Carlos Alcaraz, Cameron Norrie, Aryna Sabalenka, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jessica Pegula and Elina Svitolina all advanced to round three while Caroline Garcia, the highest-ranked French player, lost to Anna Blinkova. It was 4th day. What will be next?

Day 5 of the French Open is upon us and the action ahead is mouthwatering. Now it’s the turn of the likes of world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, Holger Rune and Casper Ruud to take centre stage, with Britain’s Jamie Murray also in action.

TOP MEN’S MATCH – HOLGER RUNE V GAEL MONFILS

Weeks after Holger Rune attracted the ire of Italian fans in his win over local favourite Fabio Fognini in Rome, the Dane will again be cast in the role of villain as he prepares to take on veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils at the French Open.

Monfils, a former semi-finalist and three-time quarter-finalist at Roland Garros, opened his campaign with a five-set comeback win over Sebastian Baez.

The 36-year-old, who missed much of last season due to heel surgery, will have his fitness truly put to the test by Rune and will need to draw on his deep well of experience against the Dane’s fast-paced all-court game.

The winner will take on either Genaro Alberto Olivieri or Andrea Vavassori in the third round.

The World No. 4 Casper Ruud, who is chasing his maiden Grand Slam title this fortnight, will meet Italian Giulio Zeppieri.

TOP WOMEN’S MATCH – IGA SWIATEK V CLAIRE LIU

In the women’s draw, world number one Iga Swiatek’s bid for back-to-back titles in Paris will be tested by American Claire Liu.

Iga Swiatek is the defending champion here in Paris, where she also won her first Grand Slam title in 2020 as a relative unknown. The Pole turned 22 on Wednesday and she already owns three majors, including last season’s US Open, and five Masters to her name with six of her 13 WTA trophies won on her favoured clay.

World number 102 Claire Liu is better than her current deflated ranking suggests but a 6-1, 6-0 defeat to Swiatek at Indian Wells back in March is a pretty convincing precursor to what may transpire here.

Fourth seed Elena Rybakina faces Czech Linda Noskova, while seventh-seeded Ons Jabeur takes on Oceane Dodin.