For Medvedev in search of landmarks on earthHe often hammered it. Clay is not his cup of tea. But for the world number two, it is no longer the time to be choosy. Deprived of the next Wimbledon, the Muscovite is in need of play and competition. He needs matches and victories. Operated on for a hernia in early April, the Russian lost in Geneva to Richard Gasquet for his return to the courts. But Porte d’Auteuil where he remains in a quarter-final in 2021, the pupil of Gilles Cervara did not miss his debut against Facundo Bagnis dispatched (6-2, 6-2, 6-2) on the Suzanne -Lenglen. This Thursday, he faces in opening on the Philippe Chatrier, the Serbian Laslo Djere. To confirm its rise to power.
For Caroline Garcia and her foot So far so good. The 28-year-old Lyonnaise, 79th in the world, away from the courts for two months because of a plantar aponeurosis, returned to competition on Tuesday at Roland-Garros. And reassured herself by dominating the American Taylor Townsend, a modest opponent, it is true, ranked 342nd in the world, who had not played a Grand Slam since 2019. The former world number 4 finds this Thursday a American player of much better level. Madison Keys, 22nd in the world. The 2017 US Open finalist has won two of her three previous duels against the former French number one, will be favored in the predictions, but Garcia, whom no one expects, has a great opportunity to recall that she was part of the best, three years ago…
For Simon, the “grandpa” who is resisting In his first round, the now 158th in the world offered himself the Spaniard Pablo Carrena Busta (6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 1-6, 6- 4), 18th in the world and seasoned earthling. At the end of the night, in a football stadium atmosphere. For his last Roland-Garros, he prolongs the pleasure for one more performance before bowing out at the end of the season. Place at the 92nd world Steve Johnson on the Central. A match, a priori affordable. It remains to be seen in what physical condition the Niçois will be after his incredible marathon on Tuesday? “I gave everything in the fifth. I felt like I was going to cramp every time. I did not listen to my body. I thought to myself, “I have a small chance of winning” and I really tried to take it; I was lucky enough to be able to seize it”. The 37-year-old veteran has the opportunity this Thursday to delay his farewell to Roland-Garros a little longer.
For Swiatek and a 30th consecutive victory Nothing stops the Swiatek tornado. The world number one and big favorite of the tournament swept in 54 minutes the Ukrainian qualifier Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-0 in the first round. Already a winner in Doha and Indian Wells before taking the throne, she then won in Miami, Stuttgart and Rome. She is now on a crazy streak of 29 consecutive wins. Untouchable. “I’m sure I can still (lose),” says the 20-year-old Polish. I work every day to be 100% focused on my tennis and not on the statistics, to stay in my bubble. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past few weeks, and what I’m going to try to keep doing here.” We wish good luck to her opponent of the day, the American Alison Riske.
For the “returning” David Goffin, the 31-year-old Liégeois, who fell to 48th in the world, ended a sad series of five consecutive defeats in the first round in the Grand Slam, by dominating . The Belgian will try to continue his momentum Thursday Porte d’Auteuil. He faces on the Simonne-Mathieu court the American Frances Tiafoe (seeded 27), finalist in Estoril on May 1st. “It’s an affordable match, that’s for sure, but difficult, Goffin told the Belgian press. Tiafoe has always played well on clay. He has a fairly heavy forehand, knows how to slide on the ground, is not at all hampered in his movements. He can serve well, he has a good kick, and enter the field with his backhand, which he knows how to take early. David Goffin also knows how to play on clay. Winner of ATP 250 in Marrakech, he had quarters in Paris in 2016. And he leads 3-1 in his confrontations against Tiafoe (the American won the last face-to-face in Miami, in 2019, 7-5 , 7-6).
