3 Things to Know: May 17

Bencic out of French Open; Austin talks five-setters for women; Berdych fires coach. (AP Photo)

1

World No. 8 Belinda Bencic has pulled out of the French Open with a back injury that has been ailing her since March. The teenager hasn’t won a match since beating Lauren Davis in Indian Wells, and it’s Davis that gets the last-minute main draw spot in Paris thanks to the Swiss’ withdrawal. Bencic won the junior French Open in 2013.

2

In a French Open preview conference call, Tracy Austin suggested that women can play best of five set matches just like the men. She also suggested that men could also play best-of-three set matches at majors to make watching the game more interesting.

“I don't think that women would have a problem playing three out of five sets,” Austin said.  “And I think also, on the men's side, often times three out of five is too long.  And so I think women, if they were asked again to play three out of five, that wouldn't be a problem. For me, it's not about the length.”

3

A day after losing 6-0, 6-0 to David Goffin in Rome, Tomas Berdych fired his coach Dani Vallverdu. "I am not a player at the beginning of my career," the 30-year-old said, "so I had to act quickly when I felt like making a change.'' Vallverdu was the long-time hitting partner and coach of Andy Murray before beginning to work with Berdych in 2014.