Stefanos Tsitsipas, leader of the year in victories (34) had no problem getting rid of local idol Jeremy Chardy, which could not count on the support of the French public, because the game was played after the curfew in Paris, at 9:00 p.m. The Greek, a great favorite at the bottom of the table after the elimination of Thiem, won by 7-6 (6), 6-3 and 6-1 in a crash that lasted just over two hours and in which it went from less to more.
Tsitsipas only suffered to push through the first set in a tiebreaker that went awry at the start. He then dominated with 31 winners and only one break against in that first set. In the next two he did not yield a single break option. He will face the American Korda or the Spanish Pedro Martínez in the second round.
Things were much more complicated for Alexander Zverev, a favorite with feet of clay that life became extremely complicated when he lost the first two sets against his German compatriot Oscar Otte, which came out of the previous one. The Mutua Madrid Open champion reacted in time to win by 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 and 6-0 in 2:49. Fortunately for him, his partner, not used to playing five-set matches, ran out of gas and accumulated 38 unforced errors, six more than Zverev, who gave him 50 winners, nine of them from direct service. The Teuton will meet the Russian Safiullin.
Things were very bad for Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian had to retire due to injury after having easily won the first two sets to Marcos Girón. The Bulgarian held out until the fourth quarter and with the scoreboard against (2-6, 4-6, 7-5 and 3-0) said enough. The American will meet the agentino Guido Pella.
Results, table and calendar.
