Storm Hunter was among three Australian players to record doubles victories on day six at Roland Garros.
Paris, France, 2 June 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Storm Hunter and Belgian partner Elise Mertens have made an emphatic start to their women’s doubles campaign at Roland Garros.
The No.3 seeds were ruthless in a 6-2 6-2 dismissal of American combination Danielle Collins and Emma Navarro in opening-round action in Paris, striking 29 winners in the 74-minute encounter.
This equals Hunter’s career-best result at Roland Garros and marks the third consecutive year that the 28-year-old has reached the second round.
The world No.5 is now on a nine-match winning streak in doubles, having enjoyed title-winning runs alongside fellow Aussie Ellen Perez at a WTA 125 tournament in Reus and world No.6 Mertens at a WTA 1000 tournament in Rome last month.
In the men’s doubles competition, John Peers has advanced to the third round in Paris for the first time since 2019.
The 34-year-old Australian and Brazilian partner Marcelo Melo scored a 7-6(5) 6-4 second-round victory over seventh seeds, Hugo Nys of Monaco and Poland’s Jan Zielinski.
World No.14 Nys and world No.12 Zielinski have been the top-performing team so far this season. The ATP Race leaders, who had been on a six-match winning streak, were the Australian Open finalists and won the Italian Open title last month.
The experience of world No.37 Peers and world No.43 Melo, a former Roland Garros champion, proved too much to handle though.
In mixed doubles action, Matt Ebden made a promising start to his new partnership with Ukrainian Lyudmyla Kichenok.
The fifth seeds survived a tough first-round test, beating reigning champion Ena Shibahara of Japan and American Jackson Withrow 6-4 3-6 [10-5].
Aussies in action – Roland Garros
RESULTS
Women’s doubles, first round
[3] Storm Hunter (AUS)/Elise Mertens (BEL) d Danielle Collins (USA)/Emma Navarro (USA) 6-2 6-2
Men’s doubles, second round
John Peers (AUS)/Marcelo Melo (BRA) d [7] Hugo Nys (MON)/Jan Zielinski (POL) 7-6(5) 6-4
Francisco Cabral (POR)/Rafael Matos (BRA) d Max Purcell (AUS)/Ben Shelton (USA) 6-3 6-0
Mixed doubles, first round
[5] Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR)/Matt Ebden (AUS) d Ena Shibahara (JPN)/Jackson Withrow (USA) 6-4 3-6 [10-5]
Chan Hao-Ching (TPE)/Fabrice Martin (FRA) d [6] Ellen Perez (AUS)/Jan Zielinski (POL) 6-2 6-2
COMING UP
Women’s doubles, second round
[3] Storm Hunter (AUS)/Elise Mertens (BEL) v Ingrid Martins…
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