Around the grounds at the Porte D'Auteuil venue on the opening day of first round action
©Amélie Laurin / FFTWith Roland-Garros honouring 14-time champion Rafael Nadal on Sunday, it’s understandable that midway through the first day of main draw action the tennis took a back seat.
In the early evening after the conclusion of the day session on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the focus shifted to Rafa’s return to his favourite tennis court in the world for an emotional ceremony to recognise the Spaniard’s sparkling career.
With the stadium packed with 15,000 fans decked out in specially made clay-red ‘Merci Rafa’ t-shirts, the 20-time Grand Slam winner made his entrance to a quite deafening reception.
By the time he had addressed the crowd in English, Spanish and French and had been joined on court by his three great rivals - Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray - and then had left the court with his son in his arms, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It was a memorable occasion captured by our own Chris Oddo who was enthralled from his courtside position.
As far as first round tennis went, world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka posted the most impressive performance, racing into round two for the loss of just a single game.
In-form Italian Lorenzo Musetti was another who looked impressive and got better and better against German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann as he eased to a 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 victory.
Away from the main show court, American Tommy Paul - a recent semifinalist in Rome - recovered well from the loss of the first set to promising Danish qualifier Elmer Moller. Paul negotiated a short rain break to go through 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.
It’s been an impressive few days for young Canadian Victoria Mboko, who backed up her impeccable qualifying campaign with a first Grand Slam victory, holding her nerve to get past Lulu Sun 6-1, 7-6(4) on Court 9.
Fellow Canadian Leylah Fernandez, however, was one of a handful of seeded casualties on Day 1 as she lost to young Serb Olga Danilovic 6-3, 6-1.
Other seeded names to fall by the wayside on Sunday included Alex Michelsen and Brandon Nakashima in the men’s draw, and Marta Kostyuk and Rome semifinalist from a few days ago Peyton Stearns.
Fans were treated to a late show when at just a stroke past midnight, 13th seed Ben Shelton got over the line to record a very good win over Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the first night match of the tournament on Chatrier, fighting back to squeeze into round two 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Even that wasn't the last match on court, however, as Portuguese No.1 Nuno Borges recovered from two sets down to edge French qualifier Kyrian Jacquet 6-3 in the fifth.
First round matches continue on Monday with a big day to look forward to on Chatrier.
It's an order of play that includes women’s defending champion Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka taking on Paula Badosa, Richard Gasquet in what could be the last match of his career and in the evening session the return of world No.1 Jannik Sinner.
Alix Ramsay has been through the Monday schedule to choose her matches of the day.
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT