Injured Badosa retires, Giorgi packs off Sabalenka

Paris: Third seed Paula Badosa was forced to retire with a right calf injury from her third round match against Veronika Kudermetova at the French Open while the Spaniard was trailing 6-3, 2-1.

The 24-year-old Badosa, who made the quarter-finals at Roland Garros last year, was considered one of those in the women's draw who could challenge world number Iga Swiatek at the claycourt Grand Slam.

Playing on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Badosa required medical attention for a right leg problem during the match and then decided early in the second set that she could no longer continue.

The women's draw was further hampered by the exit of seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka, who went down to big-hitting Italian Camila Giorgi 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 on Court Simonne Mathieu.

Sabalenka, a former world number two, won the hard-fought opening set but then was reduced to a mere spectator as Giorgi scorched the court with winners.

The Belarusian managed to win only one more game as Giorgi completed a remarkable comeback win in an hour and 42 minutes to make the fourth round for the first time at Roland Garros.

For a place in the quarter-finals, the 30-year-old Giorgi, ranked 30th, will next meet 20th seed Daria Kasatkina.

The 11th seed Jessica Pegula of US beat Tamara Zidansek 6-1, 7-6 (2) in another third round match of the day.

In men's section, the 6th seed Carlos Alcaraz beat Sebastian Korda 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in a third round match.

The 4th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas stormed into the last 16 stage as he beat World No. 95 Mikael Ymer 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. It's been smooth sailing for the Greek youngster who had been tested in the first two rounds.

The 7th seed Andrey Rublev beat Cristian Garín 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (11).

Marin Cilic easily advanced to the fourth round with a 6-0 6-3 6-2 victory over local Gilles Simon.

Cilic dominated from the outset, picking up every game in the opening set and easily breaking in the second to head into the final set with all the momentum.

The 12th seed Hubert Hurkacz beat David Goffin 7-5, 6-2, 6-1.

On the other hand, the 10th seed Sania Mirza and Lucie Hradecka beat Kaja Juvan and Tamara Zidansek 6-3, 6-4 in the Mixed Doubles second round match.

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