This is a huge disappointment for the world number 2. The Russian Daniil Medvedev, leader of the outsiders, fell Tuesday, May 30 in the first round of Roland-Garros against a player from the qualifications.

Medvedev had seemed to take a liking to clay, a surface he had hated until then, by winning the Masters 1000 in Rome just before coming to Paris. He had thus become one of the main potential threats for the favorites Carlos Alcaraz (number 1) and Novak Djokovic (3rd), in the absence of Rafael Nadal.

In addition, he came to Roland Garros with the record of titles (5), finals (6) and matches won (39) since the beginning of the season.

But it was Brazil's Thiago Seyboth Wild (172nd) who created the first sensation of the tournament and will face Argentina's Guido Pella (423rd) for a place in the third round.

On the other hand, Alexander Zverev wins a winning return: the German, former world number 2 now 27th, has succeeded in his entry into the competition, a year after seriously injuring his right ankle in the middle of the semi-final against Rafael Nadal. Zverev defeated South African Lloyd Harris (7th) 6-8 (6/7), 6-6 (0-6), 1-294.

"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," said the German, who will face Slovakia's Alex Molcan (86th) in the second round.

Endgame for Gaston and Barrère

Another serious outsider, strong on ochre in 2023 of two finals in Monte-Carlo and Rome, more than one title in Munich in the meantime, Holger Rune (6th), only six days older than Alcaraz, did not experience the same misadventure as Medvedev.

But the young Dane was pushed to his limits by the American Christopher Eubanks (74th), a thin figure with a formidable serve, before getting out 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 in nearly three hours.

The afternoon was much quieter for Norway's Casper Ruud, 4th in the world and finalist last year, who easily qualified by dismissing Sweden's Elias Ymer (155th and from qualifying) 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

On the French side, Hugo Gaston (109th), who had written the beautiful French history of the 2020 edition, and Grégoire Barrère (58th) lost in the first round of Roland-Garros on Tuesday.

At midday, Gaston was beaten by Slovakia's Alex Molcan (86th) 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4. In the early evening, Barrère finally gave up after almost four and a quarter hours of duel with the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori (46th) 6-2, 6-7 (7/9), 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

In addition, Quentin Halys (88th) also folded in the super tie-break of the fifth set after leading two sets to one against the Argentine Guido Pella, former top 20 fallen in the ATP rankings.

Richard Gasquet lost to compatriot Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), who took his first victory in the tournament. On the decline at 36 years old, the Biterrois fails once again to pass the first round of a Major, a few months after his elimination of entry to the Australian Open.

Among the twelve French players entered on Tuesday, only Diane Parry, Océane Dodin and Arthur Rinderknech cleared the hurdle in the first round before Gaël Monfils' match. Not Fiona Ferro, Selena Janicijevic, Clara Burel, or Giovanni Mpetschi-Perricard.

Swiatek unfolds

World number 1 and outgoing champion, Iga Swiatek did not let herself be destabilized by the wind that rushes into the Parisian Central: on the eve of her 22nd birthday, the Pole dismissed 6-4, 6-0 the Spaniard Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 6-0 in less than 1 hour 15 minutes.

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

The former did not hang around against Elias Ymer of Sweden, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. The second needed three sets against Spain's Rebeka Masarova (71st) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

"The start was difficult, 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, while the 24-year-old Norwegian will face qualifying Italian Giulio Zeppieri.

Ons Jabeur, world number 7 but surprised to start a year ago, was expeditious: the Tunisian double finalist in Grand Slam (Wimbledon and US Open 2022) dominated the Italian Lucia Bronzetti (65th) 6-4, 6-1.

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

Quiet start also for one of the favorites, the Kazakh Elena Rybakina (4th), champion of Wimbledon 2022 and finalist of the Australian Open in January, who dismissed without forcing the Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova (146th) 6-4, 6-2.

With AFP

The summary of the week France 24 invites you to look back on the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news with you everywhere! Download the France 24 app