Roland-Garros: Former semi-finalist Mertens sets up Gauff clash

Belgium’s Elise Mertens, seeded No 31, defeated Russian Varvara Gracheva 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the round of 16 at Roland-Garros in Paris on Friday.

Mertens, a semi-finalist in Paris in 2019, has not dropped a set on her way to the fourth round, having scored a 6-3, 6-1 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse and then receiving a walkover from Marie Bouzkova in the second round.

Mertens, ranked No 32, will next meet American teen Coco Gauff in the fourth round. The 18th seed Gauff overcame the Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 6-4 in another third-round clash on Friday.

Paris (Grand Slam): Friday women’s third-round results (Stade Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 43.600.000)

• Coco Gauff beat Kaia Kanepi: 6-3, 6-4
• Aliaksandra Sasnovich beat Angelique Kerber (21): 6-4, 7-6 [5]
• Martina Trevisan beat Daria Saville (WC): 6-3, 6-4
• Leylah Fernandez (17) beat Belinda Bencic (14): 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
• Amanda Anisimova (27) beat Karolina Muchova: 6-7 [7], 6-2, 3-0 retd.

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