Otherwise, though, that’s us done for the day. We’re into the competition, and you can join me again tomorrow at 10am BST for what should be an extremely fun day; we start with Paire v Norrie, Pliskova v Stephens is also first up, and we’re also getting Djokovic, Auger-Aliassime, Alcaraz, Garcia, Sinner and Kvitova. See you then!
Midway through set three Djere was properly in this match, but as soon as things got really tight, Rublev’s superior quality asserted itself and a netted backhand hands him a break that means he’s three holds from victory at 6-1 3-6 6-3 3-2.
Ach, at the net, the usually dextrous Mannarino nets a pick-up and Humbert now leads 6-3 1-0. Oh, and in the women’s competition, Sherif has beaten Brengle 3 and 1, while Errani and Teichmann are playing a decider.
Djere pushes Rublev to deuce, but he thrashes an ace out wide to secure his hold and we’re at 2-2 in the fourth, Rublev by two sets to one. Meantime, Mannarino faces two break points, and given how well Humbert’s serving, if he can’t save them he’s in all sorts.
Humbert saves break point then wallops an ace down the T, and he takes the first set off Mannarino 6-3. Oh, and watching that serve again we can see it’s a belter; he feints to go wide, then flicks the wrist to send it central. Lovely stuff.
Someone on Chatrier is playing Bella Ciao and Mannarino needs some inspiration, serving at 2-5 and gifting Humbert set point at 30-40. But a low approach to the backhand side allows him to come in, Humbert nets, and he closes out for 3-5. On Lenglen, Rublev leads Djere 6-1 3-6 6-3 1-1.
Yup, Rublev has spun this around, winning three consecutive games in short order – in the time it takes for me to take what I think is a mid-set comfort break – and now leads Djere 6-1 3-6 6-3. And, on Chatrier, Humbert leads Mannarino 4-2, while Musetti has done for Ymer 7-5 6-2 6-4; he meets Shevchenko or otte next, the former having just won the first 7-5.
Rublev races through a hold and momentum might be back with him. But then he gets to 30 on the Djere serve and finds himself victimised by some colossal hitting which sets up a lush drop. He’s not at all happy, even less so when Djere closes out for 3-3, while Humbert leads Mannarino 3-1, his tall, swinging serve the key shot currently.
Ten added minutes…
Djere’s forehand is the dominant shot currently and Rublev is searching for answers while, in the French-lefty derby, Humbert survives a first-game break point to lead Mannarino 1-0. And of course, just as I’m ready to publish, Djere nets on deuce, then Rublev wallops and overhead so we’re back on serve at 2-2 in the third.
Updated
Thanks Niall and hi again. Rublev is indeed in trouble, on the board in set three but a break down. Meantime: Mannarino and Humbert are warming up on Chatrier; Moutet leads Cazaux 6-1 5-3; Musetti leads Ymer 7-5 6-2 and 4-3 with a break; and Teichmann leads Errani 6-3 2-1.
It goes from bad to worse for Rublev, who is broken early in the third and has lost his way dramatically after cruising through the first set. Time to hand you back to Daniel …
Djere levels the match at 1-1! From a set and break down, struggling with injury, what a chance for Djere to turn this one around. Serving for the second set, he is taken to deuce but controls the next couple of rallies to serve it out. Rublev looks rattled, muttering to himself and heading for a comfort break.
Despite nursing a groin problem, Djere has been much more competitive in this second set, and Rublev has to be at his bendy-legged best to deny the Serbian a couple of break points at 4-3. But a mishit smash, and a punchy return from Djere, helps him to seal the break!
Elsewhere, Musetti is in control against Ymer, leading 7-5, 6-2 while Corentin Moutet is one set up in an all-French battle with 20-year-old wild card Arthur Cazaux.
Updated
Monday’s order of play is out, and it’s a corker. Pliskova v Stephens opens Court Philippe-Chatrier, with Novak Djokovic and Caroline Garcia following. On Suzanne-Lenglen, Cam Norrie plays Benoît Paire with Carlos Alcaraz third on court. Auger-Aliassime v Fognini on Simonne-Mathieu should be decent, too.
