The Naomi Osaka – Victoria Azarenka second round encounter lived up to the hype Thursday at the French Open. The two multi-Slam winners played arguably the best match of the women’s event with Osaka coming away with a tough 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Azarenka stormed out in front 4-0. She held on for the set then went up 4-2 in the second with chances for 5-2. But like in her first match, …

Facing German opposition Wednesday at the French Open, legends Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer both had no major issues. Yes, they were tested a bit, but the outcomes were never in doubt.

Playing on Suzanne Lenglen where he’s now 19-0, Nadal took care of qualifier Yannick Maden 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. If there was a blip, it was Rafa getting broken twice in the third set.

“I think it was a good match …

It seems like every day another big name drops in the women’s draw at the French Open. Today, it was the hot-handed Kiki Bertens who quit the tournament just four games into her second round match on Chatrier against Viktoria Kuzmova down 3-1 in the first.

Bertens, who played so well in the lead-up winning Madrid, said she was feeling ill last night and it hadn’t gone away as the match …

Following a tough week in Geneva, it didn’t get any easier for World No. 5 Alexander Zverev in his French Opener Tuesday. The German was the big favorite against John Millman who never before had won a match in Paris.

Zverev jumped out to an early break but once the Australian broke back, one could sense it would be another long day for Zverev. Eventually, Zverev broke at 4-all in the …

World No. 1 Naomi Osaka was pushed to the very edge Tuesday in her Roland Garros opener. Facing the lightly-regarded Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Osaka dropped the first set stunning 6-0 before rallying for a 0-6, 7-6(4), 6-1 win.

Schmiedlova never held a match point, but she did serve for the win twice in the second. But having losing 10 straight in Grand Slam play, the 24-year-old couldn’t finish off the 2-time …

It looked bad for Serena Williams early today at the French Open. But after dropping the first set 6-2 to Vitalia Diatchenko, the 3-time French winner lost just one game thereafter in a 2-6, 6-1, 6-0 win.

“It was weird. You know, I have been dealing with a lot, and then I just got nervous out there and I stopped moving my feet,” Serena said. “And it was, like, concrete blocks …

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were on back-to-back on Philippe Chatrier as they opened played Monday at the French Open. And neither had to sweat much.

Nadal, as suspected, rolled over qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-2, 6-1, 6-3. It was his 17th straight win at Roland Garros where he’s seeking a 12th title.

“I did a lot of things well,” said Nadal. “I did not make many mistakes, being very solid all …

Two former No. 1s and Grand Slam champions fell on the first day of the French Open.

Three-time champion Angelique Kerber was clobbered in the first match on Chatrier by 18-year-old Anastasia Potapova 6-4, 6-2.

Kerber, who was iffy to even play the event after suffering an ankle injury earlier this month in Madrid. The German missed events, missed practice and it showed today as the young Russian took it to the …

Roger Federer made a rockin’ return Sunday at Roland Garros, blowing past Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

In his first French Open match in four years, Federer dominated smacking 36 winners to just 15 unforced, and breaking the 24-year-old Sonego five times.

“Because there has been some pressure in the beginning, obviously some nerves, many people wanted to know how it was going to be for me, how I was going …

The time has come. Roger Federer is back. The French Open begins Sunday in Paris with a blockbuster line-up led by the mighty Swiss.

Federer will play his first match at the French in four years against Italian dirtballer Lorenzo Sonego.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic are also on the ticket for the men.

But the match of the day may be in the women’s draw as 7-time Slam champion Venus …

The Lyon title will stay in France as Benoit Paire put together a magical week at event culminating with a title over teen phenom Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-3.

Paire’s all-Americas run took him past Mackenzie McDonald, Pablo Cuevas, Denis Shapovalov and Taylor Fritz before the big win today. And it earned him his third career ATP title.

“I think I played well already in Marrakech. I started the season a little bit …

After a long, tough season, Alexander Zverev finally picked up his first title of 2019 Saturday saving two match points to edge Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(8) in the Geneva final.

It was far from easy for Zverev who took a last minute spot in the event after Daniil Medvedev withdrew. The German needed three three-set matches to close out his 11th career title, fifth on the clay. And today, he …

Among the favorites to win the French Open outside of Rafael Nadal is Dominic Thiem who beat the Spaniard in Barcelona.

And after two semifinals and a final in the last three years, Thiem wants more.

“My goal is to win the tournament, that’s for sure,” Thiem said Friday at Roland Garros. “I really would love to make that one last step but it’s so tough.

“I think Rafa is the huge …

Novak Djokovic sounds like he is chomping at the bit for another chance winning a fourth straight Slam for a second time in his career this week at the French Open. Djokovic, who just turned 32, will also try to become the first man in the Open Era to win two Career Slams. O

Of course, all he has to do is win seven match and 28 sets, and likely beat …

The wait will be over tomorrow for Roger Federer fans in Paris. Four years after his last match at Roland Garros, Federer returns Sunday to the crushed red brick to face Italian 24-year-old Lorenzo Sonego.

Fed, who’s talked at length about his clay comeback during the Masters events, addressed it further yesterday during his pre-tournament press conference.

“A lot of things have changed,” said Federer. “Centre court looks very different. There has …