Australian Open finalist against Novak Djokovic, Tsitsipas (world No.3) dominated Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori (52nd) 7-5, 6-1 in the evening for his first tournament on the circuit since his Australian epic.

First in difficulty with his ball length, the Greek had a complicated start to the match to be led 3-5.

Ruusuvuori then missed his chance: serving to win the set, the Finn gave the Greek his first break point of the set.

Tsitsipas jumped at the chance to unbreak and then win the next three games and the set.

What followed was clearer for the Greek, who completed the match in 1 h 32 min.

"I had a little trouble getting into the game. Mentally it wasn't easy but my game gradually fell into place," he explained.

Tsitsipas will be opposed in the next round to the winner of Wednesday's meeting between Italian Janik Sinner (14th) and Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi (48th).

Hurkacz falls on a bone

Earlier, Auger-Aliassime, 8th in the world and seeded N.3, had encountered no difficulty in overcoming Italian Lorenzo Sonego (60th) 6-2, 6-3.

"It doesn't often happen to me to start a tournament with such feelings", rejoiced the Canadian who had won his first title on the same court a year ago against... Tsitsipas, after losing eight finals. .

In the second round, he will be opposed to the French Grégoire Barrère (71st), from the qualifications and winner in the 1st round of the Belgian David Goffin.

The Pole Hubert Hurkacz (N.10 in the world) fell on a bone in the person of Roberto Bautista.

The Spaniard is still 24th in the world at almost 35 years old, and remains a tough opponent.

German Alexander Zverev against South Korean Soonwoo Kwon in the 1st round of the Rotterdam tournament on February 14, 2023 © Sander Koning / ANP/AFP

Hurcakz, beaten in their three previous confrontations, won for the first time only after three hours, 7-6 (8/6), 2-6, 7-6 (7/5).

Alexander Zverev (17th in the world) also passed this first round, beating the modest South Korean Soonwoo Kwon (63rd) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) without convincing.

The German, seriously injured in the ankle in the Roland-Garros semi-final against Rafael Nadal last June, did not return to competition until the start of the year and has not yet returned to the level of the N .2 world he had become after his daunting semi-final against Rafa.

The last match of the evening on Tuesday opposed the Russian Daniil Medvedev (11th in the world) to the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich (31st).

© 2023 AFP