PARIS — Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz kicked off their French Open title defenses with impressive straight-set victories on Monday, advancing to the second round with confidence.
Swiatek, battling some recent challenges, faced off against Rebecca Sramkova and secured a 6-3, 6-3 win on Court Philippe-Chatrier. She recorded 25 winners, though she also had 17 unforced errors in the match that lasted just over an hour and 20 minutes.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, had a dominant performance against Giulio Zeppieri, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in a match that took slightly less time. Alcaraz was perfect on his serve, winning all 14 service games and saving the three break points he faced.
"It was really, really solid," Alcaraz remarked about his start, expressing pride in his performance.
Both players witnessed a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Rafael Nadal the day before, donning rust-colored shirts that read "Merci Rafa." Swiatek has long admired Nadal, while many view Alcaraz as his successor.
"There were definitely tears," Swiatek shared about the tribute. "It was an incredible ceremony, and I’m glad Roland Garros honored Rafa. It was a moment for the entire tennis world to come together and show their appreciation. He’s a true great, so I’m grateful to have been there."
In the tournament, Alcaraz is seeded second, just behind Jannik Sinner, who advanced later in the evening. Alcaraz, fresh off a recent title at the Italian Open, is on a roll, securing 28 wins in his last 30 matches on red clay.
Swiatek, once a top contender, has slipped to No. 5 in the rankings for the first time in about three years. Despite this, she extended her unbeaten streak at the French Open to 22 matches. She aims to make history by becoming the first woman to win four consecutive titles at Roland-Garros since the professional era began in 1968.
What else transpired at the French Open on Monday?
The tournament saw the quick exit of two high-ranking American players. No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz, who had a great run at the U.S. Open last September, lost to Germany’s Daniel Altmaier, ranked 66th, with a score of 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Fritz faced multiple breaks during the match, ending his 15-match winning streak against lower-ranked opponents.
Meanwhile, No. 9 seed Emma Navarro suffered a swift defeat at the hands of Jessica Bouzas Maneiro from Spain, losing 6-0, 6-1 in under an hour.
Also leaving the tournament was four-time major champion Naomi Osaka, who was visibly upset after her loss to No. 10 Paula Badosa.
Who will be competing at Roland-Garros on Tuesday?
The Day 3 matches will include notable players such as Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, Daniil Medvedev, and Sofia Kenin, alongside runners-up like Alexander Zverev and Jessica Pegula.
