Grand Slam record winner Novak Djokovic had little trouble in the first round of the French Open and is through to round two. Comebacker Elina Switolina also shone.
The Serb only had slight problems in the third set and finally won on Whit Monday (29.05.23) 6:3, 6:2, 7:6 (7:1). The third in the world rankings meets unseeded Marton Fucsovics from Hungary in the second round. “I played the first two sets quite well, then I lost concentration a bit”said Djokovic, “I started the tournament well and still have some room for improvement.”
Djokovic wants to be the sole record holder
Djokovic is aiming for the third title in Roland Garros after 2016 and 2021 and, in the absence of his permanent rival Rafael Nadal, wants to become the sole record holder with 23 Grand Slam successes. Last year Djokovic failed in the quarterfinals against Nadal.
This time the 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who also starts the tournament on Monday, is the main competitor in the fight for the title in Roland Garros. Djokovic and Alcaraz would already meet in the semifinals.
Auger-Aliassime already eliminated, Wawrinka with a thriller
Minutes before Djokovic’s victory, the first top ten player left the tournament. Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada), number nine on the seed list, lost in three sets against the strong Italian Fabio Fognini. Old champion Stan Wawrinka from Switzerland, tournament winner in 2015, fought in a thriller with 7: 6 (7: 5), 6: 4, 6: 7 (2: 7), 1: 6, 6: 4 against the Spaniard Albert Ramos Vinolas by.
Switolina shines in Grand Slam comeback after baby break
Elina Switolina immediately set an exclamation mark at her first Grand Slam appearance after the birth of her daughter Skai: In her first round match, the 28-year-old Ukrainian knocked out last year’s semi-finalist Martina Trevisan from Italy 6: 2, 6: 2. “I played really well and it feels special”said Switolina and mused, “our baby is half French and half Ukrainian and maybe one day he will play tennis here.”
Switolina, who is married to French tennis pro Gael Monfils, became a mother for the first time in October 2022. She celebrated her comeback in April and won her first tournament as a mom just before Paris.
Last tournament win
On Saturday she celebrated the final victory in Strasbourg against Anna Blinkowa – and now also the opening success in the French capital.
On the other hand, the Swiss Olympic champion Belinda Bencic was very disappointed. The 26-year-old was surprisingly defeated by Jelina Avanesian from Russia 3: 6, 6: 2, 4: 6.