Zverev defeated South African Lloyd Harris, a former top 7 in the standings, 6-8 (6/7), 6-6 (0-6), 1-50 in 2h43 minutes on the sun-drenched Simonne-Mathieu court.

Iga Swiatek, world N.1 and outgoing champion, enters the track in the afternoon on the Centre Court, against the Spaniard Cristina Bucsa (70th), just after the world N.2 Daniil Medvedev, unexpected outsider since he discovered a taste for clay by winning in Rome his very first title on ochre ten days ago.

The honours of the evening session were reserved for Gaël Monfils, who recently returned to the circuit after seven months of absence. He is opposed to the formidable Argentine Sebastian Baez (42nd).

A year ago, Zverev left Centre Court leaning on crutches after seriously twisting his right ankle in the middle of the semifinals against Rafael Nadal. Several torn ligaments had kept him out of action for the rest of the 2022 season.

"It's very nice to be back. After last year, it's a tournament that I really ticked off in my calendar, I really wanted to play here, do well. I appreciate the warm welcome," said the German.

"The way the tournament ended for me last year was very disappointing, I enjoy playing in front of a full stadium even more, I had a lot of fun," he continued.

Did his playing satisfy him for his first steps?

"No," Zverev replied frankly. But I'm happy to have won in three sets, usually I start Roland Garros in five sets (in 2019 and 2021 actually, and in the second round in 2020 and 2022)."

Successful entry for outgoing finalists

"I know I have to play better, but there was a lot of wind, Lloyd served very well, and all in all, I'm happy with my win," he concluded.

American Coco Gauff during her match against Spain's Rebeka Masarova on May 30, 2023 at Roland Garros in Paris © Thomas SAMSON / AFP

In the second round, Zverev will face Slovakia's Alex Molcan (86th).

The two outgoing finalists, World No. 4 Casper Ruud and World No. 6 Coco Gauff, successfully launched their Parisian fortnight.

The former did not hang around against the Swede from the qualifiers Elias Ymer, dominated 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. The second needed three sets to defeat Spain's Rebeka Masarova (71st) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

"It was a difficult start, I'm happy to have been able to turn the game around," she said.

The 19-year-old American will face Austria's Julia Grahber (61st) in the next round.

Ons Jabeur, world No. 7 but surprise entry a year ago, was expeditious in the opening of the program of the Central Court: the Tunisian double finalist in Grand Slam (Wimbledon and US Open 2022) dismissed the Italian Lucia Bronzetti (65th) 6-4, 6-1 in just 70 minutes.

Her next opponent will be French: Océane Dodin (122nd), who fell to her compatriot Selena Janicijevic 0-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Diane Parry (79th) signed a good performance at the expense of the Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina, 26th in the world and recent finalist in Rome, dominated 6-2, 6-3, Tuesday in the first round of Roland-Garros.

Defeats in the first round for Fiona Ferro, Hugo Gaston, Giovanni Mpetschi-Perricard.

ES-IG-CTO-RBO/CPB/

© 2023 AFP