Stefanos Tsitsipas got through earlier in four sets; the Greek has sometimes cut a sullen figure on court, but says he is taking inspiration from Carlos Alcaraz and trying to enjoy himself out there.
“I owe a lot to Carlitos, because he’s such a breath of fresh air. That contributed to his growth as a tennis player. I kind of admire him for who he is,” Tsitsipas said. “He seems to be enjoying it, having fun. I have the capacity to be that person. I truly believe it. That’s the reason I am much more joyful and happy playing this sport, due to him.”
Asked about his training regime in Paris, the 2021 runner-up said: “Red wine and baguettes. Plenty of red wine and baguettes would help to do well in Paris.” Perhaps Tsitsipas is taking the Luca Brecel approach to tournament prep this time.
Alizé Cornet’s comeback has fallen short, with Camila Giorgi breaking at 5-4 up to seal a 6-3, 6-4 victory. On Lenglen, Djere has held firm against more Rublev pressure on serve in the second set, but is now taking a medical timeout.
Updated
Rublev takes the first set 6-1! Thanks, Daniel. Andrey Rublev quickly wraps up the first set 6-1 against Laslo Djere. On Court 7, Lorenzo Musetti takes on Mikael Ymer, and has won the first set 7-5. This is Ymer’s first match since he got disqualified from an event last week, and with good cause:
Updated
Righto, I’m away from some belated scran; Niall McVeigh is here to croon you through the next hour.
Rublev deflects back a glorious forehand that gives him two break points and he only needs one, taking a 3-1 lead, while at 4-3 in set two, Cornet and Giorgi are again fighting through another brutal game … which the latter takes for 4-4! We’re back on serve, Giorgi by one set to love.
It takes her a while, but Cornet just about hangs on to consolidate and at 4-2 in the second is two holds away from forcing a decider; Musetti leads Ymer 7-5.
I didn’t see this coming, but Cornet has broken again, a lob volley too much for Giorgi. The crowd love it, and so does she; she trails 3-6 3-2.
Updated
But from 40-0, Giorgi reels her in, a wafty forehand sailing out and levelling set two at 2-2. Meantime, out on Court 7, Musetti, the number 17 seed, is serving for the first set against Ymer, while Zheng, the women’s 19, leads Zidansek 6-3 4-0 and on Lenglen, Djere and Rublev are knocking up.
After taking a shoeing in the first set, Cornet is now a break up in the second, trailing 3-6 2-1.
Not French Open having the twitter couch 😂 pic.twitter.com/hMYGqq6ygV
— sloanestephens (@SloaneStephens) May 28, 2023
Thinking about that Sakkari defeat, it’s fair to say Muchova has the edge over her on clay, but also, Muchova seems to wear pressure better. Sakkari has the power and hands to be a force, but she can’t quite find the consistency among the winners.
Next on Lenglen: Djere v Rublev [7]. Next on Mathieu: Cazaux v Moutet.
Leylah Fernandez beats Magda Linette [21] 6-3 1-6 6-3!
She meets Tauson or Sasnovich next, and looks in pretty good nick.
Karolína Muchová beats Maria Sakkari [8] 7-6(5) 7-5!
Fo the second year in a row, Muchova sends Sakkari home in a properly intense match. She meets Nadia Podoroska next.
Fernandez is much the better player on Mathieu, breaking for 5-3 in the decider, while on Lenglen it’s Muchova again forging ahead, holding then watching Sakkari dump an overhead that, at 15-40, raises two more match points!
…but somehow, Muchova botches a second serve return. No matter: Sakkari overhits a forehand that appears to hold up in the wind … then swipes a forehand long, Both players are tight here while, on Chatrier, Giorgi is blitzing Cornet, a double handing her a 6-3 set at the same time as Sakkari escapes danger, polishing off her hold for 5-5.
