Home Tennis French Open 2025 Day One: Sabalenka and Svitolina Shine as Roland-Garros Begins

French Open 2025 Day One: Sabalenka and Svitolina Shine as Roland-Garros Begins

by Osmond OMOLU
french

The 2025 French Open commenced on Sunday, 25 May, at Roland-Garros in Paris, under overcast skies and a forecast of showers and thunderstorms. Despite the weather, the opening day featured dominant performances from top seeds and emerging talents alike.

Aryna Sabalenka’s Commanding Start

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka began her campaign with a resounding 6-1, 6-0 victory over Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Sabalenka’s aggressive baseline play and powerful serves left Rakhimova struggling to find her footing, setting the tone for Sabalenka’s pursuit of her first French Open title.

Elina Svitolina’s Swift Progression

Ukraine’s 13th seed, Elina Svitolina, showcased her experience and skill with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 win against Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Svitolina’s consistent groundstrokes and strategic play overwhelmed her opponent, marking a strong start to her tournament.

Notable Upsets and Performances

The opening day also witnessed some surprising results. Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset World No. 45 Lulu Sun of New Zealand with a 6-1, 7-6(7-4) victory, signaling her arrival on the Grand Slam stage. In another notable match, Germany’s Eva Lys defeated American Peyton Stearns 6-0, 6-3, displaying remarkable composure and skill.

Men’s Singles Highlights

In the men’s draw, 12th seed Tommy Paul faced a challenging match against Denmark’s Elmer Moeller. Paul found himself trailing in the first set, indicating a competitive encounter ahead.

Other notable matches included 8th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti facing Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann and 13th-seeded Ben Shelton taking on Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. These matches were scheduled on Court Philippe-Chatrier, drawing significant attention from fans and analysts alike.

A New Era at Roland-Garros

This year’s French Open marks the first edition since the retirement of Rafael Nadal, the 14-time champion known as the “King of Clay.” Nadal’s absence has opened up the field, creating opportunities for new champions to emerge. Defending champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz are among the favorites, but the tournament’s early results suggest that surprises may be in store.

What’s Next

As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more thrilling matches and potential upsets. Coverage of the French Open is available on TNT Sports and discovery+, with daily highlights airing each evening. For live scores, schedules, and updates, the official Roland-Garros website provides comprehensive coverage.

Stay tuned as Roland-Garros 2025 continues to deliver high-stakes tennis and unforgettable moments on the clay courts of Paris.

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