In-form Benoit Paire gives France local hope but Lucas Pouille out

Tennis365

France’s hopes of a first French Open champion since Yannick Noah in 1983 were kept alive by the tenacity of Benoit Paire as Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta retired at the end of the third set.

On a high having won the title in Lyon last weekend, Paire kept up his winning streak easing through 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 with Carreno Busta eventually forfeiting after succumbing to injury.

Paire makes it through to the fourth-round of Roland Garros for the first time in his career and will play the winner of Kei Nishikori and Laslo Djere.

But it wasn’t all smiles for French tennis fans as Lucas Pouille was edged out in a tight five-sets going down 7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 9-7 to Slovakia’s Martin Klizan.

Next up for Klizan will be the 10th seed Karen Khachanov in the third-round.

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