Medvedev beaten from the start, return to grace for Zverev

2023-05-30 22:40:26

The Russian Daniil Medvedev, 2nd in the world and considered one of the main outsiders at Roland-Garros, was eliminated on Tuesday in the first round of the Major on clay while the German Alexander Zverev made a success of his entry into the running, a year after being seriously injured in the middle of the semi-final. Among the women, the world number 1 Iga Swiatek started her fortnight well with a clear victory in two sets against the Spaniard Cristina Bucsa.

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

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

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

But it is the Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild (172^e) who created the first sensation of the tournament and will face Argentinian Guido Pella (423^e) for a place in the third round.

Winning return on the other hand for Alexander Zverev: the German, ex-world number 2 today 27^e, made a successful debut, a year after seriously injuring his right ankle in the middle of the semi-final against Rafael Nadal. Zverev overpowered 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (6-0), 6-1 South African Lloyd Harris (294^e).

“It’s very nice to be back. After last year, it’s a tournament that I really marked in my calendar, I really wanted to play here, to do well”, thanked the German, who will face in the second round the Slovak Alex Molcan (86^e).

End of the game for Gaston and Barrère

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

But the young Dane was pushed to his limits by the American Christopher Eubanks (74^e), slender silhouette with a formidable serve, before coming out 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 in not far from three hours.

The afternoon, on the other hand, was much quieter for the Norwegian Casper Ruud, 4^e world champion and finalist last year, who easily qualified by dismissing the Swede Elias Ymer (155^e and from qualifying) 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

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

At midday, Gaston was beaten by Slovak Alex Molcan (86^e) 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4. At the start of the evening, Barrère finally gave in after almost four and a quarter hours of duel with the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori (46^e) 6-2, 6-7 (7/9), 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

Furthermore, Quentin Halys (88^e) also folded in the super tie-break of the fifth set after leading two sets to one against the Argentinian Guido Pella, ex-top 20 who fell in the ATP rankings.

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

Among the twelve French players entered on Tuesday, only Diane Parry, Océane Dodin and Arthur Rinderknech cleared the obstacle of the first round before the match with Gaël Monfils. Not Fiona Ferro, Séléna Janicijevic, Clara Burel, nor Giovanni Mpetschi-Perricard.

Swiatek déroule

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

The two outgoing finalists, world number 4 Casper Ruud and world number 6 Coco Gauff, also successfully launched their fortnight.

The first did not drag against the Swede from qualifying Elias Ymer, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. The second needed three sets against the Spaniard Rebeka Masarova (71^e) 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 Austrian Julia Grahber (61^e) in the next round, while the 24-year-old Norwegian will face qualifying Italian Giulio Zeppieri.

Ons Jabeur, world number 7 but surprised at the start a year ago, was quick: the Tunisian, two Grand Slam finalists (Wimbledon and US Open 2022) dominated the Italian Lucia Bronzetti (65^e) 6-4, 6-1.

Her next opponent will be Frenchwoman Océane Dodin (122^e), falling to her compatriot Séléna Janicijevic 0-6, 6-2, 6-1.

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

With AFP