French Open: Sabalenka wins 6-0 6-1 on first day in Paris - analysis & reaction

BBC News

25-05-2025

Update:
Date: 12:40 BST
Title: Post
Content: That will do it for our live text coverage for now. Short but sweet.
We'll be back tomorrow to cover day two at Roland Garros, when the first of the British players will get their tournaments under way.
Catch you then!
Update:
Date: 12:37 BST
Title: French Open day one - what's happened?
Content: Aryna Sabalenka wasted no time in securing her place in the second round, taking just 60 minutes to win in straight sets against Kamilla Rakhimova.
Elsewhere, Elina Svitolina has cruised through her first match in just 72 minutes, winning 6-1 6-1 against Zeynep Somnez of Turkey.
However, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has lost to Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland, who triumphed 3-6 6-0 6-4.
You can read the latest tennis news and reports here.
Head for the latest scores and results.
Update:
Date: 12:33 BST
Title: 'Only Draper can stop Alcaraz & Sinner'
Content: Can anyone in the men's draw prevent the Carlos Alcaraz v Jannik Sinner final most would expect at the end of this fortnight?
Well, former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash believes Britain's Jack Draper is the only player on the men's tour who poses a serious threat to the dominance of Spaniard Alcaraz and Italian Sinner.
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French Open: Jack Draper only one who can catch top players - Pat Cash
Update:
Date: 12:28 BST
Title: The new king of clay?
Content: On the men's side, this year's French Open is going to feel rather strange. It is the first Roland Garros since Rafael Nadal - the man who won 14 singles titles and is synonymous with the tournament - retired.
His abdication means there is a chance for someone to make a sustained attempt at becoming the new 'King of Clay' - a title to which Spain's Carlos Alcaraz has long been the heir apparent.
The 22-year-old defending champion is a natural clay-courter with a 15-1 win-loss record on the surface this year - and, perhaps crucially, more match practice than rival Jannik Sinner.
Italy's Sinner is the other standout candidate. The world number one has dominated over the past 18 months but only recently returned from a three-month doping ban.
Sinner dropped just one set in reaching the Italian Open final, including a ruthless quarter-final thrashing of two-time French Open runner-up Casper Ruud.
But Sinner was put in check by world number two Alcaraz in the final, with many expecting a repeat of it in the Paris showpiece on 8 June.
Update:
Date: 12:26 BST
Title: Post
Content: It will be all eyes on Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff in the next couple of days to see how they begin their tournaments after that impressive display by Aryna Sabalenka.
Meanwhile, in the men's draw...
Update:
Date: 12:21 BST
Title: 'I will ask Rafa, please help me win this tournament'
Content: World number one Aryna Sabalenka, speaking to Marion Bartoli on court at Roland Garros: "I'm super happy to be back in Paris, I love playing in front of all you guys. I hope I can do really good here. It's hard in round one to play someone you really like, but I'm happy to have got the win."
On taking photos with a polaroid camera after securing victory: "The idea was to take some good moments in my life - I started in December and I already have a pretty big album. When I feel sad, I go through the album and remember the good moments, they give me good vibes. The album is full of my team, which is annoying sometimes but it is good fun."
On the upcoming ceremony in hour of Rafa Nadal and whether she will stick around to watch: "Whenever someone asks me about Rafa, I think of a really hard worker. He is such an inspiration to young players. I will try and stick around to watch the ceremony, and ask him, please do you have advice on how to win this tournament!"
Update:
Date: 12:18 BST
Title: Kvitova out in round one
Content: More news from notable names around Roland Garros, and we're afraid it is not good for Petra Kvitova.
The two-time Wimbledon champion has been beaten in round one by Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland, who triumphed 3-6 6-0 6-4 on court seven.
This is Kvitova's first slam since maternity leave, but she was unable to find a first win as a mother at a major tournament. The Czech will move on to Wimbledon, on her more favoured grass surface.
Update:
Date: 12:13 BST
Title: Post
Content: Sabalenka 6-1 6-0 Rakhimova
One hour is all it took for the title favourite to stroll through to the second round.
That was super impressive. She'll play Italy's Lucrezia Stefanini or Swiss player Jil Teichmann next.
Update:
Date: 12:12 BST
Title: Game, set and match - Sabalenka
Content: Sabalenka 6-1 6-0 Rakhimova
Aryna Sabalenka serves up a bagel and a breadstick as she announces her arrival in Paris in style.
Update:
Date: 12:10 BST
Title: Match point Sabalenka
Content: *Sabalenka 6-1 5-0 Rakhimova
Ace.
Match point.
Update:
Date: 12:10 BST
Title: Post
Content: Annabel CroftFormer British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
Early in the year for Rakhimova, she had a lot of first round losses. Then in Rome, she got a lucky loser passage and a couple of wins, plus she took out Emma Raducanu at Indian Wells.
But this was not a good draw for her.
Update:
Date: 12:10 BST
Title: Post
Content: *Sabalenka 6-1 5-0 Rakhimova
A double fault by Aryna Sabalenka puts Kamilla Rakhimova 0-30 up.
The world number one is so far ahead in this match that there are one or two signs she's just struggling to stay completely focused until the very end.
Update:
Date: 12:07 BST
Title: Sabalenka holds
Content: *Sabalenka 6-1 5-0 Rakhimova
Just too good. Aryna Sabalenka is bamboozling Kamilla Rakhimova with a mix of power and finesse.
It's been an exceptionally tough 55 minutes for Rakhimova but it should at least be over very, very soon.
The world number one breaks for a third time in this set and will now serve for the match.
Update:
Date: 12:04 BST
Title: Post
Content: Katie SmithBBC Radio 5 Live in Paris
It's a great crowd at Roland Garros - it is feisty, they make themselves known, and they do not like to be told no.
Update:
Date: 12:03 BST
Title: Sabalenka holds
Content: Sabalenka 6-1 4-0 Rakhimova*
Aryna Sabalenka eventually comes through on serve after facing a couple of break points and surely ends any hope Kamilla Rakhimova had of forcing a way back into this.
Update:
Date: 12:01 BST
Title: Break point Rakhimova
Content: *Sabalenka 6-1 3-0 Rakhimova
Perhaps the biggest threat to Aryna Sabalenka is herself. Clearly keen to get this done as quickly as possible, she's showing signs of frustration when a point doesn't go well - despite her commanding position.
A couple of unforced errors give Kamilla Rakhimova a first break point of the contest. Sabalenka shuts down the first, but another poor miss gives her opponent another chance.
Update:
Date: 11:59 BST
Title: Post
Content: *Sabalenka 6-1 3-0 Rakhimova
Kamilla Rakhimova is ranked 78th in the world, but the gulf between these two feels much, much bigger today.
Aryna Sabalenka, in this mood, is going to take some stopping at Roland Garros. A statement opening day performance.
Update:
Date: 11:57 BST
Title: Post
Content: Russell FullerTennis correspondent on BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds
I love covering these Grand Slams, but with this opening day schedule it's a bit of a slow start.
You need an equal spread of stars on the opening three days, otherwise this opening day can feel like a test event.
Update:
Date: 11:56 BST
Title: Sabalenka breaks
Content: *Sabalenka 6-1 3-0 Rakhimova
A shake of the head from Aryna Sabalenka as a fourth break point comes and goes.
Fifth time lucky?
No luck about it, in truth. Sabalenka hammers a forehand away to move three games from victory.
Update:
Date: 11:54 BST
Title: Post
Content: Annabel CroftFormer British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
I'm not sure why Sabalenka threw that drop shot in at that point. It has given Rakhimova confidence, that error.