French Open Day 3 LIVE – Ruud, Sabalenka and Djokovic set to make bows

It’s a hard watch for Alize fans.

It’s just not quite happening. She has her moments again here as a lull from Zheng allows her to claw her way to two break points.

The French veteran loops a loose return long and berates herself and then has a look at a backhand pass down the line that she can only arrow into the tramlines. It’s enough of a reprieve for Zheng to reset and complete a tricky hold from deuce.

It seems even more significant in the following game as Cornet’s serve comes under the microscope again with a double fault compounding her misery on the second of three break points.

At times the power of Zheng has left Cornet’s shoulders slumped in resignation as the winners pour off the Chinese star’s racquet.

The No.7 seed nails three en route to a confident hold to 15 before her all-out attack on the return leads to an emphatic break to love.

Hard to see Cornet being able to flip the script in any significant sway here…

Zheng threatens to increase the gloom amongst French tennis fans with a couple of early winners to threaten at 15-30.

Cornet retorts with typical feistiness and a couple of clutch serves help her turn it around to kick off Set 2 on a positive note.

Cornet had her moments midway through that set but either side of that Zheng was completely dominant and she made no mistake serving out, easing through a game to 15 to mop up the opener in 50 minutes.

Has the Chinese starlet kicked on since her maiden appearance in a major final Down Under?

There’s a clear sense of irritation in the demeanour of the 21-year-old nicknamed ‘Queen Wen.’

She’s unhappy that she has allowed Cornet to scrap her way back into it and is a whisker away from snatching that double break back.

A beauty of a backhand down the line is followed by one that rakes crosscourt but lands just wide of its mark.

Cornet hustles her way to game point but Zheng refuses to let her off the hook, executing a bewitching dropper to prolong the tussle from deuce.

In the end it’s all rather deflating for French wild card as the No.7 seed does indeed claim the break. She will now serve for the set.

Just like buses – boom!

Cornet takes full advantage of a shortage of first serves from Qinwen and manages to snare one of the breaks back. Suddenly there’s a different feel to this one.

Lift off! Cornet gets on the board and the home crowd respond.

The French supporters were somewhat subdued at first, but now they respond to a much-needed hold from the veteran with encouraging applause.

If Alize dreamed of a nightmare scenario last night, this was probably it.

Zheng seems very confident in the match-up and her tactics, easing through another hold to back up the double break with ease.

Cornet puffs out her cheeks and gulps in some tension-easing Parisian air.

The nightmare scenario is staring her right in the face at triple break point but she finds something from deep within to fight back, unloading a sweet backhand up the line and making deuce with a delicious crosscourt drop shot.

Sadly, it turns out to be a brief riposte as Zheng cannons away a terrific crosscourt backhand to secure the double break in style.

The No.4 seed and 2022 Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina has made quick work of Belgium’s World No.85 Greet Minnen in the first match on Lenglen.

The Kazakhstani star has prevailed 6-2 6-3 in just one hour and 13 minutes.

It’s not been a great 2024 for the 34-year-old French wild card and she continues to be irritated by how she’s kicked this match off.

Zheng remains very business-like, landing some big serves and comfortably consolidating with a game to 15.

That’s not the start Cornet would have wanted on her big farewell. She struggles to find first serves in a lengthy seven-minute opener and survives a couple of near misses from the power striking of her opponent before succumbing on a double fault from deuce.

It’s all about Rafael Nadal, really: The King of Clay!

Hello and welcome to our LIVE updates from Day 3 at the 2024 French Open.

We’ve got some big names kicking off their title tilts today with clay-court specialist and two-time finalist Casper Ruud up second on Court Philippe Chatrier against Felipe Meligeni Alves.

That’s followed by women’s World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka versus Erika Andreeva.

The night session features 24-time major winner and reigning champion Novak Djokovic as he locks horns with French hopeful Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

First up on Chatrier though, we’ll be keeping tabs on Australian Open finalist and No.7 seed Qinwen Zheng as she meets Alize Cornet, who has said she will retire following this year’s RG campaign.

COURT PHILIPPE CHATRIER – FROM 11:00

• Qinwen Zheng (7) v Alize Cornet
• Felipe Meligeni Alves v Casper Ruud (7)
• Erika Andreeva v Aryna Sabalenka (2)

• Novak Djokovic (1) v Pierre-Hugues Herbert

COURT SUZANNE LENGLEN – FROM 10:00

• Greet Minnen v Elena Rybakina (4)
• Tomas Martin Etcheverry (28) v Arthur Cazaux
• Magdalena French v Daria Kasatkina (10)
• Dan Evans v Holger Rune (13)

COURT SIMONNE MATHIEU – FROM 10:00

• Alex De Minaur (11) v Alex Michelsen
• Taylor Fritz (12) v Federico Coria
• Madison Keys (14) v Renata Zarazua
• Victoria Azarenka (19) v Nadia Podoroska

• Petra Martic v Kristina Mladenovic
• David Goffin v Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
• Katie Boulter (26) v Paula Badosa
• Gregoire Barrere v Alexander Bublik (19)