The 2019 men’s French Open got underway yesterday and after a four year absence the great Roger Federer returned to Roland Garros and was one of the first to play on the revamped and newly named Stade Roland Garros (formerly named Philippe Chatrier since 1988) where he received a standing ovation from a grateful centre court crowd.
There were no signs of rustiness or nerves from the 37 year old and he made light work of beating the talented young Italian Sonego in straight sets who looked like a puppet on a string at times as Federer mixed his game up which rarely gave Sonego any chance of getting in to a rhythm.
Sixth seed NextGen star Tsitsipas also progressed to the second round at a canter seeing off German Marterer in ruthless fashion 6-2 6-2 7-6 and if he continues to play like that and improves, he’s going to be very difficult to stop reaching the latter stages of another major tournament.
Seventh seed Nishikori also made light work of his first-round opponent French Wild Card Halys cruising to an easy straight set win as did eleventh seed Cilic against Italian veteran Fabbiano. Former top ten-star Dimitrov whose career has been in steady decline and is now ranked in the forties was nearly embarrassed by veteran Serb Tipsarevic from two sets to love up, but the Bulgarian avoided further embarrassment by just snatching the fifth set.
Sixteenth seed Cecchinato was embarrassed in the first round losing from two sets to love up against 37-year-old French veteran Mahut which sent his home supporters wild with delight. Seventeenth seed and 2018 semi-finalist Schwartzman was nearly a first-round casualty as well but he managed to hang tough and see off the tough and talented Hungarian Fucsovics in five sets.
All the other seeded players who were in action yesterday twenty seventh seed Goffin, twenty ninth seed Berrettini and thirty first seed Djere all progressed to the second round without too much drama.
The first-round action continues today and it’s a hectic one with twenty-eight matches taking place weather permitting. The main attractions today will of course be defending champion and eleven-time winner Nadal opening his campaign against German qualifier Hanfmann who he plays for the first time and top-seed and world number one Djokovic who faces the big serving Pole Hurkacz .
Other top seeded players in action today are fourth seed Thiem who faces American Wild Card and former French Open junior finalist Tommy Paul, tenth seed Khachanov opens his campaign against German Stebe, twelfth seed Medvedev faces a potentially tricky opener against talented Frenchman Herbert, thirteenth seed Coric will need to be at his best to see off clay court specialist Bedene, fourteenth seed Monfils will no doubt get the home crowd going against Daniel from Japan and fifteenth seed Basilashvili also faces a potential banana skin against new star of the red dirt Londero from Argentina.
Nineteenth seed Pella from Argentina could also face a serious test against compatriot Andreozzi because Andreozzi leads the head-to-head 3-1 and his three wins all came on clay albeit back in 2013 and 2014. NextGen Aussie star and twenty first seed De Minaur should get his campaign off to a winning start against American Klahn as should former French Open winner twenty fourth seed Wawrinka against Kovalik from Slovakia and finally thirty second seed NextGen American star Tiafoe will need to be at his best to beat the talented Serb Krajinovic who the layers make clear favourite to reach the second round.
Selections:
Copil Win vs. Paire @ 9/2
Andreozzi Win vs. Pella @ 15/4
