Roland-Garros: Seeds fall on day two as Bencic stunned – Pliskova and Kvitova knocked out

Lucky loser Elina Avanesyan edged out Belinda Bencic 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, while earlier in the day unseeded Stephens got the better Pliskova

Jamie Malachy

May 29, 2023

French Open •First round • completed

See draw

E. AvanesyanvsB. Bencic

Russian lucky loser Elina Avanesyan stunned Belinda Bencic, edging out the Swiss twelfth seed 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in an enthralling first-round encounter.

Bencic, only recently back from injury, struggled to deal with Avanesyan’s impressive display of shot-making variety in the first set. Avanesyan, ranked 134th in the world, will face French wildcard Leolia Jeanjean next.

Having steadied the ship in the second, taking that stanza in comfortable fashion, it was Bencic’s unforced error count that ultimately cost her in the third. The Swiss made a total of 49 unforced errors as she grappled with difficult and windy conditions.

Bencic was unable to put her finger on what exactly went wrong for her, in the immediate aftermath of the match.

“I don’t even know what to say, honestly, for the match. I mean, I was fighting with what I had, but I don’t think my level was anywhere where I wanted to be.”

But the Olympic champion remained philosophical regarding her return from injury was able to take the positives out of a display few had high expectations of.

“So it was a little bit frustrating, but I’m happy I’m back. I’m happy my leg survived. It didn’t hurt at all. That’s the positives, but I think I really need more weeks to get back to where I was and then more weeks to improve my level.”

“That’s the plan now to go back to the practice court and get ready again physically and also tennis-wise and then continue to the grass.”

Kvitova shocked by Cocciaretto

Kvitova, although more of a grass and hard-court specialist, will be bitterly disappointed to have been knocked out of the French Open at the first time of asking.

Despite rallying late in the second set, breaking her Italian opponent when she was serving for the set, ultimately the two-time Grand Slam was outplayed.

Cocciaretto, ranked No. 44, will play the winner of the match between Swiss qualifier Simona Waltert and American qualifier Elizabeth Mandlik next.

Pliskova knocked out by resurgent Sloan Stephens

Earlier in the day, there was another fallen seed when American Sloane Stephens – US Open champion in 2017, but unseeded this year at Roland-Garrso, beat Czech 16th seed Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-4.

Pliskova, a former world No 1, reached the semi-final of Roland-Garros in 2017, but since then has never got past the third round in Paris.

“Yeah, really happy with the way I have been playing. Been able to put a lot of matches together and a lot of wins, which is always good, good for the confidence”, said Stephens in her post-match press conference.

“Happy to have those coming in to here. And then obviously being able to beat Kaja [Pliskova] in the first round is a good feat.”

Paris (Grand Slam), other first-round results (Stade Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 49.600.000, most recent results first):