Key events
Thanks Billy and hello again all. A few more matches coming to close and a few exciting ones coming up.
Yara El-Shaboury is back to take you through the next few hours.
Women’s singles latest: Second seed Elena Rybakina has taken the first set against Veronika Erjavec (6-2) while Austria’s Julia Grabher has progressed to the second round with a 6-2 6-2 victory against Rebecca Sramkova. Elise Mertens has won the first set (7-5) against Tatjana Maria.
French watch: With Arthur Rinderknech through today, there are a handful of other home players in action. Luca van Assche, ranked No 63 in the world, is 2-1 up in sets against Lithuania’s Vilius Gaubas, who replaced Patrick Kypson after the American withdrew with abdominal pains.
Terence Atmane, ranked No 52 in the world, is locked in a tight battle with Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first set on court 6.
Then there are two all-French affairs on Philippe-Chatrier later on with Ugo Humbert taking on Adrian Mannarino before Gael Monfils starts his final French Open against Hugo Gaston tonight.
On the women’s side, wildcard Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah, the Madagascar-born No 153 in the world, will be up against No 6 seed Amanda Anisimova on Suzanne-Lenglen.
Iga Swiatek took little time in seeing off Australian wildcard Emerson Jones 6-1 6-2 earlier on. The four-time champion in Paris, the last in 2024, has done some talking …
I’m just really happy to play on this court; the first matches are for getting used to conditions, I’m happy the way I played today, tactically.
Nothing comes easy. I feel with more titles it feels harder because everyone expects you to play perfectly, so you have to stay grounded and not take anything for granted.
It’ll be 33C in Paris today – and basically the same until the weekend. Oof.
Stan Wawrinka has opened his 21st French Open this lunchtime – the 2015 champion is a set down to Jesper de Jong (6-3). It will likely be the 41-year-old’s final appearance at Roland Garros, given he is due to retire at the end of this season.
Meanwhile Rafael Jodar is flying, two sets up against Aleksander Kovacevic (6-1, 6-0) at his first French Open. Frances Tiafoe has taken the first set (6-3) against fellow American Elliot Spizzirri.
British qualifier Toby Samuel’s French Open adventure ended with a first-round loss to eighth seed Alex De Minaur. Samuel made it through qualifying on his first attempt at Roland Garros but this was a huge step up given the 23-year-old had never faced a top-100 player before. He acquitted himself well in hot conditions on his grand slam debut but De Minaur was a class above in a 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory.
Samuel, who was another British player to choose to hone his game at a US college, had the biggest ranking rise of any male player last year, leaping from 1,867 in the world to 266. He has continued his ascent this season and arrived in Paris at a career high of 159, making him the British No 8.
Samuel, who grew up in Dorset and now trains at the University of Bath, looked understandably nervous initially against De Minaur, and the Australian was quickly a break up. But Samuel settled into the contest and briefly threatened to make life difficult for his opponent when he broke the De Minaur serve to lead 2-0 in the second set. His advantage was quickly snuffed out, though, Samuel bouncing his racket on the clay in frustration, and De Minaur ended the match with a run of five games in a row. PA Media
Home favourite Arthur Rinderknech – the highest-seeded Frenchman this year – is safely through to the second round after a 7-6 (5) 6-2 6-3 win over the Austrian qualifier Jurij Rodionov.
On Philippe-Chatrier, second seed Elena Rybakina has come through a tough service game in the opening stages of her match against Slovenia’s Veronika Erjavec. It’s 1-1 in games.
Rafael Jodar has stormed to the first set against Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-1. The 19-year-old Spaniard was ranked around 700th in the world this time last year while at college in the US. After his recent run at the Madrid Open, Jodar is competing at his first Roland Garros as the 27th seed.
Tim Joyce has been charting the rise of the ‘new Rafa’ …
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen’s return to the venue of her most famous triumph ended with a 6-4 6-0 humbling by the Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the first round earlier on.
China’s Zheng has largely struggled to replicate the form that carried her to the gold medal at the Paris Games two years ago with a chronic right elbow injury stalling her progress and forcing her to undergo surgery last summer.
The 23-year-old, who made the Roland Garros quarter-finals last year, took treatment for a foot problem midway through the second set before her first defeat in the opening round of the French Open.
