And then there were two…

Switzerland's Michel Kratochvil has crashed out of the French Open Keystone

Patty Schnyder and Marie-Gaïané Mikaelian are the only Swiss players still involved in the French Open following two more early departures on Wednesday.

Swiss men’s number two Michel Kratochvil was beaten in straight sets by Romania’s Andrei Pavel in the tournament’s second round action, while Swiss women’s number four Emmanuelle Gagliardi fell foul of talented Yugoslav teenager Jelena Dokic in a first round meeting.

Kratochvil lasted just 97 minutes against Pavel, who is seeded 22nd at the Grand Slam event, with the Romanian grabbing a solid 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 victory.

Gagliardi made an unexpectedly strong start to Wednesday’s match, taking a 2-0 and 4-2 lead over Dokic in the opening set. But the world number eight rallied to eventually beat the 25-year-old Genevan 6-4, 6-2.

Gagliard’s defeat was her fourth in four meetings with Dokic, and her third loss to the Yugoslav on clay.

Schnyder and Mikaelian progress

Following the first round exits of Swiss favourite Roger Federer and his Davis Cup team-mate Ivo Heuberger in the tournament’s first two days, Schnyder and Mikaelian at least provided the country’s tennis fans with some cheer on Wednesday.

Unlike Federer, who was beaten in straight sets by Morocco’s Hicham Arazi on Tuesday, Schnyder was able to avoid an upset against Venezuelan qualifier Milagros Sequera.

Schnyder (WTA 24) eased past Sequera (WTA 121) 6-3, 6-2 to set up a second round match against Italy’s Tathiana Garbin (WTA 89).

Mikaelian (WTA 53) had to work a little harder in her opening match against Hungarian qualifier Rita Kuti Kis (WTA 255) after surrendering the first set 4-6.

The Lausanne teenager fought back in style though during the next two sets – losing just one more game on the way to a 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory.

Mikaelian is now set to meet Italy’s Francesca Schiavone in the second round.