Korda, Fritz, Anisimova Advance to French Open Third Round; Eddie Herr Canceled; ITA Fall Tour Week Two Winners

Serena Williams withdrew from the French  Open today prior to her second round match with Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria with an Achilles injury, but the younger Americans delivered victories today in Paris, with 20-year-old qualifier Sebastian Korda extending his breakthrough slam to the third round with a four-set win over No. 21 seed John Isner.

Korda, the 2018 Australian Open boys champion, broke Isner five times in his 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory, and struck 46 winners against just 28 unforced errors. Korda returned well, and was much more solid once the rallies began, while Isner couldn't summon his best serving when he needed it. Korda, who won his first slam match on Sunday, will face fellow qualifier Pedro Martinez of Spain for a spot in the round of 16.

No. 27 seed Taylor Fritz, 22, who has made the third round in all three of the slams played in 2020, defeated Radu Albot of Moldova 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. 

Nineteen-year-old Amanda Anisimova, who reached the French Open semifinals last year, breezed past Bernarda Pera 6-2, 6-0, to set up another Paris encounter with Simona Halep, the top seed, who Anisimova defeated last year in the quarterfinals.

Coco Gauff, who had taken out No. 9 seed Johanna Konta in the first round, struggled with her serve again today against qualifier Martina Trevisan of Italy, hitting 19 double faults in a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 loss. 

With Mackenzie McDonald going out to Rafael Nadal, Dominik Koepfer losing to Stan Wawrinka, and Isner falling to Korda, only three former collegians remain: Kevin Anderson, Marcos Giron and Tennys Sandgren, all of whom play their second round matches Thursday, as does the only former collegian on the women's side, Danielle Collins.

Thursday's order of play is here.

Wednesday’s French Open second round results of Americans:

Tsvetana Pironkova(BUL) d. Serena Williams[6] w/o 

Martina Trevisan(ITA)[Q] d. Coco Gauff 46, 62, 75

Amanda Anisimova[25] d. Bernarda Pera 62, 60 

Rafael Nadal(ESP)[2] d. Mackenzie McDonald 61, 60, 63

Dominic Thiem(AUT)[3] d. Jack Sock[Q] 61 63 76(6)

Sebastian Korda[Q] d. John Isner[21] 64, 64, 26, 64

Taylor Fritz[27] d. Radu Albot(MDA) 63, 62, 64

Casper Ruud(NOR)[28] d. Tommy Paul 61, 16, 63, 16, 63

Thursday’s French Open second round matches featuring Americans:

Sofia Kenin[4] v Ana Bogdan(ROU)

Danielle Collins v Clara Tauson(DEN)[Q]

Christina McHale v Patricia Tig(ROU)

Sloane Stephens[29] v Paula Badosa(ESP)

Marcos Giron v Thiago Monteiro(BRA)

Tennys Sandgren v Daniel Elahi Galan(COL)[LL]

The Eddie Herr International tournament had promised a decision about the status of this year's event by the end of September, and it was announced today that it will not take place in 2020.

The health and safety of everyone involved in the Eddie Herr International Junior Championship remains our top priority, so due to global health concerns regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus), and in agreement with the USTA, this year’s event will not take place. We thank our guests, players, partners and staff for their support, and look forward to welcoming everyone back to Eddie Herr in 2021.

As of now, the Orange Bowl, which is an ITF event for 16s and 18s in Plantation Florida, is still on for December 7-13.

Week 2 of the ITA Fall Tour has concluded, and below is a list of the winners of the 18 events. The ITA published this recap of how the Top 5 UTR players did in the tournaments they entered. Entries for Week 4 close on Sunday.

Williamsburg: Men, Alec Strause; Women, Diya Challa

South Bend: Men, Patrick Maloney; Women, Gabrielle Guenther

Evansville: Men, Jacob Perkins; Women, Jana Leder

Lexington: Men, Davis Phillips; Women, Marina Fuduric

Huntsville: Men, James Story; Women, Jana Hecking

Wichita: Men, Elio Lago; Women, Vanessa Ong

Lawrenceville: Men, Ben Shelton; Women, Maria Genovese

Urbandale: Men, Benjamin Lott; Women, Claire Gu

West Palm Beach: Men, Jorge Santamaria; Women, Maria Rizzolo

Minneapolis: Women, Veronica Rodriguez

Lakeland: Men, Samuel Frizelle; Women, Katja Wiersholm

Ypsilanti: Men, Andrew Vincler; Women, Sophia Zaslow

Daytona Beach: Men, Rodrigo Carvalo

Medina: Men, Caleb Miller; Women, Madeline Atway

San Angelo: Women, Andrea Villareal

Whitewater: Men, Tomas Salgado; Women, Reese Brantmeier

Beaumont: Men, Axel Vila Antuna; Women, Destinee Martins

Aurora: Men, Nicholas Patrick