FRENCH OPEN DIARY: Novak Djokovic reveals the secret device which makes him feel like Iron Man… and Iga Swiatek celebrates 22nd birthday and second-round win with shout-out to Taylor Swift
- Novak Djokovic was seen with a button-like device on his chest on Thursday
- Taylor Swift fan Iga Swiatek wrote on the camera: ‘I’m feeling 22 — #Swiftie’
- Ukrainians hit out at sponsors Lacoste for continuing to do business in Russia
Defending champion Iga Swiatek and Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina underlined their title credentials on day five with straight-set wins at the French Open.
World No 1 Swiatek, who celebrated her 22nd birthday on Wednesday, had difficulty finding her rhythm in windy conditions against American Claire Liu, before pulling away to win 6-4, 6-0.
Rybakina fought off a Czech teenager for the second straight round, following up her success against 16-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova by defeating 18-year-old Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-3.
Seventh seed Ons Jabeur has also looked strong so far, the Tunisian seeing off Oceane Dodin 6-2, 6-3.
Here, Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE rounds up some of the big stories from Paris.
Novak Djokovic was seen with a button-like device (right) on his chest at the French Open
Djokovic reveals his biggest secret
Novak Djokovic says he feels like Iron Man by wearing a ‘patented nanotechnology’, which claims to turn heat to light, supplied by an Italian firm.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner was seen with a button-like device on his chest and said: ‘It’s the biggest secret of my career!
‘When I was a kid I liked Iron Man a lot, so I tried to impersonate him.’
Lacoste ‘shedding crocodile tears’
There was a protest spotted in Porte d’Auteuil as Ukrainians vented their anger at tournament sponsors Lacoste continuing to do business in Russia.
Signs read ‘stop doing business with (Vladimir) Putin’ next to a picture of the president wearing Lacoste gear and holding a grenade in the colour of a tennis ball.
The Ukraine Solidarity Project told Mail Sport: ‘Lacoste is shedding crocodile tears for the people of Ukraine. They are bringing shame on Roland Garros and on tennis.’
Wrong call raises a smile
A gaffe on Court Philippe Chatrier as the DJ booth malfunctioned and a member of staff’s radio call towards a colleague accidentally came out of the loudspeaker system.
‘Bonjour, bonjour?’ they said. It got a chuckle from Swiatek and the umpire.
Swiatek’s shout out to Swift
World No 1 Iga Swiatek is a Taylor Swift fan and, after breezing past Claire Liu into round three, wrote on the camera, ‘I’m feeling 22 — #Swiftie’, a nod to the Pole turning 22 on Wednesday.
Swiatek then had a bizarre exchange with a reporter who made six Swift-related puns.
Her favourite album is Red and she says she is in her Reputation era.
