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UCLA at the French Open: Day 2

by uclabruins.com
Sep 28, 2020
Mackenzie McDonald (Photo: Susan Mullane/USA Today Sports)

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TUESDAY, SEPT. 29

Marcos Giron earned his first-career French Open win, the end result of a marathon match played Tuesday against Quentin Halys of France on Court 7. Giron joined former UCLA teammate Mackenzie McDonald, who was victorious Monday, in the second round.

Giron overcame a break of serve at 2-3 in the first set to get off on the right foot. Halys countered by taking the ensuing two sets, including the third via tiebreaker. His back against the wall and down an early break, Giron charged back to force a decisive fifth set. There, Halys took four games in a row after dropping the first three and held leads of 5-4 and 6-5. Giron never caved, though, taking the final three games and the 7-5, 3-6, 6-7(5), 7-5, 8-6 win. He will next face Thiago Monteiro of Brazil Thursday.

Former UCLA women's tennis standout Jennifer Brady, who reached the semifinal round of the US Open singles draw earlier this month, was edged by qualifier Clara Tauson of Denmark on Court Simonne Mathieu Tuesday. Brady bounced back from a lost first set to force a third, but Tauson earned a break at 7-7 and held on for the 6-4, 3-6, 9-7 victory.

Partnered with fellow American Tennys Sandgren, McDonald was knocked out of the doubles draw Tuesday on Court 10. The pair forced a third set, but was ultimately overpowered by the duo of Marton Fucsovics/Cameron Norrie in a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 result

McDonald will be in action for the third consecutive day Wednesday, when he meets 12-time Roland-Garros champion and second-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain in second-round singles action. The match, the third of the day on Court Philippe-Chatrier, will begin at approximately 4:30 p.m., PT.

MONDAY, SEPT. 28

Former UCLA men's tennis standout Mackenzie McDonald reached the second round of the French Open singles draw for the first time in his career Monday, defeating qualifier Steven Diez of Canada in four sets on Court 11.

Diez seized the first set, only to have McDonald bounce back for the 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win in 2 hours, 48 minutes. McDonald showcased an effective serve on the clay, piling up 11 aces to just two for Diez. McDonald will next face second-seeded Rafael Nadal, who has won 12 Roland-Garros singles titles since 2005.

McDonald is pulling double duty, as he is set to team with fellow American Tennys Sandgren in first-round doubles play Tuesday. The pair will meet Marton Fucsovics/Cameron Norrie at approximately 6 a.m., PT Tuesday. Another Bruin, Jean-Julien Rojer, will get started Wednesday.

McDonald's former teammate, Marcos Giron, will meet Quentin Halys of France in first-round singles action Tuesday at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Court 7. Giron climbed into the ATP top 100 for the first time in his career Aug. 31 and has remained there since.

On the women's side, Jennifer Brady will look to follow her impressive run at the US Open with another in Paris. She will face off against Clara Tauson of Denmark on Court Simonne Mathieu Tuesday at 2 a.m., PT.

Women's doubles, featuring Bruins Brady and Ena Shibahara, begins Wednesday.

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