French Open: Local Diane Parry sends defending champ Barbora Krejcikova packing in 1R
by ABBEY JOHNSON
Diane Parry posted the biggest upset of the 2022 French Open on Monday as she took out the 2021 titlist, Barbora Krejcikova. The Frenchwoman came from a set down to topple the Czech second seed, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and eight minutes.
At the start of the match, Krejcikova, who’d not played since the Qatar Open in February due to an injury to her elbow, picked up from where she’d left off as she dominated Parry to take the lead in the match.
However, as Parry settled in, it was she who emerged as the better player even as Krejcikova struggled with her game. The world no. 2 was also undone by 45 unforced errors, 19 more than Parry’s 26. Krejcikova also had 14 forced errors, nine more than Parry’s 23 for the match.
In the second round, Parry will play Camila Osorio. Another upset, this time of the fifth seed Anett Kontaveit came courtesy of Ajla Tomljanovic. The Australian took down the Estonian in two hard-fought sets, 7-6(5), 7-5 in eight minutes shy of two hours.
For a place in the third round, Tomljanovic will play Varvara Gracheva.
French Open: Seeds survive tougher opponents
Meanwhile, the other seeded players in contention on the second day’s play in Paris posted comeback victories in each of their first-round matches.
Emma Raducanu seeded 12th, overcame Czech qualifier, Linda Noskova, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-1 in two hours and 37 minutes. This is the first time that Emma Raducanu’s playing the French Open and as such, the win’s also her first win in the Major.
In the second round, Raducanu will play Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Victoria Azarenka, the 15th seed came through against Ana Bogdan 6-7(7), 7-6(1), 6-2 in two hours and 58 minutes. The former world no. 1 will take on Andrea Petkovic next.
Lastly, another former world no. 1, Angelique Kerber also took her place in the second round of the French Open. The German, who won the Strasbourg International last week, outlasted Magdalena Frech, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the second round for the first time in almost four years, since 2018.
The 21st seed will play French wildcard, Elsa Jacquemot who beat Heather Watson, 6-3, 6-3 in their opener. Photo Credit: Cedric Lecocq/FFT (ITF Twitter)