Casper Ruud kicked off his French Open campaign with a dominant performance against Felipe Meligeni Alves, securing a straight-sets victory with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. The No. 7 seed expressed satisfaction with his current form, citing a successful clay season that saw him clinch titles at the Geneva Open and the Barcelona Open, as well as a runner-up finish at the Monte Carlo Masters where he fell to Stefanos Tsitsipas. Ruud has been in stellar form this year, leading the ATP tour with an impressive tally of 36 wins, and he will be looking to go one step further after finishing as the runner-up at Roland Garros in the last two editions, losing to Rafael Nadal in 2022 and Novak Djokovic in 2023.
The weather conditions on the final day of the first round resembled autumn, with temperatures dipping as low as 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit) in Paris. Heavy rain disrupted play for nearly five hours, forcing matches to be suspended on most courts except for the two main stadiums equipped with retractable roofs. Despite the adverse weather, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka navigated her way to the second round with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 victory over Erika Andreeva on Court Philippe Chatrier. Meanwhile, on Court Suzanne Lenglen, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina overcame Greet Minnen with a 6-2, 6-3 win. Sabalenka and Rybakina are poised to potentially clash in the semifinals, as Sabalenka sets her sights on emulating Serena Williams’ feat of claiming both the Australian Open and Roland Garros titles in the same season.
In a poignant moment, French veteran Alizé Cornet bid adieu to her professional tennis career after bowing out to Zheng Qinwen in a 6-2, 6-1 defeat. The 34-year-old Cornet was honored with a farewell ceremony following her final match. No. 11 seed Alex De Minaur cruised past Alex Michelsen with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-0, 6-2 victory to advance to the next round. The focal point of the day’s action was the anticipated return of defending champion Novak Djokovic, who was slated to begin his quest for another Roland Garros title against Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the main stadium. Djokovic, boasting an illustrious resume of 24 Grand Slam titles, is yet to taste victory in any tournament this year, adding an extra layer of intrigue to his campaign at the French Open.
As the competition intensifies in the early stages of the tournament, all eyes are on the top contenders vying for glory on the clay courts of Roland Garros. Casper Ruud’s formidable run and quest for redemption after falling short in the previous editions, Aryna Sabalenka’s pursuit of a rare feat, and Novak Djokovic’s title defense narrative are just a few storylines shaping the narrative of this year’s French Open. With thrilling matches, emotional farewells, and the unpredictable nature of Grand Slam tennis, the stage is set for a captivating journey towards crowning new champions and etching memorable moments in the annals of Roland Garros history. The convergence of talent, resilience, and determination on display at the French Open encapsulates the essence of elite competition at one of the sport’s most prestigious events.
