At the end of the first day of the Roland-Garros tournament in Paris, the favorites responded on Sunday. The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz dispatched JJ Wolf, when Naomi Osaka narrowly escaped against Lucia Bronzetti. On the French side, the tournament began with a disappointment: the elimination of Ugo Humbert.
Two quadruple Grand Slam winners face-to-face in the second round of Roland-Garros? Naomi Osaka, the very first to set foot on Center Court in the 2024 edition which opened on Sunday May 26, did her part of the job. It remains for Iga Swiatek, world No.1 and double holder of the trophy, to dismiss the French qualifier Léolia Jeanjean on Monday for her entry into the running, so that the duel takes place.
Carlos Alcaraz, candidate for the trophy but whose right forearm greatly disrupted the season on ocher, had a first round in the form of a walk in the park.
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Naomi Osaka escapes after a scare
For her entry into the running, Naomi Osaka did not avoid a scare against the Italian Lucia Bronzetti (48th), finally beaten 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. Leading 4 games to 0 in the third set, she allowed Bronzetti to equalize. She ended up winning in just over two hours.
She, whose preferred surface is not clay, believes she has “made considerable progress” there. If the Polish Iga Swiatek, addicted to ocher, joins her in the second round, the challenge will nonetheless remain immense for the 26-year-old Japanese, returning from maternity in 2024.
“I watched her play a lot when I was pregnant. It’s a great honor to play her at Roland Garros, because she won more than once here. It’s a challenge for me.” , estimates Osaka, who had not looked at her table beyond the first round after the draw.
At best, the former world No.1 reached the third round at Roland-Garros, in 2016, 2018 and 2019.
Alcaraz has “completely recovered”
“My arm is 100%. I still have a weird feeling, let’s say afraid to hit every forehand at 100%, I still have it in my mind, but I didn’t feel anything during the match, felt nothing afterwards, then I can say that I have completely recovered”, rejoices Alcaraz, right arm nevertheless still enclosed in a protective sleeve during his victory 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 against the drafted American JJ Wolf, acquired in less than two hours.
Carlos Alcaraz during his first round match at Roland Garros against JJ Wolf, Sunday May 26, 2024. © Alain Jocard, AFP
Absent in Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, then in Rome after an elimination in the quarter-finals in Madrid, the young Spaniard arrived in Paris with only three victories obtained during the European tour on clay.
“Four matches are too few, I’m not going to lie. I would have loved to play more,” admits the double Grand Slam winner and former world No. 1, but “after today’s match , my confidence is going up, my expectations are going up a bit, I think I can do a good result here. I’ve said it before, I don’t need a lot of matches to be 100%.”
In the second round, Alcaraz will face Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong.
Ugo Humbert entrance fall
The Italian Lorenzo Sonego triumphed against Ugo Humbert in the 1st round of the Roland-Garros tournament, Sunday, May 26, 2024 in Paris. © Bertrand Guay, AFP
On the French side, the day was mixed. Ugo Humbert, French No.1 and current 16th in the world, lost from the start against the Italian Lorenzo Sonego (49th), winner 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Lorraine left-hander spoke of “a somewhat tough period” at a press conference. “I don’t have the energy that I would like to have… Unfortunately… I come out of the match and I tell myself that with what I have, and what I’m going through too, it’s not easy . I’m already very proud to go on the court.”
Roland-Garros was definitely not successful for him: he only won one match in six appearances.
At the end of the effort at 37 years old, Richard Gasquet, now out of the top 100, honored his invitation to the big picture and pleased the Parisian public: he brought down the Croatian Borna Coric (71st) in three very close sets. ) 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 in 3:23. His next opponent? In theory the world No.2 Jannik Sinner.
Corentin Moutet (79th) made the night crowd roar: he derailed the Chilean Nicolas Jarry, 19th in the world and very recent finalist in Rome, 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-0.
Badly off against the German qualifier Eva Lys, the French N.1 Caroline Garcia raised the bar to overthrow her 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in 2 hours 12. “It’s never easy to start a new Roland-Garros,” she admits. The American Sofia Kenin (56th), Porte d’Auteuil finalist in 2020, is now waiting for him.
Wawrinka domine Murray
Finally, the first evening session of the Parisian fortnight gave rise to a duel from another era between Andy Murray, 37, and Stan Wawrinka, 39. Seven years ago, it was the poster for an intense semi-final at Roland-Garros.
Today, it’s a first round, dominated 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 by the older of the two and concluded with a final backhand winner down the line.
“There is a lot of emotion when we play again. We are no longer young, we arrive at the end, we try to make the most of it,” commented Wawrinka, after having accompanied Murray towards the exit with applause, who is, barring any twists and turns, experiencing the final months of his career.
“It’s respect for a huge champion, an incredible opponent,” he greeted. “As a tennis fan, I enjoyed watching him battle with the best players of all time.”
With AFP
