Tennis: Romanian third seed Halep knocked out in second round at French Open

Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni celebrates after defeating Romania's Simona Halep during the women's second round at the Roland Garros 2015 French Tennis Open in Paris on May 27, 2015. -- PHOTO: AFP
Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni celebrates after defeating Romania's Simona Halep during the women's second round at the Roland Garros 2015 French Tennis Open in Paris on May 27, 2015. -- PHOTO: AFP

PARIS (AFP) - Croatian veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni reached the French Open third round for the first time since 2001 on Wednesday when she defeated Romanian third seed Simona Halep 7-5, 6-1.

Lucic-Baroni, ranked 70 in the world and who had also defeated 2014 Roland Garros runner-up Halep in the US Open last year, goes on to face France's Alize Cornet.

Lucic-Baroni last reached the third round in Paris in 2001 as a 19-year-old qualifier where she lost to Jennifer Capriati.

She made her debut back in 1999 but didn't play the tournament between 2003 and 2010.

Halep, who required treatment on her right hand towards the end of the first set, is the second top 10 casualty this week. Sixth seed Eugenie Bouchard was knocked out in the first round on Tuesday.

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