World No 114 Chwalinska, who came through three rounds of qualifying and dished out two bagels along the way, showed no mercy and wrapped up the win to book a clash with either Tatjana Maria or 23rd seed Elise Mertens in the second round. Reuters
Early results
Thanks Yara. Here are today’s first-round results so far …
Men’s singles
P Carreño-Busta (Spa) bt J Lehecka (Cz, 12) 6-3 7-6 (3) 6-3
A De Minaur (Aus, 8) bt T Samuel (GB) 6-4 6-4 6-2
A Michelsen (US) bt A Shevchenko (Kaz) 6-2 6-4 6-2
Women’s singles
J Teichmann (Swe) bt L Samsonova (20) 6-4 6-4
S Bandecchi (Swi) bt C Bucsa (Spa, 31) 6-4 2-6 6-4
M Chwalinska (Pol) bt Zheng Q (Chn) 6-4 6-0
D Kasatkina (Aus) bt Z Sonmez (Tur) 6-4 6-4
J Paolini (Ita, 13) bt D Yastremska (Ukr) 7-5 6-3
I Swiatek (Pol, 3) bt E Jones (Aus) 6-1 6-2
Billy Munday is here to steer you through some more Roland Garros coverage.
Swiatek storms to a 6-1, 6-2 victory against Jones
Tough first round match for Jones. Swiatek may have struggled last year on clay but this was just too easy for her. The world No 3 wins it with three breaks to one but Swiatek’s relentless precision closed it out convincingly on Court Philippe-Chatrier in just under one hour.
*Jones 1-6, 2-5 Swiatek (* denotes server): Some double faults from Jones; Swiatek digs deep with a backhand return, and Jones’s backhand goes long under pressure. The Pole breaks serve and takes the game.
Another email comes in on Raducanu’s exit yesterday (see 11.16 BST).
Derek Stubbs writes in:
Winning the US Open was the worst thing that could have happened to her. It was obvious at the time that it was a freak result due to the effects of Covid on so many better players. She has spent her life since then trying to live up to a standard which is simply beyond her – hence the injuries, illnesses, and constant change of coaches, to say nothing of the media hype, which has been totally out of proportion to her meagre achievements and talent.
I certainly think media hype and her injuries have not helped and maybe in another era where the women’s game isn’t as strong as it is now, she would be performing better. We’re also seeing more well-rounded players and less surface specialists. Could she have thrived if she homed in on hard court?
Send me an email if you have any thoughts on anything Roland Garros.
Jones 1-6, 2-4 Swiatek* (* denotes server): Swiatek holds to love. She wins it with an ace after zero errors and Jones has no answers.
*Jones 1-6, 2-3 Swiatek (* denotes server): Jones crawls back after two Swiatek unforced errors opened the door and the Australian’s backhand winner sealed the break. She then holds with a crisp serve on game point.
Jasmine Paolini, a finalist here at Roland Garros, gets through her tricky match against Yastremska where after weathering a scrappy first set with five combined breaks, Paolini dominated the second to seal her first-round victory.
Kasatkina also triumphs with a composed 6-4, 6-4 victory over Sonmez. Both sets featured lively break exchanges, but after Sonmez’s early break for 3-1 in the second, Kasatkina fought back brilliantly, three breaks to two, for the win.
Jones 1-6, 0-2 Swiatek* (* denotes server): The world No 3 wins the opening two games of this set. The unforced errors are pilling up for Jones.
Huge upset as the Paris 2024 Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who won on gold on these courts, is out in the first round after losing to the Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-4, 6-0.
We will bring you the quotes from both players when they come.
Some scores from across the grounds:
Paolini 7-5, 5-3 Yastremska
De Minaur 6-4, 6-4, 1-1 Samuel
Kasatkina 6-4, 5-4 Sonmez
Van Assche 6-4, 4-2 Gaubas
Swiatek takes the first set 6-1 against Jones
Swiatek holds to love and takes the set with a clinical finish – three Jones forehand errors and a body-serve ace wrapped it up in four swift points.
The Pole takes the first set by breaking Jones three times. Jones grabbed one break but Swiatek’s groundstrokes dominated throughout.
*Jones 1-5 Swiatek (* denotes server): Swiatek is making it look so easy now. Jones never found her footing with three unforced errors surrendered a 0-40 deficit and Swiatek converted at the first opportunity.
Jones 1-4 Swiatek* (* denotes server): Quick game as Swiatek’s only mistake is a double fault to make it 30-15. Another forehand winner and she holds.
*Jones 1-3 Swiatek (* denotes server): Jones is trying to vary her shots and she hits a good slice but Swiatek is beating the teenager with two forehand winners for two break points. A rally of 10 shots follows and another Swiatekforehand winner gives her the break.
Jones 1-2 Swiatek* (* denotes server): Better from Jones. Six shots of baseline exchanges, and Jones finishes it off with a forehand winner past Swiatek to make 30-15 in her favour. Swiatek’s backhand then goes long after 11 shots between the pair. However Swiatek crawls back and takes it to deuce. The pair exchange advantages for a while but Jones strikes and gets the break back with a forehand winner.
*Jones 0-2 Swiatek (* denotes server): Swiatek breaks Jones at love. Three break points at 0-40, sealed with a crushing forehand winner.