Updated
Oh Maria! A dreadful drop, then a double, and Muchova has match point at 7-56 5-4 30-40…
Leading 3-2 in the decider, Fernandez earns herself two break points, hitting a backhand long before a booming serve down the T is quickly cleared up via forehand. No matter, Fernandez quickly finds herself with a third go, and this time overhits a forehand when well-placed in court and in the rally. Linette clears up, and that’s 3-3.
Sakkari closes from 0-30 to 30-all, a lob then a fine put-away earning game-point; she salutes the crown, probably as much to gee herself up as them. Muchova, though, won’t give anything away for free, forcing herself to deuce before Sakkari closes out for 6-7 4-4. Elsewhere, Giorgi leads Cornet 4-2 in the first and Fernandez is 3-2 up on Linette, on serve in the decider.
We’re shown Tistsipas’ press conference, in which he chastises his footwork as “lousy”; that’s not a word you hear often.
As promised, we’re now fully-focused on the women’s competition. Linette and Fernandez are 1-1 in the third, Muchova leads Sakkari 7-6 3-2 on serve in the second, and Cornet has broken Giorgi back for 2-2.
Sakkari just can’t keep in the ascendancy for long enough, and real talk, Muchova looks the superior clay-courter. She breaks back to lead 7-6 2-2, while Giorgi leads Cornet 2-1 with a break.
Linette has just powered through the second set against Fernandez, levelling the match at 3-6 6-1.
Mertens has beaten Hruncakova 6-1 6-4 and meets Mcnally or Bogdan next.
A loose start to set two from Muchova, who’s broken before Sakkari consolidates, while Cornet sends down two doubles but still holds in the first game of her match against Giorgi.
On Chatrier, Cornet, playing here for the 19th consecutive time, is away against Giorgi.
Sebastian Korda [24] beats Mackenzie McDonald 6-4 7-5 6-4!
He meets Ofner next in the Seb derby.
Again, Sakkari has to come from behind as Muchova builds a 5-2 advantage. But at 5-4 Muchova targets her backhand, induces the error, and has two set points. Sakkari saves the first with a fine return that forces a netted forehand, but then she frames one somewhere towards Toulouse and Muchova leads 7-6(5).
Fernandez – beaten, of course, by Emma Raducanu in the US Open final – leads the seeded Linette 6-3 0-3, while Mertens is serving for the match against Hruncakova at 6-1 5-3 and Fucsovics has beaten Grenier 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-3.
Sakkari bellows when a Muchova forehand drops long, and we’ve got ourselves a breaker. Muchova looked nervy there, so Sakkari went for her.
Muchova breaks Sakkari and is serving for set one at 6-5; this is a really fun match.
Next on Chatrier: Cornet v Giorgi. Decent!
Tistsipas made hard work of that, but credit to Vesely for taking advantage. Tsitsipas told himself “no way this is going to five sets”, praising his opponent for his performance and being a “difficult obstacle”. He kept telling himself “just keep going to the ball” as there were times he was letting it come to him instead of dictating, and reckons the Sunday start will give him “more time to enjoy red wine”.
Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Jiri Vesely 7-5 6-3 4-6 7-6(7)!
He meets Carballes Baena or Nava next.
Tsitsipas misses a really good chance to earn a match point via mini-break, a volley at the net allowing Vesely to return a ball he oughtn’t have smelled. But he then makes 8-7 and his opponent will now serve with no margin for error…
Yeah, while Muchova saves three break points – she and Sakkari are at 4-4 - Tistsipas saves three set points, which feels like a decisive intervention. We’ll soon see…
Mini-break for Vesely, attacking the second serve then running in to put away a high volley. He leads 4-3, wins both his service-points, and now has three goes at forcing an unlikely decider!
Vesely nails a flat, phat backhand just when Tsitsipas puts him under pressure with a return onto the baseline. It’s 3-3 in the breaker now, and Sakkari leads Muchova 4-3 on serve.
Tsitsipas, though, holds to 15 for his breaker, so while we wait for that, Linette and Fernandez are 3-3 and Mertens leads Hruncakova 6-1 0-2.
