French Open Day One
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 25, 2025 Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez in action during her first round match against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 25, 2025 Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in action during her first round match against Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
PARIS - Highlights of the first day at the French Open on Sunday (times GMT):
0910 PLAY UNDERWAY
Play began under cloudy skies with the temperature at Roland Garros hovering around 17 degrees Celsius. Showers and a thunderstorm are forecast early in the day.
In the women's singles first round, Ukrainian 13th seed Elina Svitolina opens her campaign against Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
Aryna Sabalenka will begin her bid for a first crown at Roland Garros when she meets Russian Kamilla Rakhimova on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
SUNDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY ON MAIN SHOWCOURTS (prefix number denotes seeding)
COURT PHILIPPE-CHATRIER (play begins at 1000 GMT)
1-Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) v Kamilla Rakhimova (Russia)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) v 8-Zheng Qinwen (China)
8-Lorenzo Musetti (Italy) v Yannick Hanfmann (Germany)
Not before 2015 GMT
13-Ben Shelton (United States) v Lorenzo Sonego (Italy)
COURT SUZANNE-LENGLEN (play begins at 0900 GMT)
Zeynep Sonmez (Turkey) v 13-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine)
31-Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (France) v Zizou Bergs(Belgium)
15-Frances Tiafoe (United States) v Roman Safiullin (Russia)
4-Jasmine Paolini (Italy) v Yuan Yue (China)
COURT SIMONNE-MATHIEU (play begins at 0900 GMT)
Elmer Moller (Denmark) v 12-Tommy Paul (United States)
11-Diana Shnaider (Russia) v Anastasiya Soboleva (Ukraine)
18-Donna Vekic (Croatia) v Anna Blinkova (Russia)
21-Tomas Machac (Czech Republic) v Quentin Halys (France)
READ MORE:
Sabalenka launches French Open campaign, Musetti aims high
Alcaraz, Sinner rivalry takes centre stage in French Open's post-Nadal era
Raducanu overcomes fear of needles to manage back injury ahead of French Open
Britain's Draper a big threat at French Open, says McEnroe
Djokovic beats Hurkacz to win 100th title at Geneva Open
Holder Swiatek faces tough challenge to French Open dominance
Sinner drawn in packed top half at French Open
Nadal enjoying pain-free life as French Open looms REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
26 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Finally conquering Paris clay would mean the world to me, says Sabalenka
Finally conquering Paris clay would mean the world to me, says Sabalenka PARIS - Hardcourt specialist and world number one Aryna Sabalenka was told for years that claycourts were not her surface but on Thursday after reaching her first Roland Garros final she said that winning the French Open would mean the world to her. Sabalenka battled past four-times champion Iga Swiatek in three sets to a place in the showpiece match on clay. Her collection of three Grand Slam titles comprises back-to-back Australian Open crowns in 2023 and 2024 plus the U.S. Open title last year. Both of those Grand Slam tournaments are played on hardcourts that suit the Belarusian's power game perfectly. "Well, it's going to mean everything to me and my team, because I have to say that almost like (my) whole life I've been told that it (clay surface) is not my thing and then I didn't have any confidence," she told a press conference. "In the past, I don't know how many years, we've been able to develop my game so much, so I feel really comfortable on this surface and actually enjoy playing on clay." Sabalenka, who had reached the last four in Paris only once before -- in 2023 -- powered through the third set and won 19 of the last 21 points to subdue her opponent 7-6(1) 4-6 6-0 and set up her biggest career final on clay. She will face world number two Coco Gauff, who eased past French wildcard Lois Boisson in straight sets. The American, a semi-finalist last year, also reached the final in 2022. "I have to say that for the clay I got better, much better physically," Sabalenka said. "I think it's really important on clay to be physically strong and ready to work for each point. "If I'll be able to get this trophy, it's just going to mean the world for us," she said. "I'm ready to go in that final and to fight, fight for every point and give everything I have to give to get the win." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
27 minutes ago
- CNA
Finally conquering Paris clay would mean the world to me, says Sabalenka
PARIS :Hardcourt specialist and world number one Aryna Sabalenka was told for years that claycourts were not her surface but on Thursday after reaching her first Roland Garros final she said that winning the French Open would mean the world to her. Sabalenka battled past four-times champion Iga Swiatek in three sets to a place in the showpiece match on clay. Her collection of three Grand Slam titles comprises back-to-back Australian Open crowns in 2023 and 2024 plus the U.S. Open title last year. Both of those Grand Slam tournaments are played on hardcourts that suit the Belarusian's power game perfectly. "Well, it's going to mean everything to me and my team, because I have to say that almost like (my) whole life I've been told that it (clay surface) is not my thing and then I didn't have any confidence," she told a press conference. "In the past, I don't know how many years, we've been able to develop my game so much, so I feel really comfortable on this surface and actually enjoy playing on clay." Sabalenka, who had reached the last four in Paris only once before - in 2023 - powered through the third set and won 19 of the last 21 points to subdue her opponent 7-6(1) 4-6 6-0 and set up her biggest career final on clay. She will face world number two Coco Gauff, who eased past French wildcard Lois Boisson in straight sets. The American, a semi-finalist last year, also reached the final in 2022. "I have to say that for the clay I got better, much better physically," Sabalenka said. "I think it's really important on clay to be physically strong and ready to work for each point. "If I'll be able to get this trophy, it's just going to mean the world for us," she said. "I'm ready to go in that final and to fight, fight for every point and give everything I have to give to get the win."
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Laser-focused Coco Gauff ends Lois Boisson's dream run to reach French Open final
Coco Gauff of the US celebrates winning her semi-final match against France's Lois Boisson. PHOTO: REUTERS PARIS - Coco Gauff ended local heroine Lois Boisson's dream run at the French Open with a ruthless 6-1 6-2 victory on June 5 to set up a final clash with top seed Aryna Sabalenka. Laser-focused, the world number two from the US subdued the French wild card and the home crowd to speed through the contest on Court Philippe Chatrier and reach the Roland Garros final for the second time after she lost to Iga Swiatek in 2022. Ranked 361st in the world, Boisson had downed world number three Jessica Pegula and Russia's Mirra Andreeva in the previous rounds, but she looked deflated against Gauff. The 22-year-old will, however, pocket a career-changing €690,000 (S$1 million) in prize money, while Gauff will have the chance to secure her second Grand Slam title after winning the 2023 US Open. REUTERS France's Lois Boisson leaving the court after losing to Coco Gauff of the US on June 5. PHOTO: EPA-EFE Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
