De Groot defeated, but new stars await

Having undergone hip surgery following the Paralympic Games, De Groot was returning to Grand Slam tennis for the first time since Wimbledon last year and brought a 52-match winning streak at the majors into Roland-Garros 2025. She famously won 15 consecutive Grand Slam titles between the 2021 Australian Open and Wimbledon last year.

This is De Groot’s first defeat at a major since 2020 at Roland-Garros.

Could this be a sign of a changing of the guard? Not quite, but there are new players in the wings, such as the Netherlands’ Lizzy De Greef and France's Ksenia Chasteau; the boys’ and girls’ championships here at Roland-Garros are helping to provide a pathway to the senior draws.
Chasteau is one such player. The 19-year-old won the girls’ title in Paris last year and on Tuesday played her first match in a Grand Slam main draw.

“The juniors are behind me now. I’m fully focused on ITF tournaments and I hope to compete in the next three Grand Slams,” she told Roland-Garros Magazine ahead of the tournament.

Chasteau won her first match on Tuesday 7-5, 6-2 against compatriot Charlotte Fairbank.

Elsewhere, results went to form. No.1 seed Tokito Oda opened proceedings on a breezy Court 14 against home hope Stephane Houdet. Despite fighting off a late challenge from the Frenchman, the Paralympic gold medallist and defending champion eased through 6-3, 7-5.

Second seed Alfie Hewett relinquished just one game in his opener against Chile’s Alexander Cataldo, and Spanish No.3 seed Martin de la Puente is also through and was one of only two victors in the men’s first round to need three sets. 

The men’s and women’s wheelchair draws were expanded to 16 apiece in 2023 – a reflection of the sport’s growth and visibility. But it’s still a relatively small pool and means that players are a close-knit group – something that brings advantages and disadvantages to tournaments.

“It’s a positive thing and a negative thing, the Netherlands’ Ruben Spaargaren explained. Because I know them, but they know me as well, and especially with the wheelchair tennis tour, we all know each other very well.

“You see each other almost every week, so you know what to do against every player, but they know what to do against you as well. So it's always a bit of a struggle to see what you can do different every week. 

“I think this is the biggest challenge among all the players at the moment. I think everyone playing here can beat everyone and I think that's nice about the men's division at the moment, that we're very strong (with) a lot of good competitors. And it's getting stronger and stronger every year and you have to be able to find new things in your own game. I think it's a very good challenge and it's good fun.”

Spaargaren won his first-round match against Belgium’s Joachim Gerard and now faces De La Puente in the semi-finals.

Another reflection of the sport's growing popularity and visibility, three matches are planned for the start of the day on Court Suzanne-Lenglen - on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.