By India Today Sports Desk: The opening day of the French Open saw a major upset in women’s singles while some of the top-ranked men’s singles stars were made to work hard for their victories. Maria Sakkari’s exit in the first round was the highlight of the day as the 8th seed was shown the door after an ordinary show in the women’s singles opening round.
Meanwhile, 5th seed Stefanos Tistsipas and 7th seed Andrey Rublev needed 4 sets to make it to the 2nd round in men’s singles competition on a good weather day in Paris.
17th seed Italian Lorenzo Musetti clinched an easy opening-round win while 24th seed Sebastian Korda defeated Mackenzie Mcdonald, the American who defeated Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open, in straight sets to book a place in the second-round.
Veteran American John Isner was shown the door in the first round by 26-year-old Nuno Borges of Portugal while Lorenzo Sonego needed 4 sets to move to the 2nd round.
UKRANIAN KOSTYUK BOOED
Another big match that caught the attention of the fans on Sunday was 2nd seed Aryna Sabalenka’s straight-sets win over Maria Kostyuk. While the game was a straightforward affair, the Paris crowd booing Ukranian Kostyuk made the headlines.
Kostyuk had warned she would not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players due to Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour and she kept her word on a sun-kissed court Philippe Chatrier after losing 6-3 6-2 to world number two Sabalenka.
Sabalenka, who initially thought that the boos were for her, theatrically bowed to supporters before thanking them for their backing and later said she understood Kostyuk’s choice to skip the customary gesture.
After the match, Kostyuk urged Sabalenka to take a stronger, more personal stand against the war.
“She (Sabalenka) never says that she personally doesn’t support this war, and I feel like journalists should change the questions you ask these athletes because the war is already there,” Kostyuk said.
“It’s been 15 months since the war has begun.”
MUCHOVA STUNS SAKKARI
Karolina Muchova credited the extra motivation she has at the Grand Slam level for her fifth win over a top-10 player at the majors after toppling world number eight Maria Sakkari at the French Open on Sunday.
Sakkari was left with a sense of deja vu following the 7-6(5) 7-5 defeat having lost to Muchova at last year’s tournament after describing the 26-year-old Czech as one of the toughest unseeded players anyone could have in the first round.
Muchova, who has beaten the likes of Karolina Pliskova and Ash Barty apart from Sakkari at the Grand Slams, said there was no secret to her success after she returned to action following abdominal and ankle injuries in 2022.
TSITSIPAS, RUBLEV SURVIVE SCARE
5th seed Tsitsipas was made to work hard by Jiri Vesely, who is on the comeback trail following a lengthy injury absence, before winning 7-5 6-3 4-6 7-6(7).
“I said to myself there’s no chance this is going to a fifth set,” said Tsitsipas. “Jiri was a difficult obstacle. He gave me a hard time and I’m happy I overcame it in such a fashion.”
Andrey Rublev is well-placed to make a splash at the French Open. After winning his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Monte Carlo earlier in the clay-court swing, he had a good test in the men’s singles opening round.
The 7th seed made a strong start by defeating Laslo Djere 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to move into the second round after hitting 37 winners in two hours and 32 minutes.
Rublev appeared in difficulty when Djere moved ahead by a service break in the third set, the level at one set apiece. But the 13-time ATP Tour titlist buckled down from there to avoid a second first-round exit at the clay-court major in three years.
Meanwhile, Karen Khachanov beat local favourite Constant Lestienne 3-6 1-6 6-2 6-1 6-3 and the 11th seed was joined in the second round by 13th seed Hubert Hurkacz who battled past David Goffin 6-3 5-7 6-4 2-6 6-4.
Meanwhile, Australian wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis pulled off an upset by downing 20th seed Dan Evans 6-4 6-4 6-4. (With Reuters Inputs)