Nine time champion Rafael Nadal and world number one Novak Djokovic are within 2 matches of setting up a blockbuster quarter-final as both advanced to the third round with comfortable straight set victories over Nicholas Almagro and Gilles Muller respectively on Day 5 of the French Open 2015. They have been joined by Andy Murray, Marin Cillic the reigning U.S. Open champion, David Goffin of Belgium, Leonardo Mayer of Argentina and the Australian duo of Special K’s who advanced in contrasting styles. While Nick Kyrgios got a walkover from the Brit Kyle Edmund, Thanasi Kokkinakis saved three match points in his upset win over fellow Aussie Bernard Tomic, taking the deciding fifth set 8-6. Jeremy Chardy upset the lone American seed John Isner while the Russian Andrey Kuznetsov defeated the Austrian left hander Juergen Melzer and now goes on to play Nadal in the third round.

There was better news for the American Jack Sock who followed up his upset win over Grigor Dmitrov with a four set demolition of the Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta.

The round of 32 matches in the bottom half to be played on Day 6 in the men’s section with my pick mentioned first :-

Kei Nishikori (5) d. Benjamin Becker (walkover due to shoulder injury)
Lukas Rosol d. Teymuraz Gabashvili
Jo Wilfred Tsonga (14) v. Pablo Andujar
Tomas Berdych (4) v. Benoit Paire
Stanislas Wawrinka (8) v. Steve Johnson
Giles Simon (12) v. Nicholas Mahut
Gael Monfils (13) v. Pablo Cuevas (21)
Roger Federer (2) v. Damir Dzumhur.

The upsets continue in the women’s section as former world number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark was beaten by the German Julia Goerges 6-4,7-6(4) in her second round match. The tournament has already lost last year’s runner up Simona Halep and Eugene Bouchard. Top seeded Serena Williams and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova too overcame the loss of the opening set before advancing into the third round. In a battle of former champions Italian Francesca Schiavone beat the the Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 10-8 in the deciding set. There were wins for the Americans Sloane Stephens, Irina Falconi and Madison Keys. Also advancing were the Italian Sara Errani and the former world number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. There were wins for Irina-Camelia Begu, Kristina Mladenovic, Timea Bacinsky and Andrea Petkovic but the no. 12 seed Karolina Pliskova lost to the unheralded Andreea Mitu. Also on the losing end was Zarina Diyas with a 3 set loss to Alison Van Uytvanck

There were mixed fortunes for the two veteran Spaniards, the 2013 champion David Ferrer beat fellow Spaniard Damien Gimeno Traver but the Croatian teenage sensation Borna Coric ended the hopes of Tommy Robredo in five sets. The Italian Simine Bolleli upset the Croat Victor Troicki and the South African Kevin Anderson beat Yen Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei. The match between local favourite Richard Gasquet and Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq was suspended by bad light with the match tied at 2 sets apiece as Gasquet hopes to join six Frenchmen in the last 32. The Spaniard Pablo Andujar was the last player in the bottom half to complete his second round match as he upset the 22nd seed Phillipe Kohlschreiber in five sets and now faces Jo Wilfred Tsonga.

– Rasesh Mehta [Rasesh Mehta is an analyst with the Tennis Galaxy.You can reach him at the email: sportzcosmos@gmail.com]