Paris, France (Sports Network) - Former Australian Open runner-up Jo-
Wilfried Tsonga, former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych and former U.S. Open
champion Juan Martin del Potro were a trio 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 in five sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7
(4-7), 6-4, 6-4, on the famed red clay at Stade Roland Garros. Berdych moved
on in 3 hours, 52 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 the Wimbledon runner-up.
The ninth-seeded del Potro, meanwhile, cruised past 21st-seeded Croat Marin
Cilic 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), 6-1 to set-up a showdown with Berdych on Sunday.
Swiss strongman Stan Wawrinka ousted 11th-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon in a
five-set struggle, 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2. The 18th seed
prevailed in 4 hours, 37 minutes to set-up a fourth-round date with another
Frenchman in Tsonga.
In-form Italian Andreas Seppi, seeded 22nd at this French fortnight, upended
14th-seeded Spanish lefthander Fernando Verdasco in five sets, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3,
4-6, 6-2, to reach the round of 16. Seppi titled on clay in Belgrade last
month.
Another third-round result saw upstart Belgian David Goffin ground Pole
Lukasz Kubot 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, 6-1.
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