DAY one of the 2020 Roland Garros fantasy tournament saw plenty of strong results in the first quarter of the Round of 128, with all of the day’s seeds dominating in their matches.

The top seeds of this quarter dominated, all completing their matches within or around the one hour mark. Fifth seed Garbine Muguruza and nineteenth seed Elise Mertens came away with the biggest wins of the day, obliterating their respective opposition in Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Anett Kontaveit 6-0 6-0. Kiki Bertens was similarly impressive collecting a 6-1 6-1 victory over Fiona Ferro, while Simona Halep and Belinda Bencic also reigned supreme in quality performances. 

The remaining three seeds in the draw came away with wins, though Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Amanda Anisimova certainly had it far easier than Yulia Putintseva, who was one of four victors taken to three sets for the day by Angelique Kerber, though reigned supreme with the 6-1 1-6 6-3 victory. Anisimova impressed in the first with her ferocity but had to fight back a late charge from Rebecca Peterson to grab the win, while Pavlyuchenkova faced a similar comeback but continued her quality run from the past few weeks to win through to the Round of 64.

The three other three-set winners were Australian veteran Sam Stosur, who defeated fellow qualifier Kurumi Nara, 5-7 6-1 7-5, and Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic who fought back from a threatening Danka Kovinic performance to reign supreme in just under two hours, 7-5 0-6 6-1, with both players joining Belarusian Kirsten Flipkens in the next round after she defeated American Kristie Ahn 3-6 7-5 6-4 a couple hours earlier.

In other matches, a couple of quality players joined their respective seeded compatriots in the next round with the Netherlands’ Aranxta Rus and Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova both coming away with solid wins under pressure. Ons Jabeur, Anastasija Sevastova and Katerina Siniakova were the final three to head through, all fighting off quality opposition in their quest for success at the Roland Garros.

Tomorrow’s quarter of the draw will see plenty of quality matchups, namely some top seeds in Elina Svitolina and Serena Williams joining the fray alongside some solid performers on the clay and  others who have warmed up well over the past few tournaments.

ROUND OF 128 RESULTS:

[3] Simona Halep (ROU) defeated Andrea Petkovic (GER) 6-2 6-1
[5] Garbine Muguruza (ESP) defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) 6-0 6-0
[12] Belinda Bencic (SUI) defeated Zarina Diyas (KAZ) 6-3 6-1
[13] Kiki Bertens (NED) defeated Fiona Ferro (FRA) 6-1 6-1
[19] Elise Mertens (BEL) defeated Anett Kontaveit (EST) 6-0 6-0
[23] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) defeated [Q] Kurumi Nara (JPN) 6-1 6-4
[26] Amanda Anisimova (USA) defeated Rebecca Peterson (SWE) 6-2 6-4
[32] Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) defeated Angelique Kerber (GER) 6-1 1-6 6-3
Ons Jabeur (TUN) defeated [Q] Anna Schmiedlova (SVK) 6-4 6-4
Arantxa Rus (NED) defeated Christina McHale (USA) 6-4 7-6
Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) defeated [Q] Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) 6-4 6-3
Katerina Siniakova (CZE) defeated Oceane Dodin (FRA) 7-5 6-1
Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) defeated Kristie Ahn (USA) 3-6 7-5 6-4
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) defeated Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 7-5 6-2
[Q] Samantha Stosur (AUS) defeated [Q] Kurumi Nara (JPN) 5-7 6-1 7-5
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) defeated Danka Kovinic (UKR) 7-5 0-6 6-1