Story so far: Azarenka exits, Bertens wins but wheeled off court in pain

Tenth seed Victoria Azarenka was the first big name beaten at Roland-Garros on Wednesday, a straight-sets victim of Slovak Anna Karolina Schmiedlova on Court Simonne-Mathieu.

The Belarusian joined three-time champion Serena Williams as casualties, following the No.6 seed's withdrawal earlier on Wednesday due to an Achilles problem.

Williams handed Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova a walkover into the third round.

Azarenka was coming of a run to her first Grand Slam final in seven years at the US Open and had reached the quarter-finals in Rome leading in, but had no answers in a 6-2, 6-3 defeat to the world No.161.

Schmiedlova had snapped a 13-match Grand Slam main draw losing streak to down Venus Williams in the opening round - her third straight over the American - and has now equalled her best run at a major from the 2015 US Open and 2014 Roland-Garros.

Schmiedlova has had a disastrous run with injuries and underwent multiple surgeries throughout her career. She is thrilled to advance to the third round at Roland-Garros for the first time since 2014, taking out huge scalps along the way.

"Especially here in Paris, I'm extremely happy because it's my favourite Grand Slam and favourite tournament of the year. I always play good here. I had many chances in last couple of years. I had match points or really close matches. I always play good here, just didn't close it," said the 26-year-old.

"I always thought that one year it has to come. I'm happy that this year I am in the third round. I'm extremely happy. Especially when I won against such great players, I have big respect for both of them."

Fifth Kiki Bertens had a dramatic end to her 7-6(5), 3-6, 9-7 victory over 2012 runner-up Sara Errani as she was wheeled off in tears and in pain, struggling with cramps, after saving a match point against the Italian.

Errani was not too thrilled about a medical timeout Bertens needed late in the match and angrily walked off court without tapping racquets with the Dutchwoman.

"That match, I don't like - I don't know how to say in English - when somebody joking on you," said Errani later.

"She can play an amazing match. She played an amazing match, but I don't like the situation. One hour she's injury, then she run like never. I don't like that. She go out of the court on the chair, and now she's in the locker perfect, in the restaurant. I don't like these things. I'm sorry."

He's still the man

Former champion Stan Wawrinka overcame a third-set blip to see off in-form German Dominik Koepfer to reach the third round on Wednesday.

The Swiss 16th seed was coming off a first-round blitzing of Andy Murray and backed it up with a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 result against the world No.61.

Wawrinka recorded his 150th Grand Slam match win to become the 15th man in history to reach the milestone at the majors.

Meanwhile, Elina Svitolina drew on all her big-match experience to overcome a second-set wipeout against Mexican qualifier Renata Zarazua to move into the third round.

The Ukrainian third seed looked well on her way to stamping her ticket under a closed roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier before her opponent ensured a 23rd birthday to remember with a second-set bagel.

Svitolina steadied to post a 6-3, 0-6, 6-2 victory after 93 minutes. The Strasbourg champion - a two-time quarter-finalist in Paris - will face either Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova or Australian Astra Sharma for a place in the fourth round.

World No.178 Zarazua stood a set from becoming the first Mexican woman in 50 years to reach the third round in Paris.

Last year's semi-finalist Amanda Anisimova, the No.25 seed, was in imperious form against fellow American Bernarda Pera as she sped to a 6-2, 6-0 win in just 57 minutes.

In the third round, the 19-year-old could get a rematch with top seed Simona Halep, whom she upset en route to the final four last season. Halep faces fellow Romanian, and potential Olympics doubles partner, Irina-Camelia Begu a second-round clash on Court Suzanne-Lenglen later today.