Iga Swiatek obtained her French Open title protection off to begin Monday, recording a straight-sets victory to succeed in the second spherical.
Swiatek defeated Forty second-ranked Rebecca Sramkova 6-3, 6-3 in Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier. Swiatek compiled 25 winners and 17 unforced errors within the 1-hour, 24-minute contest.
Swiatek was readily available Sunday to look at the farewell tribute to 14-time champion Rafael Nadal. Swiatek has typically talked about her admiration for Nadal.
“For certain, there have been tears,” stated Swiatek, who faces 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu subsequent. “It was wonderful ceremony, and I am glad that Roland Garros did this for Rafa. I am glad that additionally the entire tennis world had a possibility to form of come collectively and simply thank him.
“He is a GOAT, so I am glad that I used to be there.”
Swiatek has slipped to No. 5 within the rankings, her first outing of the highest two spots in about three years. She hasn’t reached a ultimate at any match since amassing her third consecutive championship — and fourth in 5 years — in Paris in 2024.
The 23-year-old from Poland prolonged her French Open unbeaten streak to 22 matches and is making an attempt to grow to be the primary lady to with 4 trophies in a row on the match within the skilled period, which started in 1968. Monica Seles and Justine Henin additionally received three straight titles at Roland-Garros.
Swiatek took a special method to making ready for this yr’s match, arriving greater than 10 days early to get accustomed to the clay courts.
“It was the primary time we had this case [of arriving early],” Swiatek stated in a postmatch interview. “However I appreciated it. I knew I’m going to have the very best courts to apply on.”
Monday didn’t go as properly for Emma Navarro. The ninth-seeded American who reached the US Open semifinals final September, bowed out rapidly in Paris, eradicated 6-0, 6-1 in simply 57 minutes by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain.
Bouzas Maneiro’s greatest win of her profession additionally got here within the first spherical at a Grand Slam match: She beat reigning champion Marketa Vondrousova within the first spherical of Wimbledon final yr.
France’s Caroline Garcia bid a ultimate “adieu” to the Roland Garros crowd Monday after a 6-4, 6-4 loss to American Bernarda Pera.
The 31-year-old was taking part in in her 14th straight French Open however introduced final week that she is going to retire later this season.
After the match, Garcia obtained a standing ovation and the followers chanted her title for a number of minutes earlier than she did an on-court interview.
“I attempted to battle till the tip,” Garcia stated. “For the reason that begin of the season, I knew this might be my final Roland Garros. I hesitated to say it out loud as a result of I did not understand how I would deal with the feelings — and this week, the tears have come each single day.”
A former US Open semifinalist, Garcia rose as excessive as No. 4 within the rankings in 2018 and received the French Open doubles title in 2016.
Coco Gauff, Sofia Kenin and Jessica Pegula are among the many huge names scheduled to play on Day 3 Tuesday.
Info from The Related Press and Reuters was used on this report.