Sixth seed Andreescu knocked out in French Open first round

PARIS (AFP): Sixth seed Bianca Andreescu was dumped out of the French Open in the first round on Monday, losing a marathon three-set clash to Slovenia’s world number 85 Tamara Zidansek.

Zidansek, who will face American Madison Brengle in the second round, won 6-7 (1/7), 7-6 (7/2), 9-7 after three hours and 20 minutes.

Canada’s Andreescu, the injury-plagued 2019 US Open champion, had been a fitness doubt for the tournament after pulling out of an event in Strasbourg last Wednesday, but she was forced into a gruelling deciding set against Zidansek, which saw the World number six fail to serve out the match at 5-4 and then save a match point two games later.

Zidansek created two more match points in the 16th game of the third set and needed only one to wrap up victory.