Heather hit by weather as Briton’s French Open bid gets off to soggy start
British No2 Heather Watson is on Monday due to resume her bid for a first grand slam win since Wimbledon last year after her French Open opener was cut short by rain on Sunday.
Watson, who has reached round two on four of her last five visits to Paris, trailed American Nicole Gibbs 7-5, 2-6, 2-1 when the first day’s play at Roland Garros was abandoned.
World No72 Gibbs – ranked 16 places below her opponent – broke Watson twice in the opening set, only for the Channel Islander to level with a commanding second-set display.
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Gibbs then landed an early blow by breaking Watson’s serve in the deciding set. The conclusion to their match is scheduled to be the second action on Court Three.
Second seed Andy Murray is due to begin his French Open challenge against Radek Stepanek later on Monday, while fellow Briton Kyle Edmund faces Nikoloz Basilashvili in a contest delayed from Sunday.
Controversial men’s 17th seed Nick Kyrgios was involved in another flashpoint as he reached round two in one of a handful of matches successfully completed today.
Kyrgios accused umpire Carlos Ramos of “unbelievable bias” after he handed him a code violation for shouting at a ball-boy during the first set of his match with Italian Marco Cecchinato.
The Australian, 21, needed two tie-breaks but eventually prevailed 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 to clear the first hurdle at Roland Garros for the third time in four years.