Paris – Lorenzo Musetti and Aryna Sabalenka entered the second round of the French Open without pitching on Sunday’s opening day.
After Sabalenka, who ranked first, defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-0 earlier, the eighth seed Musetti played the German qualifiers 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 against Germany.
Musetti has performed well on clay, reaching the semifinals in the last three Masters, at least in Rome, Madrid and Monte Carlo, where he lost in the final to four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz. But in that game, he was hampered by an injury to his right leg.
However, Musetti looked no trouble on Sunday, with his ears taking the crowd after Hanfmann’s down shot beat Hanfmann’s downline in the third set.
After winning the game, Musetti received a huge applause from Philippe-Chatrier’s court.
Is it because Musetti won the first Olympic tennis medal in Italy that won the men’s singles bronze medal at last year’s Paris Games in 100 years? Perhaps it’s because, as 19-year-old Musetti, Musetti once lost five-set thriller twice in 2021 in the fourth round against Novak Djokovic.
Honestly, most chatterers wore clay-colored jerseys, and half of the stands were filled with enthusiasm an hour ago as they were waiting for someone to show up.
Recently retired Nadal won 14 of 22 major titles in the same court, winning a special trophy at an emotional ceremony, with his old rivals – Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all bid farewell to Nadal in suits.
Earlier, Sabalenka hit five ACEs and saved her two breakout points against Seedless Rakhimova.
Sabalenka is a three-time Grand Slam champion and reached the semi-finals two years ago at Roland-Garros.
China’s Olympic champion Zheng Jinwen defeated 2021 French Open Runner-up Anastasia Pavriwang enkova in the second round, 6-4, 6-3.
Last year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini, runner-up at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, played against China’s Yuan Yue later Sunday.
American players Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe both entered the second round, while another American, Ben Shelton, played against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego at Chatrier’s nighttime meeting later Sunday.
Paul of the 12th seed won 6-7 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-1 against Elmer Moller, a seedless Danish player who ranks 112th, while Tiafoe of the 15-time seed (a semifinalist at the two-time US Open) beat Roman Safiullin 6-4, 7-5, 7-5, 6-4.
Paul did well on clay.
Earlier this month, he reached the semifinals of the Rome Masters without losing the game, before defeating the first set before losing.
What happened on Monday?
Three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek faced Slovak’s Rebecca Sramkova, she began to win her fifth title with Roland-Garros.
The match started at Chatrier at noon, followed by four-time champion Naomi Osaka against 10th seed Spanish Paula Badosa.
Osaka has never encountered it in Roland-Garros’ third round.
Sinner, a semi-finalist in last year, will face Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech late Monday.