Muchova is into the tournament now, breaking Sakkari back – they’re now at 3-3 – and Vesely is right into Tsitsipas, holding for 6-5 and forcing the number five seed to serve to stay in the fourth. When he led by two sets and a break, this did not look at all likely, but here we are.
McDonald broke Korda back, but Korda then broke again, held, and leads 6-4 7-5; he’s looking good but so is Vesely, who saves four break points, the last of them with a terrific pick-up at the net that forces Tsitsipas to net. He closes out to lead 5-4 in set four, and the world number 452 is bang in this match.
Look at Jiri Vesely! He forces two break points … so Tsitsipas saves both, the second with a brutal forehand, and he quickly closes out, finishing with a drop and saluting the crowd. His compatriot is doing well too, Sakkari now 3-0 up on Muchova in the first.
Oh yes! Sakkari dashes out of court to greet Muchova’s serve and lasers back a cross-court winner that gives her an immediate break. That’s very nice indeed while, on Chatrier, Vesely is proving difficult for Tsitsipas to shake, leading 4-3 in the fourth.
Korda has a real swagger about him, one of those players who always thought he’d be proper good. He breaks McDonald in set two and will shortly serve for it at 6-4 5-4.
Jiri Vesely isn’t going away, breaking Tistsipas back just when the match looked five to over. He leads 3-2 in the fourth, and the way he’s serving now, a breaker looks well within his reach.
Maria Sakkari is a good player, powerful and bold. But just as she looked to be getting serious last year, her mental health let her down, so let’s hope she’s in a better place now. Muchova is pretty much as hard a round one match as was out there for her – the pair met in round two last term, Muchova winning six and six. They’re away now.
Goodness me.
Updated
Tsitsipas poses at the net, chasing down a floaty drop that sits up begging to be spanked, and a break to the good in set four he’ll feel close to round two.
On Court 7, Mertens and Hruncakova are away, the number 28 seed breaking immediately, while Vesely and Tsitsipas are on serve in set three – Tsitsipas leads 2-1 – and Korda leads McDonald 6-4 3-3.
Updated
Back to Evans:
Coming up next on Lenglen: Sakkari [8] v Muchova; coming up next on Mathieu: Linette [21[ v Fernandez.
Khachanov congratulates Lestienne on a good match and is sympathetic to his injury, but notes that he finished much better than he started. He’ll fancy himself for a deep run here.
Now then! Out of nowhere, 5-4 up in set three, Vesely pinches a break and halves the deficit in the process. Tsitsipas leads 2-1.
Khachanov did really well to hang in there, but Lestienne will be gutted his calf cost him, especially in set three when he was in control of the match. He played beautifully until injury intervened, and sport is so sad sometimes: he may never hit a major in better form that he did this.
Karen Khachanov [11] beats Constant Lestienne 3-6 1-6 6-2 6-1 6-3!
He meets Radu Albot next.
With Hurkacz and Goffin done, I’ve swtiched onto McDonald v Korda on Court 6. Korda, the number 24 seed and a dark horse here, leads 6-4 2-1 – with a break.
Lestienne saves a break point but Khachanov forces another, and will now serve for the match at 5-3 in the fifth.
Hubert Hurkacz [13] beats David Goffin 6-3 5-7 6-4 2-6 6-4!
He plays Tallon Griekspoor next, who beat Pedro Martínez in five.
There are some properly strange situations going on today, Kurkacz’s shorts and trainer combo another of them. And what are we calling the predominant colour? Shocking pink?
Just warming up:
On Chatrier we’re on serve in the third, Vesely 4-3 in front but Tsitsipas leading 2-0.
It’s properly going off on Lenglen, where Lestienne saves break point to level the decider at 3-3 – he looks much more mobile than before, his painkillers perhaps settling in, while Hurkacz has broken Goffin and leads thr fifth 5-3.
Evans played some decent tennis in that match, but he couldn’t sustain his level and Kokkinakis, a fine player and nasty first-round wildcard, found the power when he really needed it.