Jones 0-1 Swiatek* (* denotes server): Swiatek takes the first game with relative ease, a dominant hold to love. Jones hit three unforced errors as Swiatek’s groundstrokes controlled every rally.
My early prediction is that I am worried this might get ugly. Again, Jones has never played a senior clay court match. Not even a qualifier or a warm up tournament. This is such a big ask.
I will be focusing on the Jones v Swiatek match but will bring you updates across the courts in between. For now, a quick email from Rob:
Watching Raducanu was just sad yesterday. I don’t think anyone can take her slam away from her but it is looking more and more like that was just a freak result that will never happen again.
Do you have any thoughts on Raducanu’s exit? Or any predictions for today’s matches? I want to hear them. Get in touch via email.
Alex De Minaur takes the first set 6-4 against Toby Samuel. The eighth seed broke the Briton in the fifth game after a grueling 23-shot rally, held off a break-back, and sealed it with a 193km ace.
Iga Swiatek kicks off her bid for a fifth French Open title on Court Philippe-Chatrier against the Australian teenager Emerson Jones. Jones has never played on clay at the WTA level – what a challenge this is going to be.
Jasmine Paolini takes the first set against Dayana Yastremska. The Italian holds to love with four clean points to make it 6-5 with Yastremska’s returns kept finding the net or sailing long. In the final game the two traded breaks throughout, but a crucial 0-40 break in the final game sealed it for the 13th seed.
Day two order of play
Here is today’s order of play on the main courts.
Court Philippe-Chatrier
Emerson Jones v (3) Iga Swiatek
Veronika Erjavec v (2) Elena Rybakina
(32) Ugo Humbert v Adrian Mannarino
Hugo Gaston v Gael Monfils
Court Suzanne-Lenglen
(22) Arthur Rinderknech v Jurij Rodionov
(7) Elina Svitolina v Anna Bondar
Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah v (6) Amanda Anisimova
Daniel Merida v (5) Ben Shelton
Court Simonne-Mathieu
(13) Jasmine Paolini v Dayana Yastremska
Stan Wawrinka v Jesper de Jong
(15) Casper Ruud v Roman Safiullin
Anastasia Zakharova v (10) Karolina Muchova
Before we get to today’s action, a recap on what went down on day one. An emotional Emma Raducanu was at a loss to explain her horror start at the French Open as she crashed to a first opening-round loss.
The British No 1 failed to win a game in a one-sided opening set against Argentina’s Solana Sierra, hitting zero winners and making 15 unforced errors. Raducanu looked like she could be heading for one of the worst defeats of her career when she trailed 4-1 in the second set but she found a belated foothold, fighting back to force a tie-break before losing 6-0 7-6 (4).
“It was difficult,” said the 23-year-old, who made 42 unforced errors in total. “I don’t think I’ve fully processed it yet, so it’s hard to speak about the match right now.
“But I have to at least take the fact that, from a set and 4-1 down, I came back and made it competitive in the second set. I’m pretty disappointed. Obviously, I wanted to do better.
“I went on the court, I felt like the conditions were extremely lively and I felt like I wasn’t able to trust my shots and didn’t feel like I had control over the ball. I think probably just a bit light on matches, a bit light on confidence coming into the tournament.
“The first set happened super quickly, and it’s not a nice feeling when the points and the games are going very, very fast. I’m glad at least in the second set I was able to get a few games on the board.”
Elsewhere, tears of joy flowed for Fran Jones after a long-awaited first grand slam victory at the French Open. The 25-year-old Briton has had a torrid year, with a leg injury and concussion keeping her off the court and pushing her back outside the Top 100, and she could not contain her emotions after battling from a set down to defeat former semi-finalist Beatriz Haddad Maia 1-6 7-6 (4) 6-2.
“Normally I’m one to say you shouldn’t cry until the tournament is over but I think, everything I’ve been through this year, it’s really been challenging,” said Jones. “I know I’m dangerous on this surface. I know I’ve not been on my best form, but it gives you belief.”
Preamble
Bonjour! The sun is shining in Paris and day two of Roland Garros brings a packed slate of opening-round action with the biggest stars beginning their campaigns across the courts.
Iga Swiatek opens her title bid against Emerson Jones, with the world No 3 expected to set the standard on her favourite surface where she has won four grand slams. Elena Rybakina is also in action, hoping to follow up her Australian Open victory with a strong showing on the clay. Katie Boulter also takes the court, hoping to equal and eventually go beyond her best finish in Paris – the second round.
Rafael Jodar’s rise this year has been one of the storylines of the season so far with the young Spaniard being seeded at the French Open after being ranked outside the world’s Top 700 not too long ago. He faces the fast-paced Aleksandar Kovacevic. Ben Shelton faces another young Spaniard in Daniel Merida while the former champion Stan Wawrinka takes on Jesper de Jong in his final season on tour.
So much action, so much to look forward to. Join me.
