Aryna Sabalenka easily reached the second round of the rain-drenched French Open at Roland Garros on Tuesday as Novak Djokovic prepared to begin his title defense, confident his Grand Slam record will help turn around his lackluster season. Australian Open champion Sabalenka, a semi-finalist in Paris in 2023, defeated Russian teenager Erika Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 in just 68 minutes under the roof of the Philippe Chatrier Court.
World number two Sabalenka fired 27 goals past 100th-ranked Andreeva and broke serve five times in a dominant display.
“I’m trying to do well on clay, the conditions are difficult here, but I enjoy playing here and I’m just trying to bring my best tennis always – whatever the surface,” Sabalenka said.
The Belarusian has made at least the last four of the last six Grand Slams and is expected to be Iga Swiatek’s toughest rival as the Pole competes for a fourth French Open title.
Heavy rain caused a five-hour delay on the open courts, and by 6pm local time only nine of the 40 scheduled matches had been completed.
World number one Djokovic, seeking his fourth Roland Garros title and record-extending 25th title, is facing his worst run since 2018.
Djokovic, 37, has not won a title in 2024 and is yet to reach the final, with places in the semi-finals of the Australian Open and Monte Carlo Masters with his best performances.
He also suffered the indignity of being accidentally hit in the head with a metal water bottle in Rome, which caused him nausea and dizziness.
In Geneva last week, where he was knocked out by Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic, Djokovic said he was suffering from a stomach problem.
“These are obstacles in the way,” said Djokovic, who saw his long-time rival and 14-times champion Rafael Nadal eliminated from the tournament against Alexander Zverev on Monday.
When asked to further explain his difficulties so far this season, Djokovic opted for discretion.
“A lot of things have been happening in the last few months, but I don’t want to get into that. I don’t want to open Pandora’s box.”
On Tuesday, Djokovic will face French wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the world number 142 who has not won a match on this year’s main tour.
Two-time champion Casper Ruud, who won clay titles in Barcelona and Geneva in the lead-up to Roland Garros, claimed a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Brazilian Felipe Meligeni Alves in the qualifiers.
“It’s great to be back here at Roland Garros,” he said. “I hope I can have another good year here.”
Ruud was defeated in straight sets by Novak Djokovic in last year’s final, following a one-sided loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2022 final. He also lost the 2022 US Open final to Carlos Alcaraz.
Frenchwoman Alize Cornet’s career ended with a straight sets defeat to Zheng Qinwen in her record-extending 69th consecutive Grand Slam appearance.
Cornet was no match for Australian Open runner-up Zheng from China, losing 6-2 6-1.
She made her Roland Garros debut at age 15 in 2005 and has not lost a Grand Slam tournament since the 2006 US Open.
‘I cried watching Rafa’
Cornet reached a career-high ranking of 11th in 2009 and had a surprise run to the quarterfinals of the 2022 Australian Open.
“I already cried yesterday watching Rafa,” said a tearful Cornet after watching Nadal lose what would likely be his last match at the French Open on Monday. On the court, Suzanne Lenglen, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina reached the second round with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Belgian Greet Minnen.
Kazakh world number four Rybakina is the only player to defeat Swiatek on clay this season, in the semi-finals in Stuttgart in April.
The Argentine qualifier Roman Andres Burruchaga, who has sporting success in his blood, should also take the court in the men’s singles.
His father, Jorge, scored the famous winning goal for Diego Maradona’s Argentina in the 1986 World Cup final against West Germany.
Ranked 144th, the 22-year-old is making his Grand Slam debut and faces Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
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