Belinda Bencic, the 14th seed, was eliminated in the third round in Paris by Leylah Fernandez ©Getty Images

Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, playing as a neutral, were the highest seeds knocked out as the third round of the women’s singles competition got underway at the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris.

Bencic, the 14th seed, was edged out by Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, with the 17th seed triumphing in just under three hours in the opening match of the day on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Azarenka, the 15th seed and a double Australian Open champion, was also edged out in another lengthy match, being beaten by Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann, with the 23rd seed winning 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 in a contest that lasted for just over three and a quarter hours.

Jil Teichmann caused an upset as she knocked out Victoria Azarenka at Roland Garros ©Getty Images
Jil Teichmann caused an upset as she knocked out Victoria Azarenka at Roland Garros ©Getty Images

Another Grand Slam champion to exit today was Germany’s Angelique Kerber, with the 21st seed, who has won singles titles at all the Grand Slams except in France, defeated 6-4, 7-6 by Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus, who is playing as a neutral.

Other third round women’s singles results included victory for 27th seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States, whose opponent Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic retired with an ankle injury with Anisimova leading 6-7, 6-2, 3-0.

Fellow American Coco Gauff was also a winner on day six of the tournament, defeating Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 6-4.