THE second half of the Roland Garros fantasy Round of 64 saw plenty of interesting matchups, with five top ten players taking the court. But while majority of the competition’s seeds were too good this time around, a couple fell to unsuspecting foes.

Ash Barty continued her strong run, defeating China’s Saisai Zheng in straight sets to show she will not be going easy on her pursuit for a second Roland Garros title. Saisai could not compete with the world number one, going down 6-2 6-1. Fourth seed Sofia Kenin, sixth seed Naomi Osaka and ninth seed Petra Kvitova all came out on top in similarly straightforward contests, though eighth seed Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka did not have the same lucky, going down to Czech talent Barbora Strycova in a three set battle, 6-3 2-6 7-6. Joining the top seeds in the Round of 32 are the likes of fellow seeded talent Bianca Andreescu and Elena Rybakina, after both survived tighter affairs against Pauline Parmentier and Heather Watson respectively. Fourteenth seed Petra Martic was the second seed to be knocked out on day five, unable to compete with a feisty and attack heavy Polona Hercog.

A couple more Americans continued the nation’s dominance, with both Bernarda Pera and Sloane Stephens joining Kenin in the next round, though Jessica Pegula, Shelby Rogers and Danielle Collins were not quite so lucky. Pera had a solid outing against Romanian Patricia Maria Tig, defeating her in a three-setter, while Stephens was dominant against frenchwoman Caroline Garcia. Rogers went down to 21st seed Dayana Yastremska and Collins to quick footed Alize Cornet, while Pegula was unlucky to draw compatriot Kenin.

The final four games saw seeded duo Johanna Konta and Iga Swiatek both survive tight three set battles against Tamara Zidansek and Anastasia Potapova respectively, both dropping the second set before recording identical 6-3 final set wins to take the win. Qualifier Lesia Tsurenko overcame a rough start against Russian Varvara Gracheva before building to a 0-6 7-5 6-3 win, while Carla Suarrez Navarro joined the Round of 32 in the final match of the day with a straight sets win over Alison Van Uytvanck.

Tomorrow sees the beginning of the Round of 32 and the first few seed versus seed outings, with three tantalising matchups taking the court.

ROUND OF 64:

[1] Ash Barty (AUS) defeated Saisai Zheng (CHN) 6-2 6-1
[4] Sofia Kenin (USA) defeated Jessica Pegula (USA) 6-4 6-2
[6] Naomi Osaka (JPN) defeated Anna Lena Friedsam (GER) 6-2 6-1
Barbora Strycova (CZE) defeated [8] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 6-3 2-6 7-6
[9] Petra Kvitova (CZE) defeated Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK) 6-2 6-4
[11] Bianca Andreescu (SUI) defeated [WC] Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 7-5 6-3
Polona Hercog (SLO) defeated [14] Petra Martic (COR) 6-3 6-4
[15] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) defeated Heather Watson (GBR) 6-4 6-4
[20] Johanna Konta (GBR) defeated Tamara Zidansek (SLO) 6-1 4-6 6-3
[21] Dayana Yastremska (UKR) defeated [Q] Shelby Rogers (USA) 7-6 6-0
[27] Iga Swiatek (POL) defeated Anastasia Potapova (RUS) 6-2 3-6 6-3
Alize Cornet (FRA) defeated Danielle Collins (USA) 7-5 6-3
Bernarda Pera (USA) defeated Patricia Maria Tig (ROU) 5-7 6-1 6-3
[Q] Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) defeated Varvara Gracheva (RUS) 0-6 7-5 6-3
Sloane Stephens (USA) defeated Caroline Garcia (FRA) 6-4 6-3
Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) defeated Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) 7-6 6-4