His opponent in the second round, the Czech Marie Bouzkova (WTA 69), withdrew for the meeting scheduled for Wednesday. The organizers announced it on Tuesday evening. Bouzkova tested positive for covid-19, she announced on social media. “Unfortunately I tested positive for covid today for the first time,” the Czech player wrote on Twitter. “So I have to retire from singles and doubles here in Paris. Hopefully I’ll start to feel better soon and get back on the court.”
Mertens will face in the 3rd round either the Australian Ajla Tomljanovic (WTA 42) or the Russian Varvara Gracheva (WTA 71).
Mertens, 26, reaches for the sixth time in as many participations in the 3rd round on the ocher of Porte d’Auteuil. But she only reached the knockout stages once, in 2018.
For the 17th consecutive time in a Grand Slam tournament, Mertens reached at least the round of 16. Since being eliminated in the 1st round of the 2017 US Open, she has always played at least the third round in Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows.
Van Uytvanck, who challenges the American Gauff, 18: “She is a super talent”
Alison Van Uytvanck (WTA 60) will try to qualify for the second time for the third round of Roland-Garros this Wednesday. Victorious by abandonment during her entry into the running against the American Ann Li (WTA 67), the Grimbergeoise, 28, will challenge, on the Court Simonne-Mathieu, another US player in the person of Cori Gauff (WTA 23), 18 years old, quarter-finalist last year. “I don’t know why, but I always end up in the same part of the picture as Gauff,” she smiled. “She’s a very athletic player, who serves very well. Her forehand may be her weakest shot, but the fact remains that she will be the favorite. She’s young and she’s a super talent . I’ve never met her before so it will be great to see what I can do against her. And it’s clear that for me clay is the best surface to face her.”
It will be the very first duel between Alison Van Uytvanck and Cori Gauff, who revealed herself in 2019, at the age of 15, by reaching the knockout stages at Wimbledon.
“Obviously it will be a difficult match, but it’s good to have one more, to take points with this second round, especially since I won’t be able to win any at Wimbledon, which is a very bad deal for me,” she continued. “But hey, there’s nothing I can do about it. My tennis isn’t great at the moment, because I haven’t been able to play much after being sick (in Istanbul, editor’s note), but I’m trying to to be aggressive and to fight with the weapons that I have. I would have preferred to have better preparation after Miami, but sometimes you have to listen to your body. And my health was paramount.”