Kerber prolongs career with another win at Olympics; Gauff, Collins advance to round three
The German will play Leylah Fernandez in the third round
Angelique Kerber continues to enjoy her swansong at the Paris Olympics.
The German, who has announced she will retire after the Games, followed up her win over Naomi Osaka in round one with another victory at Roland-Garros, beating Jacqueline Cristian 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 on Monday to reach the last 16.
The former world No 1 and winner of three Grand Slam titles, returned to the Tour at the start of 2024 and made it clear that playing at another Olympics was her biggest goal.
Kerber’s reward is a third-round battle with Leylah Fernandez of Canada, who saw off Cristina Bucsa 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Gauff, Collins lead Americans charge
Coco Gauff and Danielle Collins both recorded victories as the American charge continued at Roland-Garros.
Second seed Gauff double-faulted six times but was still far too good for Maria Lourdes Carle, winning 6-1, 6-1, while Collins fought off former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Gauff will take on Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic while Collins will meet Maria Camila Osorio Sorrano of Spain.
Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, pushed all the way in round one, had an easier time of things against Wang Xinyu, 6-2, 6-2 while fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, beaten by Krejcikova in the Wimbledon final and who also reached the Roland-Garros final, beat Magda Linette 6-4, 6-1.
Seventh seed Maria Sakkari continued her good form, beating Yue Yuan of China 6-2, 6-1 while Qinwen Zheng, Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova, Emma Navarro and Marta Kostyuk all won.