Thanasi Kokkinakis beats Dan Evans [20] 6-4 6-4 6-4!
He meets Wawrinka or Ramos-Vinolas next and there are just two Brits left in the draw now.
Every time Evans has produced something, Kokkinakis has trumped it, and he blazes a break-point return down the line from way out of court on the backhand, which gives him 5-4 and an opportunity to serve for the match after change of ends.
Evans isn’t giving up and he puts Kokkinakis under pressure, such that a double fault arrives on break point. It’s now 4-4 in the third, but the Australian leads 2-0 and should have enough to ride out the match eventually.
Oooh yeah! Lestienne’s only gone and broken back! That didn’t look on the cards, at all, but he punishes a backhand down the line that gives him control of the rally, Khachanov goes long, and we’re back on serve in the decider.
Lesitenne looks done for, broken at the first time of asking in the decider. Khachnov looks strong now and leads 3-6 1-6 6-2 6-1 2-0.
Goffin also has some attire. How good he is, without a major weapon, is an absolute triumph of mentality.
Evans is hanging on now, saving two break points before Kokkinakis converts to lead 6-4 6-4 3-2. He’s been more consistent, especially on second serve, and I can’t see him letting this one slip; Evans knows how to play and compete, but he’s no Andrew Murray.; frankly, who is?
On Mathieu, Goffin is goffining, taking the fourth set 6-2; he and Hurkacz will also play a decider.
Yeah, time’s up Jiri. Tsitsipas breaks Vesely, serves out to love finishing with an ace, and the number five seed leads 7-5 6-3. Oh, and while I type, Khachanov serves out for a 6-1 fourth set. Perhaps Lestienne was saving himself for the decider, though; we shall see, because that’s what we’re getting.
Updated
Khachanov breaks Lestienne then consolidates, saving a break point in the process, and now leads 3-1 in set four, while Tsitsipas has broken Vesely in two and leads 7-5 4-2, in total control of the match.
I’m conscious that I’m watching three men’s matches currently, so fear not: we’ve got some bazzing women’s ones coming up through the afternoon, Sakkari v Muchova, Linette v Fernandez and Cornet v Giorgi in particular.
On Chatrier, we’re on serve in set two, Tsitsipas leading 7-5 3-2. And here are the below-mentioned rigs…
Also this afternoon…
Four games in a row for Kokkinakis, who breaks and is now serving for a two-set lead … which he closes out to love! Five straight now, and he leads 6-4 6-4; Evans has to find something.
Er, or not? Lestienne breaks back to 15, and who saw that coming? He leads 6-3 6-1 2-6 1-1 while, on seven, Evans does indeed build on lividity, racing to to 0-40, but Kokkinakis yanks him back to deuce – he’s still chuntering about the unfairness of it all – eventually closes out – and leads 6-4 4-4. This is on a rolling boil now.
Lestienne is off for quite some time, longer than the allotted eight minutes, and quickly cedes two break points. He saves one with a lob, but a tame double, a hanging head, and though he still leads by two sets to one, it looks a matter of time before Khachanov progresses.
Oh Jiri. He subsides in a set he served for five minutes ago, losing two games in short order. Tsitsipas takes the first set 7-5 while on seven, Evans has been broken back having played beautifully in set two. He’s raging too, having been foot-faulted at 30-15; the umpire hears some words, the racket takes a knock, and he’s psyched now. Can he turn his anger to his advantage?
Lestienne has gone off for some proper treatment. Let’s hope it works, because he’s played beautifully so it’d be a shame for him – and us! – if he couldn’t compete in the proper manner.
Tsitsipas earns himself three break points and only needs one, a ball low over the bet inciting Vesely to net. They’re now level at 5-5 while, on Lenglen, Khachanov serves out to trail Lestienne 3-6 1-6 6-2 – he looks a strong favourite for the match now, as his opponent is struggling – and Hurkacz does likewise to lead Goffin 2-1.
Lestienne gets a massage while Hurkacz, having just broken Goffin, serves for a 2-1 lead at 6-3 5-7 5-4.
