World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, on a mission to win her first Roland-Garros, successfully entered the competition on Tuesday, against the Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (50th), 6-4, 6-2 in 1 hour 15 minutes.
An unfortunate finalist last year, the 28-year-old Belarusian experienced ups and downs, leading 4-0 in the first set before letting her opponent come back to 5-4.
She subsequently rolled back, but at 5-0, she again dropped two games. The match ended with a double fault from the 23-year-old Galician.
Sabalenka will face the Czech Linda Fruhvirtova (149th) or the French Elsa Jacquemot (67th) in the next round.
The title holder without worries
The American Coco Gauff, 4th player in the world and defending champion in Paris, made her debut at Roland-Garros on Tuesday by beating her compatriot Taylor Townsend (75th) 6-4, 6-0 in the 1st round. Finalist at the WTA 1000 in Rome, beaten by the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (7e), Gauff, 22, was broken from the start and was imprecise in return of service.
She subsequently raised the bar and inflicted a “bubble” on her opponent in the 2nd set in 1 hour 21 minutes. She will face the Egyptian Mayar Sherif (129th) in the 2nd round.
Five sets for Medvedev
Former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev (current 8th in the world) lost as soon as he entered the competition, beaten in five sets by the Australian Adam Walton (97th), beneficiary of an invitation from the tournament organizers.
At the end of a match full of twists and turns on the Suzanne-Lenglen court, the Russian lost 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
In ten appearances at Roland-Garros, Medvedev has now lost in the first round seven times.
Not fond of clay, the winner of the 2021 US Open began his season on the ocher surface with a 6-0, 6-0 defeat against the Italian Matteo Berrettini in Monte-Carlo, an unprecedented humiliation for him at 30 years old.
But he then got back on track in Madrid (round of 16) and in Rome, where he pushed world No. 1 Jannik Sinner to his limits in the semi-final.
Falling out of a member of the top 10 for the first time in his career, Walton, 27, will play in the next round against the American Zachary Svajda (85th).
Results of the 3rd day
1st round (men’s singles)
Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) beats Tallon Griekspoor (NED/N.29) 6-7 (9/11), 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) defeats Alexandre Muller (FRA) 6-2, 3-0 (abandonment)
Daniel Vallejo (PAR) beats Cameron Norrie (GBR/N.20) 7-6 (9/7), 2-0 (abandonment)
Moïse Kouamé (FRA) beats Marin Cilic (CRO) 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-1
Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) defeats Kamil Majchrzak (POL) 6-1, 6-3, 6-4
Valentin Vacherot (MON/N.16) beats Thomas Faurel (FRA) 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6)
Facundo Díaz (ARG) defeats Zhang Zhizhen (CHN) 6-1, 6-4, 6-3
Learner Tien (USA/N.18) beats Christian Garín (CHI) 6-0, 2-6, 6-0, 6-2
Zachary Svajda (USA) defeats Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5
Adam Walton (AUS) beats Daniil Medvedev (RUS/N.6) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4
1st round (women’s singles)
Aryna Sabalenka (BLR/N.1) beats Jessica Bouzas (ESP) 6-4, 6-2
Iva Jovic (USA/N.17) beats Alexandra Eala (PHI) 6-4, 6-2
Emma Navarro (USA) beats Janice Tjen (INA) 6-4, 6-3
Donna Vekic (CRO) defeats Alice Tubello (FRA) 6-3, 6-2
Naomi Osaka (JPN/N.16) beats Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3)
Coco Gauff (USA/N.4) beats Taylor Townsend (USA) 6-4, 6-0
Mayar Sherif (EGY) defeats Dalma Gálfi (HUN) 7-5, 6-4
Maria Sakkari (GRE) beats Linda Noskova (CZE/N.12) 7-5, 7-6 (7/3)
Claire Liu (USA) defeats Moyuka Uchijima (JPN) 3-6, 6-0, 4-1 (retirement)
Ann Li (USA/N.30) beats Zhang Shuai (CHN) 6-4, 6-2
