Round-up: Nishikori wins five-set duel, Halep fights back, Kvitova stunned

ByEurosport

Updated 27/05/2016 at 19:47 GMT

Kei Nishikori emerged victorious from a five-set duel with Fernando Verdasco, while Simona Halep bounced back against Naomi Osaka in the French Open third round.

Kei Nishikori celebrates

Image credit: Reuters

Nishikori survives Verdasco examination in five

5-Kei Nishikori (Japan) beat Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 6-3 6-4 3-6 2-6 6-4 - Nishikori steadied after surrendering a two-set advantage to earn a fine five-set win over Fernando Verdasco. The Japanese fifth seed, who could potentially meet Andy Murray in the quarter-finals, raced through the opening two sets, but the Spaniard pegged him back and forced a decider.

However, Nishikori profited from his opponent's fading fitness to book a last 16 meeting with Richard Gasquet.

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Highlights: Nishikori survives Verdasco examination

Halep fights back to overcome teenager Osaka

6-Simona Halep (Romania) beat Naomi Osaka (Japan) 4-6 6-2 6-3 - Simona Halep lost the first set to Naomi Osaka before completing a 4-6 6-2 6-3 win over the 16-year-old Japanese player in the third round. Halep looked in serious trouble after dropping the first set with a misfiring serves allowing Osaka to punish some poor serves.

But the 2014 French Open finalist managed to recover to avoid becoming an unexpected casualty. 101 seed Osaka was aiming to inflict a latest shock defeat upon the Romanian, who has lost to a player ranked 70 or below in four out of the past five Grand Slams.

Highlights: Halep pulls off great fightback to beat Japanese teenager

Garbine Muguruza makes last 16 with ease

4-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) 6-3 6-0 - Fourth seed Garbine Muguruza made light work of Yanina Wickmayer as she eased to a 6-3 6-0 win to progress to the last 16. Muguruza converted all of her six break points to set up a meeting with either Russian 24th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

After an early exchange of breaks, the 22-year-old Muguruza, a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros in the last two years, found her groove and won the last nine games on a sun-drenched Court Philippe Chatrier. She ended the world number 54's ordeal with an exquisite backhand dropshot on her first match point.

Highlights: Muguruza breezes past Wickmayer

Stosur downs Safarova to reach last 16 at French

21-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat 11-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-7(0) 7-5 - Australian Samantha Stosur edged out last year's runner-up Lucie Safarova 6-3 6-7(0) 7-5 to reach the fourth round of the French Open on Friday. The 32-year-old, enjoying a return to form on the European clay this year, recovered from a drubbing in the second set tiebreak to set up a last-16 clash with Romania's Simona Halep, the sixth seed.

Stosur, beaten by Italian Francesca Schiavone in the 2010 final after eliminating Serena Williams in the semis, broke at the start of the third set only for 11th seed Safarova to break back to get back to 4-4. Former U.S. Open champion Stosur then broke in the final game to claim only her fourth victory in 15 matches against the Czech.

American Rogers, world number 108, sends Kvitova packing

Shelby Rogers produced one of the biggest shocks at this year's French Open when she knocked out twice Wimbledon champion and 10th seed Petra Kvitova in the third round on Friday. The 23-year-old American, ranked 108th in the world, won 6-0 6-7(3) 6-0 to move into the last 16 of a grand slam for the first time. Czech Kvitova's loss means four of the top 10 seeds in the women's draw have failed to reach the last 16. Rogers will face Irina Begu of Romania next after she beat Germany's Annika Beck.

Highlights: World number 108 Rogers beats Kvitova

Raonic powers through after breaking Martin's resistance

8-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat Andrej Martin (Slovakia) 7-6(4) 6-2 6-3 - Canadian eighth seed Milos Raonic overcame stiff initial resistance against Slovakia's Andrej Martin. Martin pushed Ranoic to a tie-break in the opening set, but after succumbing his challenge then fell away, with Raonic wrapping things up comfortably thereafter. The Canadian will face either 23rd seed Jack Sock or Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas next.

Troicki rips up form book to beat Simon

22-Viktor Troicki (Serbia) beat 16-Gilles Simon (France) 6-4 6-2 6-2 - Viktor Troicki was in commanding form as he dismantled home favourite Gilles Simon in straight sets - not bad, considering he had failed to take a set off the Frenchman in six previous meetings. The Serb will face Stan Wawrinka in the fourth round.

RESULTS

Women's third round

Tsvetana Pironkova (Bulgaria) beat 19-Sloane Stephens (U.S.) 6-2 6-1
2-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat 30-Barbora Strycova (Czech Republic) 6-2 6-7(6) 6-2
13-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat 24-Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) 6-1 6-4
Shelby Rogers (U.S.) beat 10-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 6-0 6-7(3) 6-0
21-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat 11-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-7(0) 7-5
25-Irina Begu (Romania) beat Annika Beck (Germany) 6-4 2-6 6-1
6-Simona Halep (Romania) beat Naomi Osaka (Japan) 4-6 6-2 6-3
4-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) 6-3 6-0

Men's third round

22-Viktor Troicki (Serbia) beat 16-Gilles Simon (France) 6-4 6-2 6-2
3-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat 30-Jeremy Chardy (France) 6-4 6-3 7-5
15-John Isner (U.S.) beat Teymuraz Gabashvili (Russia) 7-6(7) 4-6 2-6 6-4 6-2
5-Kei Nishikori (Japan) beat Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 6-3 6-4 3-6 2-6 6-4
9-Richard Gasquet (France) beat 17-Nick Kyrgios (Australia) 6-2 7-6(7) 6-2
Albert Ramos (Spain) beat 23-Jack Sock (U.S.) 6-7(2) 6-4 6-4 4-6 6-4
2-Andy Murray (Britain) beat 27-Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) 6-1 6-4 7-6(3)
8-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat Andrej Martin (Slovakia) 7-6(4) 6-2 6-3

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