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Roland Garros Day 3- Early Matches, Medvedev, Shapovalov Feature

By Deke Lloyd

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 24: Daniil Medvedev of Russia returns a ball against Facundo Bagnis of Argentina in their Men's Singles first round match during day three of the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on May 24, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tnani Badredine/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 24: Daniil Medvedev of Russia returns a ball against Facundo Bagnis of Argentina in their Men's Singles first round match during day three of the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on May 24, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tnani Badredine/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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The  The French Open is on Day 3 of the action and in full swing with some fantastic tennis happening all over the place. Let’s catch up on some of the biggest results of the day.

Daniil Medvedev-Faucdo Bagnis

Coming into Roland Garros, Daniil Medvedev had a minimal amount of time on the red clay. After sustaining an injury on the “Sunshine Double” swing, Medvedev’s only match was a loss to Richard Gasquet in Geneva last week. Medvedev was never considered comfortable on the red clay and with Bagnis in the first round, it was a possibility the two seed could be an early upset victim in Paris.

Any thoughts or predictions of Medvedev making an early exit in Paris were dispelled quickly. After exchanging breaks in the opening two games of the match, Medvedev wholly dominated Bagnis. In Geneva, Medvedev struggled on his return of serve, usually one of his strongest attributes, but today those struggles disappeared. Medvedev didn’t give Bagnis room to breathe on his own serve, breaking the Bagnis serve eight times in the match.

Meddy cruised to a comfortable, 6-2 6-2 6-2 win over the journeyman Argentine to secure his spot in the 2nd round. Medvedev will have a winnable, but another arduous opponent in Laslo Djere. Medvedev should be able to navigate through that match, especially if he continues to tennis he played today.

Holger Rune-Denis Shapovalov

This being a first-round match is criminal, but with major draws being the size they are this is how the draw falls sometimes. For Denis Shapovalov, this was a disaster of a draw. Holger Rune is one of the most promising players on tour, if not for Carlos Alcaraz he might be the jewel of the new generation. Denis was doomed before this one ever got started.

Coming off a semi-final run in Lyon, Holger Rune continued to play some excellent tennis. Today, in Paris, he took care of his serve and kept immense pressure on the Shapo serve through the early stages. Rune cruised to a fast, commanding lead, 6-3 6-1 in the first two sets. The 3rd was much of the same for Rune, who broke Shapo’s serve and had a chance to serve the match out. Shapo would save a match point and break Rune’s serve to stay alive. The stay of execution was short-lived, however. Rune would close out Shapo in a 3rd set tie-break, winning the match in straight sets.

Rune, who took out the 15th seed Shapovalov, had a really nice place in the draw now. A winnable match next round against Henri Laaksonen and possible Alex de Minaur meeting in the third round. If Rune can traverse those two rounds, he could set up a possible round-of-16 match with Stefanos Tsitsipas.

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