Oh dear. Lestienne looks in trouble now, losing a double break and trailing 2-5 in set three having taken a 2-0 lead. He chats to his coach, calls the trainer, and takes his three minutes’ break.
Vesely holds for 5-3 and Tsitsipas is now serving to stay in the set.
Lestienne pastes a backhand winner down the line for 0-15 – that’ll give him confidence – but Khachanov consolidates easily enough. But check out Dan Evans, who took a bathroom break between sets then returned to win two straight, the break secured to love. Kokkinakis leads 6-4 0-2.
Vesely’s gigantic lefty serve is doing him well – he leads 4-2 – while Lestienne’s calf is back giving him trouble. Ach, I hope it doesn’t ruin this match, but he’s just been broken for 6-3 6-1 2-3, and has the physio giving him a massage. Khachanov will be starting to fancy this.
On set point, Kokkinakis sends down a double, but a booming forehand incites Evans to net, and the number 20 seed trails 6-4.
I enjoyed this piece…
On Lenglen, Lestienne – who, at 31, is making his Home-slam debut – is with the doctor, having a calf situation checked over. He hurt himself in Munich and this, presumably, is a recurrence of that, but he looks fine.
Hello! Vesely breaks Tsitsipas and leads 2-1 in what might one day be known as the battle of the awful rigs; photographic evidence to follow when I have it. Meantime, it’s 2-1
Kokkinakis is stepping in on Evans’ second serves, and perhaps that helps force the double on advantage. But he closes out from there, forcing his opponent to serve for set one at 5-4.
Lestienne, now leading 6-3 6-3 1-0, whacks one at Khachanov, the net-cord intervening to take the ball in a different direction – which minded me of this from Calvin Betton, our resident coach.
Honestly tennis can be so precious at times. Of course Cam hit him on purpose. He’s behind in the match and needs to do something to rattle his opponent, change the cadence of the match, fire him up. In that situation, all day every day hit the opponent. Hit him hard. https://t.co/pIv6kD9aK1
— Calvin Betton (@Calvbetton) May 16, 2023
A big forehand from Kokkinakis puts him ahead in the game, and he flicks a lovely lob to secure a break that’s been coming. He leads Evans 4-3 in set one.
Aryna Sabalenka moves on 6-3 6-2 against Marta Kostyuk.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) May 28, 2023
As usual, there was no handshake between Kostyuk and Sabalenka. Part of the Philippe Chatrier crowd booed after the handshake as Kostyuk left the court. Yikes.
Tsitsipas and Vesely are ready to go on Chatrier.
Oh and have a look! Goffin breaks Hurkacz to level their match at 3-6 7-5.
Back on seven, Evans hangs in there to secure a mammoth hold for 3-2; they’ve been playing almost half an hour for their five games.
Oh yes! Lestienne rashes in, flips a lovely pick-up pass, raises set point, and a Khachanov double means he leads the number 11 seed 6-3 6-1! He’s noises up the crowd as you might, and the crowd is swelling nicely, excited to see what could well be the story of the day.
It’s worth noting that it’s nice and warm in Paris, and when that’s the case it’s a different tournament to when it’s cold. The courts are playing fast – Sabalenka definitely appreciated that – and should for the next few days at least.
Lestienne holds and now leads Khachanov 6-3 5-1. He’s in a terrific position here while, on Mathieu, Hurkacz is serving at 6-3 5-6, Goffin scurrying his way into the match in typical style.
On Court 7, Shuai Zhang, the number 29 seed, has beaten Magdalena Frech 1 and 1. Which means Thanasi Kokkinakis and Dan Evans [20] are under way; it’s 2-2 in set one.
Meanwhile on Lenglen, Lestienne has drilled a backhand pass that gives him a double-break in set two! He’s having a right day out here, and leads Khachanov 6-3 4-1; Khachanoyv now has the trainer strapping up his hand.
