The roof
From the first exchanges, the Parisian Grand Slam used its new roof which covers its Central due to the rain which fell on Roland-Garros.
The eleven steel structure wings were deployed on Sunday morning in the face of rainy and windy weather conditions.
The weather being (a little) less rainy at the end of the day, the organizers decided to open the roof for the clash between the two former world number one Stan Wawrinka - Andy Murray.
Cold
Four months after its usual spring programming date, Roland Garros kicked off on Sunday, in almost winter conditions with temperatures barely exceeding 11 degrees.
This year at Roland-Garros, it is a surreal atmosphere that welcomes the spectator, already well cooled by the rain and the 11 degrees that prevail in Paris ... https: //t.co/r7V7QdZYbI
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) September 27, 2020
The rant
“
I wasn't going to waste time sitting there waiting for the weather to change.
It was too cold.
Then we came back to the court and played normally.
I am a little outraged by the way in which certain situations are managed
”
, railed the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, quiet winner of her first round against Montenegrin Danka Kovinic, (6-2, 6-1), who left in full match the court Suzanne-Lenglen, in her first set, considering that the playing conditions were too complicated, before returning to the court thirty minutes later.
The blue surprise
Caroline Garcia had the last word against Anett Kontaveit (21st) (6-4, 3-6, 6-4) in 2 hours of play. After losing the second set, she was able to erase two break behind in the decisive set for go for the qualification of a raging smash.
In the second round, the Lyonnaise will face Sasnovich (96th).
@CaroGarcia
La Française wins in 3 sets against the seed n ° 17 Kontaveit 6-4 3-6 6-4!
# RolandGarrospic.twitter.com / zgrU3UmZrL
- Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) September 27, 2020
Blue disillusion
Despite two sets in advance and a match point, Chardy lost to Jurij Rodionov 3-6, 5-6, 7-6, 6-4, 10-8 after 4:36 of a long fight.
Jérémy Chardy surrendered, after having saved 5 match points.
Cruel scenario on the Suzanne-Lenglen court for @jimchardy.
Despite two sets in advance and a match point in the tie-break of the third, he lost to the Austrian qualifier Rodionov, 3/6, 4/6, 7/6, 6/4, 10/8 in 4:36.
# RolandGarrospic.twitter.com / dkH6CXMRXf
- FFT (@FFTennis) September 27, 2020
The qualifier tricolor
Qualified Benjamin Bonzi continued his journey on the courts of Porte d'Auteuil.
The 224th player in the world dominated the Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori (92nd) in four sets (6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4) and will face Sinner in the second round.
This is the second time in his career that the 24-year-old has completed a round at Roland Garros.
The highlights of @BenjaminBonzi's match against Emil Ruusuvuori
With a victory for the Frenchman!
# RolandGarrospic.twitter.com / 58AHSl6BJt
- FFT (@FFTennis) September 27, 2020
The first one
French number two Benoit Paire won his first game since resuming the circuit, dominating Korean Kwon (7-5, 6-4, 6-4).
Tested positive at the US Open, the Avignon player appeared out of shape in Rome and Hamburg.
He seems to have found a little color at Roland Garros for his first post-confinement victory.
Despite 57 unforced errors, the 25th player in the world has generally mastered the situation against Kwon.
Pair will face Argentina's Federico Coria (98th) in the second round.
The demonstration
The shock Wawrinka - Murray turned the Philippe Chatrier hard.
The fault of the Swiss, far superior to his opponent, swept 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 Sunday.
Wawrinka, winner of the 2015 edition, will face in the second round the German Dominik Koepfer, who released the French Antoine Hoang, beneficiary of an invitation.
WOW-rinka.
Irreproachable, @stanwawrinka won 6-1 6-3 6-2 against Andy Murray. # RolandGarrospic.twitter.com / 6Wkj2JLWqA
- Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) September 27, 2020
The phrase
"I wouldn't give some of these balls to a dog to chew on."
Quarter-finalist last season, the Japanese Kei Nishikori won after the effort against Daniel Evans (6-1 1-6 6-7 (3), 6-1 6-4).
What frustrate the Briton who like many players is not a fan of the new balls described as heavy ...
Sensation
Under the closed roof of Chatrier, the Belgian David Goffin, world number 12, was swept away by the great Italian hope Jannick Sinner (7-5, 6-0, 6-3).
A great performance for his first Roland-Garros.
The number
8
Semi-finalist of the 2018 edition, Marco Cecchinato, had accumulated since the disappointments, with eight eliminations in the 1st round of the Grand Slams.
Coming from the qualifications, the Italian found a little light on Sunday by dominating in the first round Alex De Minaur, seeded 25 (7-6, 6-4, 6-0).
Marco #Cecchinato en GC:
US 15: 1st round
OA 16: 1st T
RG 16: 1st T
Wim 17: 1st T
RG 18: 1/2
Wim 18: 1st T
US 18: 1st T
OA 19: 1st T
RG 19: 1st T
Wim 19: 1st T
US 19: 1st T
OA 20: 1st T
US 20: 1st T
RG 20: 2nd T
FINALLY!
# RG20pic.twitter.com / 7gggKy7WAa
- Game, Set and Math (@JeuSetMaths) September 27, 2020
The birthday
Marion Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon winner, who conducts the post-match interviews, wished Simona Halep "Happy Birthday" on center court.
The Romanian, who celebrated her 29th birthday on September 27, gave herself a fairly serene birthday against the Spanish Sara Sorribes Tormo (70th) (6-4, 6-0).
"It's a bit cold but it's a unique moment to play at Roland Garros on my birthday", she smiled the Romanian.
Happy birthday to you ...
A special birthday present for @Simona_Halep, a win under the new roof # RolandGarrospic.twitter.com / H8FsFD1BG6
- Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) September 27, 2020
Info
The former world No. 1, Venus Williams, down to 76th place suffered the law of Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (161st) (6-4, 6-4).
The 40-year-old dean immediately announced: “I'm going home.
It's over for this year.
If there are matches somewhere, I won't be there. ”
It's over for Venus Williams… The American was surprised 6-4 6-4 by an intractable Schmiedlova!
# RolandGarrospic.twitter.com / 9feWwOTA8X
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) September 27, 2020
Read also
Roland Garros 2020: live results