The second day from Roland Garros brought plenty of matches on the men’s and women’s side. Paris just seems the place to be for Maria Sharapova as the world number two found it comfortable in her opening match. However, the Americans don’t seem to like it there in Paris, unless they are on a vacation of course, as they seemed lost out there on the red clay. A measly one win from nine matches, and that win came from a showdown between two Americans. Read much more as we recap the second day of the French Open.

Murray Makes It 11 Straight

Andy Murray continued his undefeated run on the clay with his first round victory over Facundo Arguello of Argentina. He led the way for the Brits as they went 3-2 over the course of the day. Murray made quick work of the Argentine winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. Murray was dominant on first serve points dropping only eight points on his serve. Despite the dominance, it was bit of an off day in terms of his groundstrokes hitting just six winners to twenty-five unforced errors. This is something he is going to need to fix should he get to the later rounds, but in a straightforward match like this, he can get away with it. Murray faces the winner of Vasek Pospisil and Joao Sousa in the second round.

Cornet Completes the Comeback on Chatrier

After her fellow Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia was knocked off on Chatrier in three sets yesterday, she said in her post-match press conference that she had no interest in playing at their “Center Court”. The crowd was hoping that a better showing would be shown out of the French number one, Alize Cornet, on the women’s side. The start wasn’t too bright for Cornet going town 5-2 to Italian Roberta Vinci. Cornet got a break back to make it 5-4 and was looking to go up 0-30 to force a second break, but her forehand pass just went long at 0-15 giving Vinci the point and would soon follow that with the game. The second set was where she began to attack. She hit 15 winners and won 13/16 net points, showcasing her aggressiveness. She needed to be aggressive as she was a set down. It paid off for her as she took the second set, 6-4. She was in complete control in the decider taking it 6-1. She continued to be aggressive hitting 11 winners and winning more than half of return points that set as she cruised winning 6-1. Next up for Cornet is Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru.

The Queen of Clay Starts Her Road for Consecutive Titles

World number two and defending French Open champion Maria Sharapova should be pleased with her start to this year’s French Open campaign. She knocked off Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-4 on Chatrier. Her power was on full display in the first set with three breaks of serve and twelve winners. The second set was much closer as Kanepi only won one point less (32-31) as Sharapova’s unforced errors kept her in the set, but it her own unforced errors that were her undoing. Kanepi had 15 errors to Sharapova’s 17 in the second set, but a majority of those 15 came an inopportune times. The story of for the Russian was her serving, she had four double faults and only one ace. Her chances on the second serve was woeful winning only 41% of second serve points. Next up for her is countrywoman is Vitalia Diatchenko.

Young Guns Coric and Kyrgios Step Up to the Occasion

Both Borna Coric and Nick Kyrgios were drawn up with what could have been tricky matchups facing off against Sam Querrey and Denis Istomin respectively. However, both men were up to the task as they advanced into the next round. Coric won in four sets over the American Sam Querrey 7-6, 6-3, 0-6, 6-3. Querrey won more points (118-114) than the Croat due to the bagel set in the third, but the American just couldn’t find his footing on the clay as he looked uncomfortable in his movement while the Croat was moving with ease. Next up for Coric is 18th-seeded Tommy Robredo. 29th-seeded Nick Kyrgios dispatched Denis Istomin in straights 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. He overpowered the Uzbek in all aspects of the game today from first serve points won all the way to return points won. Istomin was never going to challenge the Australian in terms of power, he needed Kyrgios to implode himself for him to win, didn’t happen. He faces British qualifier Kyle Edmund next.

Update on the French:

Two of the three seeded Frenchman, Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils, advanced to the second round. They both defeated countryman as they knocked off Lucas Pouille and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. It was tough to know who the crowd was rooting for when Simon was out on the court, but highly likely the crowd was split or maybe even pulling for the talented, younger Pouille. 30th-seeded Adrian Mannarino was upset by Austrian Jurgen Melzer in straight sets. Benoit Paire came back from two sets to one down to defeat Gastao Elias, but Stephane Robert lost to fellow qualifier Kyle Edmund in a tight five-setter. Second round matchups: Simon - Klizan, Monfils - Schwartzman, and Paire - Fognini. Virginie Razzano and Amandine Hesse joined Alize Cornet as the other Frenchwoman to advance. Mathilde Johansson and Alize Lim were defeated in straight sets. Razzano defeated Veronica Cepede Royg in three sets and will face the eighth seed, Carla Suarez Navarro next. Hesse defeated Jarmila Gajdosova and will face 26th-seeded Sam Stosur.

Update on the Americans:

The Americans did not bring their sliding shoes to the clay today as only one American advanced today. That was Sloane Stephens who upset 15th seeded Venus Williams 7-6(5), 6-1. Madison Brengle, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Alison Riske, and Nicole Gibbs all lost capping off a poor day for the American women. Stephens faces off against Heather Watson next. The men fared no better than the women putting up a bagel in the win column. Young Francis Tiafoe lost to Martin Klizan in straight sets, and Donald Young also lost in straight sets to Santiago Giraldo.

Update on the Seeds:

Other than Mannarino, Feliciano Lopez, the 11 seed, was the only one who was sent packing today. He was defeated by Teymuraz Gabashvili in straight sets. The other notable top seed to win today was Tomas Berdych who defeated the talented but still young Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets. Berdych faces his compatriot Radek Stepanek next. Other men’s seeds to advance: Goffin, Fognini, Cuevas, Tomic, Troicki, Robredo, and Verdasco.

Just like the men’s side, a couple of seeded players were upset. 14th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska brought some flashiness to the court with her disco-style dress, but she ia shadow of herself losing to Annika Beck in three sets. Eighth-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro and eleventh-seeded Angelique Kerber won with ease as they look to make a run in France. Along with Radwanska, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova was upset by Tsvetana Pironkova. Other women’s seeds to advance: Azarenka, Stosur, Begu, Pliskova, Errani, Svitolina, and Lisicki

Matches to Watch For Tomorrow:

Kristina Mladenovic - Genie Bouchard: Bouchard is in the midst of a slump lately, and the last thing she needed was a first round match that could cause her some problems. Well, her wish (from her genie) was not granted as she faces off against Kristina Mladenovic tomorrow. The Frenchwoman made a name for herself at Roland Garros last year for knocking off Li Na in the first round.

Grigor Dimitrov - Jack Sock: The matchup that most of our writer have picked as their intriguing first round matchup, and it’s a good one. A struggling Dimitrov against a motivated Jack Sock playing on his favorite surface. Sock could be the American that goes the furthest in France, and a win tomorrow would be career-changing for him.

Andreas Seppi - John Isner: The big American is defending fourth round points in Paris and faces off against the tricky Italian. Seppi is journeyman who has been solid throughout of his career. He made waves when he upset Roger Federer in the second round of the Australian Open this year. Both men play their best tennis on the hard court and play contrasting styles so this match is going to be quite the intriguing one.

Quentin Halys - Rafael Nadal: This match might not be the sexy pick, but the tennis universe is on the edge of their seat to see how Rafael Nadal will fare in what supposedly is going to be a straightforward match. It’s tough to judge Nadal off of one performance, but if he looks shaky, this could be the end.