Day 4 RG Surprises: Women's draw takes a hit

By Nina PanticPublished May 29, 2019

Each day of Roland Garros, Baseline will sum up the action with a photo gallery of the top surprises.

Retirements Rain Down

Ninth seed Elina Svitolina walked into the third round without playing a point on Wednesday due to the withdrawal of her opponent Kateryna Kozlova, due to a viral illness. Citing the same reason, No. 4 seed Kiki Bertens stopped after four games against Vikoria Kuzmova. No. 22-seeded Bianca Andreescu pulled out from her Friday match against Sofia Kenin, citing a shoulder injury.

Stephens Shows Up Ringless

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Sloane Stephens of The United States plays a forehand during her ladies singles second round match against Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain during Day four of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Sloane Stephens got past Sara Sorribes Tormo, 6-1, 7-6 (3) to continue her march in Paris. The defending finalist returns as an engaged woman, having said yes to Jozy Altidore last month in Los Angeles in a special art gallery filled with photos of them. But she's not wearing her ring, saying, "I wear it in the house for now, for comfort. It's very nice."

Goffin and Nadal Share Stat

Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a shot against Germany's Yannick Maden during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) — © Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

Though Rafael Nadal has 11 Roland Garros titles and his next opponent in Paris, David Goffin, has zero, they do have one thing in common: both players lost just 13 games in their first two rounds. Goffin even won a set 6-0, in his first match over Ricardas Berankis. He seems as in-form as ever to get his second career win against Nadal.

Mahut Marches On

France's Nicolas Mahut celebrates with his son after winning against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber during their men's singles second round match on day four of The Roland Garros 2019 French Open tennis tournament in Paris on May 29, 2019. (Photo by Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP) (Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images) — © AFP/Getty Images

At 37, Nicolas Mahut may be playing the best singles of his life as his doubles career falls in question. He dismantled Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the third round. The world No. 252 need a wild card just to play, and he's actually been in the third round of Paris before, in 2015 and 2012. Fellow French wild card Corentin Moutet is also safely into the third round. Mahut's former doubles partner Pierre-Hugues Herbert was less lucky, losing an epic fifth set 11-9 to Benoit Paire.

Bolivian Battles

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Hugo Dellien of Bolivia applauds fans following defeat during his mens singles second round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during Day four of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Hugo Dellien made history by becoming the first Bolivian since 1984 to win a round at Roland Garros when he beat Prajnesh Gunneswaran on Sunday with the loss of just four games. The world No. 86 then won the first set off of world No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas before losing in four. That's pretty good for a guy that quit tennis in 2016 to start an ice business.

Follow Nina on Twitter @ninapantic1.