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Only 10 matches finished at rain-hit French Open

Getty

Getty

Rain wrought havoc with the first day of the French Open as play was abandoned on Sunday after a frustrating start to the year’s second grand slam tournament.

Only 10 matches were completed of the 32 scheduled across eight courts.

Play had begun on time after torrential early-morning rain relented, allowing some competitors including Australia’s Nick Kyrgios and Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova to move through to the second round.

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Men’s 17th seed Kyrgios beat Italy’s Marco Cecchinato 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 while Kvitova beat Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

In other men’s matches, Netherland’s Igor Sijsling beat Romanian Adrian Ungur 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) and Russia’s Teimuraz Gabashvili defeated American Donald Young 7-6 (7/1), 6-2, 6-3.

Local favourite Benoit Paire (19) took five sets to beat Radu Albot of Molodova 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4, and Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov beat Germany’s Benjamin Becker in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

In the women’s draw, Taiwan’s Su-Wei Hsieh beat Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, Swiss player Viktorija Golubic had a 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 victory over American Alison Riske.

Czech Republic 11th seed Lucie Safarova advanced, beating Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko 6-0, 6-2, and Russian 24th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Spain’s Sara Sorribes 6-2, 6-0.

Matches continued in heavy drizzle before the players were sent scurrying for cover in the middle of the afternoon.

A short respite allowed play to restart only for further heavy downpours to move in across western Paris.

Women’s fourth seed Garbine Muguruza’s match against Anna Karolina-Schmiedlova was one of several called off, with others interrupted mid-match.

Men’s fifth seed Kei Nishikori was leading Simone Bolelli 6-1, 7-5, 2-1 on the main Philippe Chatrier court when play was halted.

Rain is also forecast for Monday, with the weather predicted to dry up as the week progresses.

– Agencies

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