By Lauren Lynch
Photo Credit: Jacques Demarthon/Getty Images Sport
(May 26, 2011) Yesterday seemed to be in the interest of the favorites while today seemed to squash them.The day was described as cloudy and windy, creating heavy balls that are not conducive to tennis.
After Kim Clijsters was upset earlier, people began to point to Maria Sharapova as the player to watch. But someone should have said, "Not so fast ..." Sharapova got a scare but eventually won 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.
The French crowd and Amelie Mauresmo cheered on their countrywoman, World No. 188 Caroline Garcia, a wildcard, as she grew in confidence and outplayed seventh seed Sharapova, in the packed Philippe Chatrier, to win the first set 6-3.
Sharapova told ESPN, "I didn't feel like anything was going my way in the first set."
Garcia raced off to a 4-1 lead in the second set, but Sharapova broke back to increase her momentum and take the set 6-4. The match changed from there as the experienced former No. 1 managed to not lose a point up to the second game and won the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.
17-year-old Garcia hit big, loopy, and angled shots that had Sharapova on the defensive. She may have lost but she will be a player to watch.
Andy Murray thinks that Garcia will be the future World No. 1. Murray tweeted out, "The girl sharapova is playing is going to be number one in the world one day caroline garcia, what a player u heard it here first."
She played the qualifying round last year, losing in her first match. Garcia made it to the second round of the Australian Open earlier this year.
Sharapova will play Yung-Jan Chan next. The Taiwanese player has never taken a set from Sharapova in the two matches that they have played. The last time they met was in 2007.
Meanwhile, the 15th seed, Andrea Petkovic, made it to her first third round in Paris. Even though she had less winners than her opponent, the German beat Lucie Hradecka 7-6 (2), 6-2.
It was nice to see some Brits in the second round. England's top-ranked player, Elena Baltacha, lost to Vania King earlier in the the day and World No. 118 Heather Watson soon followed, losing to the 16th-seeded Kaia Kanepi 6-1, 6-3.
Roland Garros quarterfinalist Kanepi will face Ekaterina Makarova, who beat Swedish Johanna Larsson 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Keep checking www.TennisNow.com throughout the day and throughout the tournament for more results and analysis, and visit our live scores page to see the action as it unfolds.