Who are the favourites?
Time for very serious things this Monday with the first appearance of Carlos Alcaraz who will be a great favorite against the modest Flavio Cobolli (159th player in the world). Felix Auger-Aliassime will be opposed to Fabio Fognini who has fallen beyond 130th place in the world and is now only a shadow of the player he was two years ago. Novak Djokovic will start his fortnight against Aleksandar Kovacevic, an American allergic to clay (114th player in the ATP). A formality on paper. Mission almost impossible for Christopher Eubanks to challenge Holger Rune, great outsider for the victory. We also expect a walk of health for Daniil Medvedev who will cross the road of the Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild (172nd player in the world from the qualifications) and for Jannik Sinner, opposed to the French Müller in the evening.
To discover
- Roland Garros Men's Singles
- Roland Garros Women's Singles
In the women's category, all eyes will be on Iga Swiatek, the big favorite but hit in the thigh a few days ago in Rome. "Nothing serious," says the Polish opposed to Cristina Bucsa. Coco Gauff, who hasn't made any sparks on clay this season, will face Masarova. Crowned by her victory at the Rome tournament, Elena Rybakina will start her fortnight against Brenda Fruhvirtova, a 16-year-old Czech hopeful. Finally, Caroline Garcia will have to reassure herself after a disappointing clay season, facing the 62nd player in the world, Wang Xiy. The French No. 1 has not won two matches in a row on ochre clay in 2023.
Who are the Blues on the courts?
Four Blues will be on track this Monday. Will Arthur Fils, winner of the Lyon tournament on Friday, his first on the circuit, have recovered from his efforts of last week? We hope so because a perilous first round awaits him against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Benoît Paire will try to honor his wild-card against Cameron Norrie, 14th player in the world. Not easy. Müller will be condemned to the feat against Sinner (see elsewhere). Lucas Van Assche will have the honours of court n°14, semi-buried, to face Cecchinato. Warm atmosphere assured.
On the girls' side, only two French representatives will try to reach the second round. Kristina Mladenovic, who has not won a single match this season on clay and who remains on eight losses in a row in singles, will try to shine in front of the Parisian public against the American Kayla Day (138th player in the world) on Court Simone-Matthieu. Caroline Garcia was programmed on the Philippe-Chatrier court at the end of the day's program (excluding night session).
Today's program
Court Philippe-Chatrier (from 11:45)Karolina Pliskova (CZE/seeded N.16) - Sloane Stephens (USA)Novak Djokovic (SRB/N.3) - Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA)Caroline Garcia (FRA/N.5) - Xiyu Wang (CHN) (not before 20:15) Jannik Sinner (ITA/N.8) - Alexandre MULLER (FRA)Court Suzanne-Lenglen (from 11:00)Benoît Paire (FRA) - Cameron Norrie (GBR/N.14)
Elina Avanesyan (RUS) - Belinda Bencic (SUI/N.12)Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/N.1) - Flavio Cobolli (ITA)Petra Kvitova (CZE/N.10) - Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA)
Court Simonne-Mathieu (from 11:00)Kayla Day (USA) - Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN/N.10) - Fabio Fognini (ITA)Elina Svitolina (UKR) - Martina Trevisan (ITA/N.26)Arthur Fils (FRA) - Alejandro Davidovich (ESP/N.29)
Court 14 (from 11:00)Kaia Kanepi (EST) - Madison Keys (USA/N.20)Stan Wawrinka (SUI) - Albert Ramos (ESP)Tatjana Maria (GER) - Beatriz Haddad (BRA/N.14)(not before 17:00) Luca van Assche (FRA) - Marco Cecchinato (ITA)
Court 7 (from 11:00)Brandon Nakashima (USA) - Denis Shapovalov (CAN/N.26)(3rd match) Filip Krajinovic (SRB) - Frances Tiafoe (USA/N.12)Jelena Ostapenko (LAT/N.17) - Tereza Martincova (CZE)
Court 6 (from 11:00)Ilya Ivashka (BLR) - Alex De Minaur (AUS/N.18)(3rd match) Dominic Thiem (AUT) - Pedro Cachin (ARG)Veronika Kudermetova (RUS/N.11) - Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK)
Court 8 (from 11:00)Dayana Yastremska (UKR) - Donna Vekic (CRO/N.22)Alexei Popyrin (AUS) - Aslan Karatsev (RUS)
Court 9 (from 11:00)(3rd match) Botic van de Zandschulp (NED/25) - Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG)
Court 12 (from 11:00)(2nd match) Roberto Bautista (ESP/N.19) - Yibing Wu (CHN)Borna Coric (CRO/N.15) - Federico Coria (ARG)Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS/N.23) - Viktoriya Tomova (BUL)
Court 13 (from 11:00)Bernabe Zapata (ESP/N.32) - Diego Schwartzman (ARG) (3rd match) Jiri Lehecka (CZE) - Jan-Lennard Struff (GER/N.21)
The player who will be worth a look
Much has been said about Arthur Fils, winner of the Lyon tournament last week. His compatriot Lucas van Assche also embodies the revival of men's tennis. At 19 years old (70 kg for 1.78 m) the native of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert in Belgium is already ranked 79th in the world. Fate has reserved him a former semi-finalist of Roland-Garros, Marco Cecchinato, who still lost his superb but remains a serious obstacle. The mathematics and computer science student will try to qualify for the first time for a second round of a Grand Slam tournament after his failure at the Australian Open last January, against Cameron Norrie who had dryly dismissed him (7-6, 6-0, 6-3).
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Lucas van Assche Panoramic
Today's figure
10. Like the number of evening sessions that will be offered this year at Roland-Garros. Jannik Sinner, opposed to Alexandre Muller will open the ball from 20:30, half an hour earlier than last year.
Today's anecdote
All Roland-Garros winners are required to return the winner's trophy on Saturday evening for the ladies and on Sunday evening for the men. The winners leave with a replica of their award. Only one player broke the rule, not just any: Roger Federer. In 2009, the Swiss won the final against Robin Soderling and absolutely wanted to present the trophy to his father in Paris a little later. The tournament accepted the request of the winner who was nevertheless escorted by four members of security in charge of keeping an eye on the Coupe des Mousquetaires. The Basel native even had the privilege of being able to sleep with the cup before returning it in perfect condition the next day.
Roger Federer in 2009 after his victory. JB Autissier / PanoramiC
The expression of the day: "Watering the court"
The expression "Watering the court" has nothing to do with any maintenance of the field and clay that must be moistened regularly. It is said of a player who waters the court when he multiplies the shots well beyond the limits of the field.