The top seeds again struggled on Tuesday as the French Open first round closed up.

The three former champions in the women’s draw all cruised in their Rod Laver openers on Monday in Melbourne.

Last year a mere six players had a crack at leaving Australia with the No. 1 ranking. The 2019 Australian just told 2018 to hold its beer.

Interesting starts for (17) Keys vs. American countrywoman (LL) Pera, the struggling (9) Stephens vs. Pavlyuchenkova, (3) Kerber vs. the unpredictable Mladenovic, (10) Goerges vs. Konta, (7) Pliskova vs. (WC) Stosur, (12) Ostapenko vs. Rybarikova, (14) Muguruza vs. Makarova, and (2) Wozniacki vs. Bencic…

For the first time in US Open history an Extreme Heat Policy was implemented for men’s matches in addition to the women as temperatures neared 100 degrees at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Tough starts for (4) Kerber vs. Pavlyuchenkova who she is 6-6 career against, the wrist-addled (13) Keys vs. (WC) Mattek-Sands in an all-American, (9) Pliskova vs. Radwanska (winner to meet Konta), (6) Garcia vs. (WC) Azarenka, (8) Kvitova vs. the Serena-Gavrilova winner, (15) Mertens vs. Rybarikova who she has a losing record against, (5) Svitolina vs. (WC) Kuznetsova, and (2) Wozniacki vs. the Bertens-Vandeweghe winner…

“I played myself into the match and tried to be as tough as possible,” Konta said afterwards.

The outrageous number of opening-round seeds vs. floaters match-ups includes (16) Kyrgios vs. (WC) Wawrinka, (11) Schwartzman vs. Edmund, (6) Cilic vs. Coric, (3) Del Potro vs. Nishikori, (14) Fognini vs. Johnson (winner to meet Shapovalov), (5) Dimitrov vs. Verdasco, (10) Goffin vs. Raonic, (4) Anderson vs. Rublev, (7) Thiem vs. the fast-rising Tsitsipas, (9) Djokovic vs. Chung, and (2) Zverev vs. Ferrer…

Williams in the semifinal will line up against unlikely opponent and No. 13 seed Julia Goerges of Germany. The lanky, equally-big ball-striking Goerges has had little historical success at Wimbledon until Tuesday coming from a set down to defeat No. 20 seed Kiki Bertens 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.

The Group of Death contains two former No. 1s, a No. 2, and last year’s US Open semifinalist and quarterfinalist among other floaters…Tough starts for (5) Svitolina vs. the grasscourt title-winner Maria, (21) Sevastova vs. Giorgi, (32) Radwanska vs. Safarova 2nd rd., and (2) Wozniacki vs. Makarova 2nd rd…(25) Serena’s early path is former world No. 1 junior Arantxa Rus, a qualifier/wildcard, then (5) Svitolina, then (10) Keys.

Murray and Wawrinka square off first round, winner to meet (2) Edmund…Other openers of interest are (8) Fuchsovics vs. the grass-ready Brit (WC) Norrie, the rookie (4) Ceccinato vs. the veteran Seppi, (5) Mayer vs. Simon (winner to meet Muller), and (7) Johnson vs. Medvedev (winner to face M.Zverev)…

“I’m really disappointed and so angry,” Ostapenko said.

The French Open begins Sunday with a star-studded line-up including two former French Open champions, Jelena Ostapenko who opens her title defense and qualifier Francesca Schiavone. For the women, former runner-up Venus Williams plays her 21st French Open and four seed and tournament favorite Elina Svitolina embarks on her bid not just for a first […]

Four former No. 1s are in the Rome quarterfinals.

Tough starts went to (1) Halep vs. the Azarenka-Osaka winner, (13) Keys vs. Pavlyuchenkova, (9) Stephens vs. the crafty Strycova, (3) Muguruza vs. the Gavrilova-Bellis winner, (16) Barty vs. Sharapova…