This second day Porte d’Auteuil was placed on the return sign. That of Federer in Paris, after more than a year of absence, that of Benoît Paire with the French public, or that of world number two Medvedev, who was finally trying to win a match at Roland Garros. Here’s what to remember.
The sentence of the day
“What a pleasure to be back. It took a little while, required a lot of rehabilitation and training, but now that’s enough, I would like to play matches. It’s a pleasure to play at least two in Paris, ”commented the Swiss Roger Federer, author of a perfect return on Monday at Roland Garros.
After two years of absence, the man with twenty Grand Slams beat the Uzbek qualifier Denis Istomin in three sets and 1:33 (6-2, 6-3, 6-4). It was his fourth game this season. He will face Marin Cilic in the next round.
The brightening of the day
Benoît Paire lost, Pierre-Hugues Herbert too, and all the other Frenchmen entered so far (Cazaux, Rinderknech, Bourgue) while waiting for Tsonga badly embarked … So the good news came from the ladies. Caroline Garcia (58th) easily won her ticket for the second round by dominating the German Laura Siegemund (55th), 6-3, 6-1. In an attempt to win the third round, she will face the Slovenian Polona Hercog (73rd), scorer of the seed number 16 Kiki Bertens.
The first of the day
Daniil Medvedev has conquered the curse. The Russian, a finalist in Melbourne earlier this year, won his first match at Roland Garros after four losses. “I wanted to do that on Philippe Chatrier in three sets (…) so (it’s) a magnificent match on my part”, he rejoiced after beating the Kazakh Alexander Bublik (6-3, 6 -3, 7-5).
Daily point
Yet not at his best at this point in the match, the Italian Jannik Sinner made a magnificent crossover passing after a lob from Pierre-Hugues Herbert. The French then led 5-2 in the third set and disgusted his opponent. The Alsatian will finally lose in five sets and 3 hours and 32 minutes after missing a match point in the fourth. Infuriating.
Today’s birthday present
Iga Swiatek launched the defense of his title at Roland Garros with a solid victory against the Slovenian Kaja Juvan (91st), on his twentieth birthday (6-0, 7-5). “I don’t know what to say,” Swiatek blurted out after the audience sang “Happy Birthday” after his match was over.
The Polish started the part with a bang and left only nine small points to her rival before scrapping in the second act. She will face the Swedish Rebecca Peterson or the American Shelby Rogers in the second round.
The number of the day
57, like the number of consecutive participations of Alizé Cornet in a Grand Slam tournament. The 31-year-old Habs unfortunately did not have the opportunity to celebrate this record on the circuit, since she lost to her young compatriot Harmony Tan, 149th and beneficiary of an invitation (6-4, 6- 4).
Since her round of 16 in 2017, her best result as in 2015, she has not crossed the second round.
Main results of this 2nd day
Men’s singles : Sinner (ITA) b. HERBERT (FROM) (6-1, 4-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4); Ruud (NOR) b. PAIRE (FRA) (5-7, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6); Federer (SUI) b. Istomin (OUZ) (6-2, 6-3, 6-4);
Ladies singles : Swiatek (POL) b. Juvan (SLO) (6-0, 7-5); TAN (FRA) b. CORNET (FRA) (6-4, 6-4); GARCIA (FRA) b. Siegemund (ALL) (6-3, 6-1).
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