The Latest: Thiem reaches 3rd round at French Open

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PARIS (AP) — The Latest on the French Open (all times local):

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2:05 p.m.

Dominic Thiem overcame some trickery from Kazakh opponent Alexander Bublik to advance to the third round at the French Open with a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5 victory.

Bublik surprised Thiem with an underhand serve in the first set and frustrated the Austrian with a series of drop shots, spins and volleys. But last year’s finalist at Roland Garros recovered from a break of serve in the fourth set and then gave Bublik a taste of his own medicine on his first match point, producing a well-disguised — and successful — drop shot.

Thiem will next face Pablo Cuevas, another master of trick shots. Cuevas was leading 7-6 (3), 6-3, 2-1 when Kyle Edmund retired from their match because of a left knee injury.

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2 p.m.

Naomi Osaka survived another fraught match at the French Open to cling onto her quest for a third consecutive Grand Slam title.

After losing the first set and being a break down in the second, the top-ranked Osaka rallied to beat former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Broken by a backhand volley at the net from Azarenka in the fifth game of the second set, Osaka seemed to be in deep trouble. But, as she did in a three-set win in the first round, Osaka again proved her resilience as she turned the match around on Court Suzanne Lenglen to advance to the third round.

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1:20 p.m.

American teenager Amanda Anisimova is proving to be a jinx at Grand Slam tournaments for Aryana Sabalenka.

After previously beating the 11th-ranked Sabalenka in the third round of the Australian Open in January, the 17-year-old Anisimova did it again in the second round of the French Open, winning 6-4, 6-2.

Anisimova, ranked No. 51, is making only her second appearance at Roland Garros. She lost in the first round in 2017.

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11 a.m.

Naomi Osaka plays Victoria Azaranka in a matchup of current and former No. 1 players in the second round of the French Open.

Also Thursday, Serena Williams is back on Court Philippe Chatrier against Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara.

In men’s action, top-ranked Novak Djokovic faces 104th-ranked Henri Laaksonen, a “lucky loser” who only entered the draw when another player pulled out.

Osaka is aiming to win her third consecutive Grand Slam tournament, while at No. 43 Azarenka is still working her way back into the upper echelons of the game after a series of injuries, a pregnancy and a custody battle over her child.

A two-time winner of the Australian Open, Azarenka’s best result at Roland Garros was a run to the semifinals in 2013.

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Austria’s Dominic Thiem celebrates winning his second round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/05/web1_122955452-ebac841cb19d402baec91ba1ae52f100.jpgAustria’s Dominic Thiem celebrates winning his second round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

Japan’s Naomi Osaka reacts after missing a shot during her second round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/05/web1_122955452-c780181462304f1fb1fbcf455fbbc70b.jpgJapan’s Naomi Osaka reacts after missing a shot during her second round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus plays a shot against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/05/web1_122955452-f2702dbaf35c4267bee777f20dcbb63b.jpgVictoria Azarenka of Belarus plays a shot against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

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