French Open Day 2 recap: Two top-10 players fall in the opening round
Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori were both visibly frustrated during their first-round matches at the French Open. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images)
PARIS -- On Day 2 of the French Open, Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova breezed through their matches, Stanislas Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori (not unexpectedly) got tripped up, a Grand-Slam newbie played a four-hour and 26-minute match and the rains finally came.
What happened?
No. 3 Stan Wawrinka becomes the highest seed to lose in the first round since 2007: It was an upset many saw coming. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, a big-hitting Spaniard who's been playing well on clay, knocked out the reigning Australian Open champion 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0.
Kei Nishikori goes down: Martin Klizan knocked out No. 9 seed Kei Nishikori 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-2 in a result that's a big upset on paper but not in fact. Nishikori is still dealing with a hip injury and summed up his injury woes succinctly: "It sucks."
Rafael Nadal loses just three games in first-round victory: No Chatrier, no problem. Nadal started his campaign with a bagel sandwich, beating Robby Ginepri 6-0, 6-3, 6-0 out on Court Suzanne Lenglen and then (unsurpisingly) downplayed any controversy surrounding his court placement.
"Always playing Roland Garros is a pleasure for me, is a really honor, and is a special feeling," he said. "So all the memories at this place give me are unforgettable. And doesn't matter if it's Chatrier or Lenglen or another court, be around here in Roland Garros always gonna be great."
WERTHEIM: Despite inferior court placement, Nadal opens with a bang
Argentinian qualifier Facundo Bagnis goes 18-16 in the fifth set to beat Julien Benneteau: The match of the day goes to No. 143 Facundo Bagnis' 6-1, 6-2, 1-6, 3-6, 18-16 win over French veteran Julien Benneteau.
Taylor Townsend rallies for her first Grand Slam win: Making her Slam debut, 18-year-old Townsend found herself in down 1-5 in the first set, but came back to win 12 of the last 13 games and beat fellow American Vania King 7-5, 6-1. The teenager, who will play French No. 1 Alize Cornet in the second round, had a blast.
"I was really nervous at first, but I tried to fight every single point," she said. "Every ball that came on my side, I just tried to get it back, and worked on being positive the whole time. It wasn't over, and that's what really showed."
Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova cruise: Sharapova's start was delayed due to rain, but she blew past Ksenia Pervak 6-1, 6-2. Djokovic followed her on Chartrier with a rain-interrupted 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win over Joao Sousa.
Sam Stosur handles Monica Puig with ease: It looked like a tricky first-round match for Stosur, but she loses just two games to the Strasbourg Open champion, 6-1, 6-1. Stosur had an accident in the gym last week that sounded pretty bloody, and she had heavy tape around her leg to protect her stitches. Not that it stopped her or anything -- she hit just 10 unforced errors in the match.
Jelena Jankovic's match suspended for light: With rain delaying the start of play, only Jelena Jankovic's match was affected. She may bring the light and the joy, but her first-round match against Sharon Fichman was suspended with Jankovic mounting a comeback from a set down at 5-7, 5-1.
Photo of the day
Facundo Bagnis hits a no-look, one-handed backhand during his marathon match against Julien Benneteau. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Off-beat photo of the day
Novak Djokovic smiles for the camera during a rain delay. (MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images)
Must-see video
Novak Djokovic shared his umbrella and a drink with the above ball boy during the rain delay, and it was awesome. He's going to be a great dad.
http://youtu.be/YskqvyX1W7M
Must-see Instagram
While her peers are playing on the clay in the rain at Roland Garros, Victoria Azarenka is perfecting her baking skills.
Best press room exchange
How about this one between Djokovic and legendary Italian journalist Gianni Clerici:
Clerici: I just bought your book, "Serve to Win," and I'm reading it...
Djokovic: In English or Italian?
Clerici: In Italian... Anyhow, let's go with my poor English. Pigeon English, as they say. I read that you became the best of yourself, what you are now when you stop with the gluten. So I see something that I didn't know, and I wanted to ask, for instance, even for me, if I stop with the gluten, I become a better writer? (Laughter.)
Djokovic: Oh, God. Thank you for your question. I'm sorry. (Laughter.) What was the question again? If you don't eat gluten, would you be a better writer?
Clerici. I hope. It's my last chance.
Djokovic: I hope for you. I think you're a good writer. You have a great history in your career.
Clerici: For a Nobel Prize...
Djokovic: For a Nobel Prize? That's your goal? I will support ‑‑ I will vote for you. I'm sure that gluten is a great obstacle for your writing. You should change your diet, definitely. Pizza with no gluten, it's good, also.
Clerici: I know. I heard about that.
Djokovic: But in the south of Italy to have pizza without gluten is not so recommended.
Clerici: I have to fire my cook at home, unfortunately, with your suggestion.
Djokovic: I can assume who your cook at home is. But you don't want to say that. Greetings to your wife.
Worst press room exchange
Q. Congratulations.
Mahut: Congratulations? I lost.
Q. You lost Okay. So what happened out there?
Mahut: Are you serious? Did you watch the match?
Q. No, I didn't. I was told that you won. I'm sorry.
Mahut: Questions in French, please.
