Ouseph ends drought with win at French Open

Rajiv Ouseph swept aside Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk on Wednesday to end a run of four straight defeats and reach the second round of the French Open.

Feltham’s world number 22 recorded a 21-6 21-12 win over the Thai, ranked one place above him, in Paris.

It avenged his loss against Saensomboonsuk at this year’s World Championship in August.

Ouseph had not gone beyond the first round of any of the three tournaments since, but had no trouble this time.

The west Londoner won the first game with a run of 10 straight points but the next one was a slightly closer affair.

The pair were locked at 6-6 before Ouseph took control, motoring ahead and eventually closing it out with his first match point.

He will now play India’s Commonwealth champion, and tournament eighth seed, Parupalli Kashyap in round two.