Paris, France (Sports Network) - Former Australian Open runner-up Jo-
Wilfried Tsonga and former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych were a pair of
third-round winners Friday at the 2012 French Open.
The fifth-seeded heavy French crowd favorite Tsonga handled Italian Fabio
Fognini 7-5, 6-4, 6-4, while the seventh-seeded Czech slugger Berdych fought
off 31st-seeded South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4 on
the red clay at Stade Roland Garros. Berdych moved on in 3 hours, 42 minutes
with the help of four service breaks, compared to two for Anderson, who bowed
out despite popping 22 aces.
Berdych reached the French Open semifinals in 2010, the same year he finished
as a runner-up at Wimbledon.
Also slated for some third-round action Friday are world No. 1 Novak Djokovic
and third-seeded Roger Federer. The reigning Aussie Open, U.S. Open and
Wimbledon champion Djokovic will face France's Nicolas Devilder, while the
former No. 1 2009 French Open titlist and four-time Roland Garros runner-up
Federer will take on Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.
Federer is the all-time men's leader with 16 major titles.
One final second-round result this week saw 20th-seeded Spaniard Marcel
Granollers sneak past Tunisian Malek Jaziri 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 in a
match that was suspended because of darkness here on Thursday.
The Sports Network