KEYS, ISNER ADVANCE ON FRENCH OPEN DAY 3

The first round of the French Open concluded on Tuesday, with the top two American seeds in action on Day 3 securing safe passage into the second round.

No. 12 seed Madison Keys defeated Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, 6-3, 6-2, and No. 21 seed John Isner earned a spot in the round of 64 with a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 win over another Aussie Jordan Thompson.

Coupled with Taylor Townsend’s 6-4, 6-0 win against Miyu Kato of Japan, it means two of nine American men and half of the 16 U.S. women in the main draw remain in contention for the second major title of the year.

Keys will play Petra Martic in the second round, while Townsend will face Su-Wei Hsieh, who upset seventh-seeded Johanna Konta on Tuesday. Isner’s win sets up a second-round match with Italian journeyman Paolo Lorenzi, who dropped just six games against Ricardas Berankis in his opener. It will be the first match between Isner and world No. 34 Lorenzi, the highest-ranked non-seeded player in the draw.

Isner made his way through to the second round behind a strong serving display that saw him send down 31 aces. He was a perfect 3-for-3 on break points and he amassed 53 winners to help offset 43 errors.
 

Keys was similarly efficient against Barty, not facing a break point on her serve, while Townsend displayed a ruthless return game to break Kato six times in her 74-minute triumph.

Elsewhere on Day 3 in Paris, No. 27 seed Sam Querrey went out to Hyeon Chung of Korea, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Ernesto Escobedo fell to Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in straight sets; and Alison Riske lost to 20th-seeded Barbora Strycova.

Wednesday’s order of play sees six Americans in second-round singles action.

In the women’s draw, No. 10 seed Venus Williams will open on Philippe-Chatrier Court against Kurumi Nara, and CiCi Bellis will take on No. 18 seed Kiki Bertens. Madison Brengle faces 30th-seeeded Timea Bacsinszky, Shelby Rogers meets Cagla Buyukakcay, and qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands plays No. 15 seed Petra Kvitova.

The lone U.S. man in singles action on Day 3 is No. 25 seed Steve Johnson, who faces up-and-coming 20-year-old Borna Coric.