On day 6 at Roland Garros, the most stunning upset was caused by Croatia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, who disposed of Poland’s 3rd seeded player Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets. In doing so, Tomljanovic ensured that the women’s field will now be without its top three seeded players. In men’s singles, Novak Djokovic had a difficult test against Marin Cilic before prevailing in four sets. The 4th seed Roger Federer also had a difficult time against Dmitry Tursunov of Russia but finally won in four sets. Also advancing to the fourth round on day 6 were; Milos Raonic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Maria Sharapova, Samantha Stosur, Carla Suarez Navarro, Angelique Kerber , Eugenie Bouchard, Ernests Gulbis, John Isner and Tomas Berdych.
If Radawanska was done in by a Croat, Djokovic had one of his own when he faced another Croat, Martin Cilic in his third round match on Friday. Cilic began fabulously, as he forced the six-time Grand Slam champion into committing errors. The Serb fended off one break-point after another and though he finally won the first set, Cilic had made his presence felt. In the second set though, Cilic suffered some discomfort and required medical attention but Djokovic made no sympathetic concessions as he took a two set lead. Somehow, Djokovic was not at his best in the third set as the talented Croatian forced a tie-break and ran away with a 7-6 win. Djokovic looked tense in the fourth set but led 2-0 after a disputed line call. Cilic broke once and brought life in the set. However, Djokovic raised his game and took the match 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 on the break-back, when Cilic served a double-fault on first match point.
Like Djokovic, Roger Federer also had a tough opponent in the Russian Dmitry Tursunov in his third round match. The 4th seed and 2009 champion took well over 3 hours before prevailing 7-5, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. The first set was a big struggle before it could go in favor of Federer. But the Russian fought bitterly in the second. Though Federer held three set points on the Russian’s serve at 6-5, the tenacious Tursunov held his serve to force the tiebreak. Federer led 4-1 in tie-break but Tursunov fought to take the hour-long set 7-6. The Swiss master rejuvenated himself and easily won the third set 6-2. In the fourth set, the two players were level until 3-3 with Tursunov saving seven break points. Federer, however, converted the next break point to lead 4-3 and then closed out the match by taking the set 6-4.
Sharapova had an easy passage to the next round by beating Argentine Paula Ormaechea 6-0, 6-0 to set up her fourth round clash with the Australian Sam Stosur. In other matches, Milos Raonic became the first Canadian man to enter the fourth round at Roland Garros by beating Frenchman Gilles Simon in five-sets, 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5. Another Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga set up his next meeting on Sunday with Djokovic. Tsonga beat Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. After showing early promise, world no, 205 teenage sensation Taylor Townsend lost summarily 2-6, 2-6 to Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain. Navarro’s next opponent is Croatia’s Tomljanovic, who beat Radawanska early on. Serena conqueror Garbine Muguruza also went ahead by beating Anna Schmiedlova 6-2, 6-4. Eighth seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany advanced to the fourth round, defeating Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-3 to set up a clash with the 18th seed Eugenie Bouchard of Canada for the place in the quarter-final.
Latvian Ernests Gulbis defeated Czech veteran Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 to take on Roger Federer next. American no. 10 seed John Isner defeated Spain’s Tommy Robredo in a tough match that went to four sets, before Isner prevailed 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5. Isner’s next opponent will be Tomas Berdych, who came through by beating 26th seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4.