Coming up next on Chattier: Vesely v Tsitsipas [5]
Kostyuk is a decent player too – she got to round four last term – and at 20 will get better. Her tough luck to get this draw, and Saba tells Fabrice she’s delighted and appreciates the crowd’s support – she had initially thought it was her they were jeering. She says the win in Australia was huge for her, but she thought her first major would be Roland Garros – she’s not sure why. It meant a lot that she beat Swiatek in the Madrid final, and gave her the confidence to think she can make something happen here.
Updated
Aryna Sabalenka [2] beats Marta Kostyuk 6-3 6-2
Another terrific performance from Saba, who meets Udvardy or Shymanovich next. The Ukrainian Kostyuk refuses to shake hands with the Belarusian Sabalenka, and the crowd boo her.
Updated
Sabalenka now leads Kostyuk 6-3 5-1 and looks fantastic out there. There’s was always been a touch of the Haleps about her – incredible power and hands, but not necessarily the temperament to back them up. Now, though, she’s a Grand Slam champ and no one can ever take that away from her; if it means she’s more relaxed at the business end, and it might, the rest of the field will do well to look out
On Lenglen, Lestienne is whooping it up, a delectable lob earning him a break in set two … which he consolidates. He leads Khachanov 6-3-2-1, and is looking really good. Khachanov, for his part, is infamous for his hands of stone, which is to say that when his power-game isn’t working well, he can struggle – especially on clay.
Updated
There’s loads to look forward to here. A first chance to see Tsitsipas, of course, who is still gunning for a debut major. Can he make it here? Will he ever make it? A few years ago I was certain he would, now I’m wondering whether he’s quite got the weapons, or if eventually he’ll come up against someone with bigger ones playing better.
Cornet v Giorgi should be a lot of fun, likewise Sakkari v Muchova, while Djere might give Rublev a few problems.
Show courts order of play
Chatrier
Kostyuk 3-6 1-3 Sabalenka [2]
Vesely v Tsitsipas [5]
Cornet v Giorgi
Mannarino v Humbert
**
Lenglen
Khachanov [11] 3-6 0-0 Lestienne
Sakkari [8] v Muchova
Djere v Rublev [7]
Collins v Pegula [3]
**
Mathieu
Goffin 3-6 1-3 Kurkacz [13]
Linette [21] v Fernandez
Cazaux v Moutet
Niemeier v Kasatkina [9]
Updated
Meantime on the men’s side, Khachanov, the number 11 seed, has lost the first set to local boy, Constant Lestienne, 6-3, while Hurkacz, 13, leads David Goffin 6-3 2-1.
On Chatrier, Sabalenka has taken the first set against Marta Kostyuk and broken at the start of the second; she lads 6-3 2-1.
Righto, here we go!
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Roland-Garros 2023!
There’s little better in life than continuous sport, day after day – that feeling of being into a tournament – and there are few tournaments better than this one, a festival of intensity and the gateway to summer.
We begin the women’s event with one simple question: can anyone stop Iga Swiatek? The defending champ has won here in two of the last three years and also holds the US Open title, which is to say we might be starting an epoch. She looks by far the best player on tour and at 21 still has lots of improving to do … except women’s tennis is least predictable sport on the planet, so really, who knows? Yes, she’s a strong favourite, but also, we need to see more before we can assume what she’ll do with that; she gets going tomorrow and in the meantime, Aryna Sabalenka, seeded two and a new person having finally won her first major in Melbourne, has a chance to show us how she’s feeling.
The men’s side, meanwhile, has no Rafael Nadal – champion in 14 of the last 18 years. What a ludicrous sentence that is! But he’s not here this term, meaning an opportunity for everyone else – in particular, Novak Djokovic, as if he needs such a a thing, and Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic is tied with Nadal on 22 Grand Slams, took the Australian Open in January, and looks for all the world like he can keep winning them until the end of time; arguably, no sportsperson has ever been harder to beat. Alcaraz, though, is on the surge, a brilliant clay-courter with a majestic all-court game; at some point, this competition will surely belong to him, and that point might just be now. This is going to be great.
