Bracket Busters
Fifth seeded Caroline Wozniacki is the latest top-ten seed to fall, joining Halep and Bouchard on the sidelines. Wozniacki was beaten in straight sets by Julia Goerges. Twelfth seeded Karolina Pliskova also exited with a three set loss to Romania's Andreea Mitu. In another minor upset, 2009 French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded 18th, was knocked out by 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone. Schiavone has hinted that this could be her final trip to Roland Garros and, if it's true, she'll be able to ride into the sunset with pride, because this was the one of the matches of the tournament. On the men's side, Bernard Tomic, seeded 27th, was knocked out by his teenaged countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis in an exciting five setter. Kokkinakis' big game was on display against Tomic, but his next assignment against Novak Djokovic will be much tougher. Top American John Isner also crashed out against hometown favorite Jeremy Chardy while clay court veteran Tommy Robredo was edged in five sets by Borna Coric. Viktor Troicki, seeded 31st, fell to Italy's Simone Bolelli.
The Crafty Vets…
According to stats guru Greg Sharko and the ITF, a Grand Slam record 39 players over age 30 entered this year's French Open. Nineteen of them reached the second round, which is an Open Era record at Roland Garros.
…And the Young Guns
Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis was the first teenage male to reach the third round or later at Roland Garros since 2008 when Ernests Gulbis reached the quarterfinals. Kokkinakis is joined in the third round by fellow teenager Borna Coric. The last time multiple teen males reached the third round at Roland Garros was when Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils did it in 2006.
Right on Break
Clay court tennis always offers up a few more breaks than faster courts, but during yesterday's match between Schiavone and Kuznetsova there were 18 breaks of serve. The pair also traded nine breaks in a row during their seesaw third set. Schiavone finally eked out the win after three hours and fifty minutes in one of the tournament's most exciting matches.
Bonus Trivia
Schiavone and Kuznetsova hold the record for the longest Grand Slam women's match at four hours and forty-four minutes. The match took place at the 2011 Australian Open.
First to the Fourth
Fifth seeded Kei Nishikori swept past Tomaz Bellucci on Wednesday and became the first player to reach the Roland Garros fourth round after he took a third round walkover from veteran Benjamin Becker. A well-rested K-nish will face either Lukas Rosol or Teymuraz Gabashvili in the fourth round. Both the extra rest and the relatively weak opposition bode well for Nishikori's chances to keep advancing towards a potential quarterfinal against Tomas Berdych.
Want to see what the top players are wearing for the 2015 French Open?