convincing, either.

Other news: Simona Halep is in big trouble, having lost the second set, she is now 3-0 down to Zheng in the third. Big shock in the offing.

And Dan Evans has saved three set points from Ymer, and it’s a real battle at 3-5, with a few chances to break back but eventually Brum/Dubai’s finest loses the set 6-3. The Philippe Chartrier crowd are enjoying Gilles Simon, making his final bow, taking on Steve Johnson, and he’s won the first set 7-5.

2d ago 16.30 Bad news for plucky Brit Dan Evans, who is 1-4 down to Sweden’s Mikael Ymer and in danger of losing the first set. Elsewhere, Simona Halep won the first set 6-2 against China’s Zheng but is now 5-2 down in the second set. Looks like the Romanian will need a third set to go through.

2d ago 16.27 Fabrice Santoro chats to Iga Swiatek, and even mentions her visit to the Palace of Versailles. I am pretty happy, I think this is my first match on Suzanne Lenglen so thank you for having me here. Being focused and wanting to put pressure on my pressure is really helpful. You have to get in the zone, I am still not an expert. I will work on everything as I am a perfectionist. [on Versailles] That was the most beautiful thing i ever saw in my life. Everything was so symmetrical. I really love maths and everything was symmetrical.

2d ago 16.19 Swiatek beats Riske 6-0 6-2 It’s 5-2 soon enough, and Riske must serve to save herself from being beaten in under an hour. A double fault doesn’t help, and neither does an overhit forehand that offers up match point. An ace on second serve keeps the American in it, living up to her name. Then, having gone past the hour mark a wide forehand offer up the second match point. That’s 30 wins in a row for the world no 1.

2d ago 16.10 Riske, at 51 minutes in, seems to have avoided a double bagel and being beaten in under an hour as she wins another service game. Just nine minutes for Swiatek to get the job done.

2d ago 16.05 Swiatek powers back into her stride to go 4-1 up. Meanwhile, on court 6, plucky Brit time, as Dan Evans seeks to join Cameron Norrie in the third round. Court 6 as Dan Evans goes for a place in the third round against Mikael Ymer #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/t6zxnYiIeT — Andy Sims (@AndyCSims) May 26, 2022

2d ago 16.00 Riske saves a break point with a decent serve and seems to be finding a semblance of form, then saves another, slowing Swiatek’s progress a little. And a big cheer as the double bagel is avoided. Really well done to the American who holds her arm aloft in celebration.

2d ago 15.52 The record speed for a win at Roland Garros is 38 minutes, Steffi Graf beating Natasha Zvereva in the 1988 final, the year Graf won all four. Swiatek probably won’t beat that, as she is taken to deuce in the third game, Riske landing a rare passing shot down the line. But after 32 minutes it’s 6-0 3-0.

2d ago 15.38 And it’s 6-0, a bagel, after 20 minutes, an absolute pain au chocolat.

2d ago 15.36 And after 18 minutes of play, it’s 5-0 to Swiatek. Riske’s reward for getting to the second round is heavy punishment by the Pole.

2d ago 15.28 3-0 to Swiatek, that winning run is going to 30 and no mistake. Iga Swiatek is up and running Photograph: Michel Euler/AP

Updated at 15.51 BST

2d ago 15.25 Swiatek with an early break now, too, on Suzanne Lenglen, fearsome stuff.

2d ago 15.21 Meanwhile, Swiatek is on court, and takes the first game from Riske with ease on her serve.

2d ago 15.18 From the outside courts, this piece of reckless behaviour. Irina-Camelia Begu threw her racquet in frustration to caused a small child to cry. No default? Lucky girl. Irina-Camelia Begu just bounced her racket into the crowd, supervisor has been called. pic.twitter.com/EiIBNDAH2I — Damian Kust (@damiankust) May 26, 2022 Begu just threw her racket into the stands and almost hit a kid, who ended up crying. Match stopped, supervisor called but she escaped from the default. Alexandrova pissed, crowd booing. Scenes. pic.twitter.com/5tcKDYW1yn — José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 26, 2022

2d ago 15.10 Here we go for the mid-afternoon session, as Iga Swiatek takes to the court any moment now. The no 1 seed, and champion in 2020, will play Pittsburgh’s Alison Riske, who has never been further than the second round at Roland Garros. Swiatek is on a 29-match winning streak.

Updated at 15.11 BST

2d ago 15.02 Elsewhere, Hurkacz is now two sets up against Cecchinato, winning the second 6-4. While in the women’s draw the 28th seed, Camila Giorgi of Italy, has won the first set against Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-3. And we’re still on serve in the second set betweek Keys and Garcia, with the latter currently serving at 2-3, having lost the first set 4-6. Even better news is that a freshly-watered John is back in the building and will step back in the chair now. Thanks for following.

2d ago 14.55 Gaston beats Cachin 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 Cachin, who qualified as a lucky loser, isn’t going quietly, forging a 15-30 lead on Gaston’s serve and though the Frenchman responds with a lovely low volleyed dropshot it is followed by an oversoft floated shot into the net to give Cochin a break point. It’s saved with a cool-as-you-like two-handed lob into the wind. A forceful serve down the middle earns him match point, which is converted with a thunderous forehand winner to the corner. Chants of “Hugo! Hugo!” serenade him to his chair.

2d ago 14.48 Marin Cilic has levelled things up against Marton Fucsovics, taking the second set 6-4, as Gaston goes 5-4 in the third set against Cochin. He’s serving for the match. And here’s a teaser for tomorrow:

Friday’s order of play is out ! pic.twitter.com/QIINXvYusq — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2022

Updated at 14.49 BST

2d ago 14.42 Keys wins first set against Garcia 6-4. Having got herself back in the first set, Garcia is broken again, pulling a forehand wide on break point to gift Keys the first set. At almost exactly the same time, Gaston is broken back too as Cochin produces some fine returns to level their third set at 4-4. The Argentinian has dug deep here despite looking second best for much of this match.

2d ago 14.37 Some home cheers over on Philippe Chatrier too as Caroline Garcia breaks back against Marion Keys. The American broke in the sixth game but, serving for the first set, gets a little jittery, an unforced error and double-fault helping to hand her opponent two break points. Keys saves the first of them but not the second. It’s back on serve at 5-4 to Keys. Garcia’s compatriot, Gaston, is two games away from victory at 4-3 and a break up in the third set against Cochin.

2d ago 14.28 Hurkacz wins the first set against Cecchinato 6-1. The imposing Polish 25-year-old isn’t hanging about, romping through that first set in 24 minutes. Meanwhile, Gaston’s stepped up a gear again against Cachin, earning three break points in the fifth game of the third set. Cachin saves the first after an energetic baseline rally, and the second with a cute drop-shot before squandering it with the softest of double-faults. Gaston is a break up at 3-2, and two sets ahead.

2d ago 14.13 Over on Suzanne-Lenglen, the Frenchman Hugo Gaston is pleasing the home crowd with a strong performance against the Argentinian Pedro Cachin. Gaston, ranked 74, leads 6-4, 6-2 and it’s 1-1 in the third. Hugo Gaston leads Pedro Chachin going into the third set. Photograph: Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 14.49 BST