French Open 2024

Sabalenka and Rybakina get off to a confident start in Paris!

Aryna Sabalenka

(Bild: AFP)

Aryna Sabalenka and co-favorite Elena Rybakina have started the French Open with commanding first round victories! The No. 2 seed Sabalenka beat 19-year-old Russian Erika Andreyeva 6:1, 6:2 in just 68 minutes on Tuesday in Paris. Rybakina, the tournament's No. 4, defeated Belgian Greet Minnen 6:2, 6:3. Casper Ruud, finalist in the last two years, also overcame his first hurdle without losing a set. 

Australian Open winner Sabalenka was hardly challenged by the Russian teenager. The 26-year-old Belarusian thus confirmed the strong form she had shown in the European clay court season. At the two most recent tournaments in Madrid and Rome, she only lost to world number one Iga Swiatek in the final. However, the French Open has been her weakest Grand Slam tournament to date. Sabalenka had to bow out of Paris five times in the first week before reaching the semi-finals last year.

Kazakhstan's Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, also advanced with ease and will now face Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus, who defeated former world number one Angelique Kerber 6:4, 6:3. Meanwhile, Alize Cornet played the last singles match of her career. The 34-year-old Frenchwoman had already announced before the tournament that she would retire after the French Open. In round 1, she lost 2:6, 1:6 to the Chinese No. 7 seed Zheng Qinwen, while the Russian Darya Kassatkina (No. 10) defeated Magdalena Frech from Poland 7:5, 6:1.

In the men's competition, seventh seed Ruud, last weekend's tournament winner in Geneva, completed his opening match in under two hours. The 25-year-old Norwegian defeated Brazil's Felipe Meligeni 6:3, 6:4, 6:3, hitting almost 90 percent of his first serves into the court. "The past two years have given me a lot here in Paris. I hope I have a good year again this year," explained Ruud. The Australian Alex de Minaur (No. 11) allowed the American Alex Michelsen only three games and won 6:1, 6:0, 6:2.