Former Roland Garros champion Halep surprised a Chinese teenager

Former tennis champion Simona Halep has already exited in the second round at Roland Garros. After a good start, the 30-year-old world No. 19 lost 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 to younger Zeng Chenwen of China.

Halep won the Grand Slam in Paris in 2018. Four years ago she was too strong for American Sloane Stephens in the final in three sets. A year after her title at Roland Garros, she was also the best at Wimbledon.

The 19-year-old, ranked 74th in the world, had never competed in the main tournament for Roland Garros before. She made her Grand Slam debut earlier this year at the Australian Open. In Melbourne, she reached the second round.

The tournament also ended for ninth seed Danielle Collins. The American had to get to know her compatriot president Shelby Rogers 6-4 6-3. At the beginning of this year, the 28-year-old Collins reached the final battle at the Australian Open. She lost in straight sets to Melbourne’s Ashleigh Barty, who ended her career earlier this year.

Karolina Pliskova was also eliminated earlier in the day. The Czech ranked eighth 6-2 6-2 without a chance against the French Julia Gangin, who is ranked 227 in the world rankings.

Paula Padusa, No. 3 on the placement list, managed to avoid disqualification. The Spaniards had to go deeper to get rid of Kaja Jovan of Slovenia: 7-5 3-6 6-2.

Seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka more convincingly joined the last 32. The 24-year-old from Belarus had few problems with Madison Pringle from the United States. In 62 minutes it became 6-1 6-3.

Czech defending champion Barbora Krejkova was eliminated in the opening round.