Lookalike Ruud searching for to go in a single path at Roland Garros
The French Open begins at the moment with the second grand slam in tennis huge open in each the lads’s and ladies’s tournaments.
Aryna Sabalenka would possibly simply find yourself as world No 1 ought to she go properly at Roland Garros, however first up she has a tough match towards a participant who “hates” her.
The Belarusian, whose breakthrough within the slams got here on the Australian Open this yr in a three-set win over Elena Rybakina, seems to be in advantageous type after victory on the Madrid Open, with Iga Swiatek now in sight, as she targets a second slam in 2023 and £2m in prize cash. However there shall be further pressure within the first spherical towards Marta Kostyuk, probably the most outspoken Ukrainian participant concerning the sport’s response to the invasion of her house nation by Russia, with the 20-year-old refusing to shake fingers with gamers from the Russia and Belarus.
Different names to be careful for on Day 1 embrace Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, Maria Sakkari and Jessica Pegula, whereas Britain’s Dan Evans and Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis may mix for a fiery encounter.
Observe reside scores and updates from the French Open under:
French Open 2023 – Day 1 newest scores and outcomes
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“After all we don’t assist battle” – Sabalenka speaks out after Kostyuk refuses handshake
Following her straight-set victory towards Ukraine’s Kostyuk, Belarus’ Sabalanka spoke passionately in her press convention after her opponent refused a handshake:
She mentioned: “No person on this world, Russian athletes or Belarusian athletes, assist the battle. No person. How can we assist the battle? No person, regular individuals won’t ever assist it. After all we don’t assist battle.
“Why we have now to go loud and say that issues – that is like one plus one, it’s two. After all we don’t assist battle. If it may have an effect on anyhow the battle, if it may like cease it, we’d do it. However sadly, it’s not in our fingers.”
Ben Fleming28 Might 2023 12:43
French Open 2023: Evans 4-6 4-3 Kokkinakis*
A giant error from Evans items Kokkinakis a means again into this second set. At 30-0, the Brit was crusing however a foot fault incurs a double fault and from there Evans crumbles.
An enormous break from Kokkinakis who now serves for a degree recreation.
Ben Fleming28 Might 2023 12:38
French Open 2023: Vesely 5-7 Tsitsipas
What a turnaround from Tsitsipas. He holds serve to take a 6-5 lead nevertheless it’s actually poor from Vesely as he seems to be to pressure a tie-break. A sequence of unforced errors and the Czech items Tsitsipas two break factors earlier than firing into the online to lose the primary set.
Tsitsipas clenches his fist and gestures to his staff – he is aware of how necessary a very good begin was.
Ben Fleming28 Might 2023 12:36
French Open 2023: Khachanov 3-6, 1-6, 6-2 Lestienne*
Khachanov makes no mistake and wraps up the third set. He’s on the board now and can look to make additional inroads into Lestienne’s lead with the Frenchman nonetheless fighting that harm he picked up halfway by way of the third set.
Ben Fleming28 Might 2023 12:29
French Open 2023: Evans 4-6 4-1 Kokkinakis*
Kokkinakis will get his first recreation of the second set nevertheless it’s swiftly adopted up by one other maintain from Evans. He strikes to 4-1 up and seems to be marching to the second set.
Ben Fleming28 Might 2023 12:28
French Open 2023: Vesely 5-5 Tsitsipas*
Tsitsipas holds his serve and makes Vesely serve out however he’s instantly in bother. 30-0 down and he miscues a routine smash to present the number-five seed three break factors.
He fires huge with a backhand on the primary however makes no mistake with the second as Vesely’s volley drops into the online. Again to degree within the opening set.
Ben Fleming28 Might 2023 12:26
French Open 2023: *Khachanov 3-6, 1-6, 5-2 Lestienne
Again to Lestienne and it’s much less promising information in entrance of his house crowd. Khachanov breaks once more to open up a 5-2 lead within the third set and the Frenchman is now receiving intense medical therapy on the sidelines.
Ben Fleming28 Might 2023 12:22
French Open 2023: Evans 4-6 3-0 Kokkinakis*
Now that’s extra prefer it Dan! The Brit takes benefit within the second recreation to interrupt to like after which holds serve to open up a 3-0 benefit within the second set.
Ben Fleming28 Might 2023 12:19
French Open 2023: Vesely 5-3 Tsitsipas*
Effectively, no matter stress Tsitsipas hoped to use did not materialise. A few mishit forehands from him mixed with some very good groundstrokes from Vesely means he holds serve with ease.
Tsitsipas serving to remain within the first set.
Ben Fleming28 Might 2023 12:18
French Open 2023: Evans 4-6 1-0 Kokkinakis*
Evans is on the board on this second set nevertheless it’s not with out additional strife. He’s 15-30 down earlier than three factors on the trot eases any considerations.
Ben Fleming28 Might 2023 12:14