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Roland-Garros: various fortunes but a French public conquered by the hopes Van Assche and Fils

2023-05-29T21:10:51.500Z

Highlights: Luca Van Assche beat Marco Cecchinato 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of Roland-Garros. The 19-year-old will face Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich in the next round. Arthur Fils lost in three sets to Davidovich, who is ranked 34th in the world. Fils will celebrate the birth of his family on June 12 at Roland Garros with his wife and three children, who live in France. The two finalists of the junior tournament in 2021 will meet in the second round.


As luck would have it, they would have met in the second round. But the two great hopes of French tennis have known this Monday for the


The chance of the programming of the International of France launched blow after blow this May 29 in the late afternoon and early evening, the two greatest hopes of French tennis in the big bath of Roland-Garros. The two finalists of the junior tournament in 2021, Luca Van Assche (19 years old since May 11) and Arthur Fils who will celebrate his family on June 12 discovered the court of the great at Roland-Garros almost at the same time. With varying fortunes.

Luca Van Assche in control

He also loves the court number 14 of Roland-Garros, this rectangle of ochre earth at the end of the stadium. Lucas Pouille and Fiona Ferro have already written their story there in recent days. Another Frenchman has just opened his own. Luca Van Assche (No. 82) played there on the evening of his first match in the main draw of Roland-Garros. The winner of the junior tournament two years earlier was pitted against the Italian Marco Cecchinato. Semi-finalist here in 2018, the Italian ranked 72nd in the world is no longer a contender for the second week. The walk is therefore not impassable and the Frenchman climbs it with nerve.

Van Assche won the first two sets 6-1, 6-1, and did not let his guard down in the third set even though the Italian regained his colours. Conqueror, the Frenchman does not let him breathe and wins 6-3. For the happiness of an audience of Roland who discovers it. "He's solid guy," says Clément. I don't see many flaws in it. He enters the ball with rage. At 19, he is already impressive in his control of emotions. In addition, he has a good boil à la Dany Boon. He will go far this kid, I'm willing to bet him. »

After a trial last January in Australia, this is the first time Van Assche has passed a round in a Grand Slam tournament. Whatever happens in his life, he will remember May 29, 2023: "I was a little stressed at first," says the winner. You don't enter Roland Garros like any tournament. But I managed to place my game and I'm happy to have won in three sets, to have passed a first round in grand slam here. Despite the pressure, I managed to stay calm, calm and focused and that's why I won in three sets. Now I want to go as far as possible. »

After a doubles match on Tuesday, Van Assche will face in the next round the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich, who fell to a certain amount of... Arthur Fils, his friend: "We both push each other," says Van Assche. As we have the same level, when he wins, he shows me that I can do the same. Regarding Davidovich, if I meet Arthur, I will ask him a couple of things. Not necessarily mandatory: the Spaniard and the French hope have already faced each other at the beginning of April in Estoril, Portugal. Davidovich won 6-3, 7-5.

"Thank you Arthur" that consoles

Arthur Fils played at the other end of the stadium, on Court Simonne-Mathieu. He, too, will be seen again on earth. The kid is not even 19 years old and if all goes well, he starts a lease of a good fifteen years with the tournament. For the 2023 edition, on the other hand, it's over. After fiercely defending his chances, Arthur Son ended up falling to the blows of the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich (No. 34) winner 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Under the setting sun, the finalist of the 2021 junior tournament delivered a fight of nearly three hours on a court full to the brim of 5000,40 fans all committed to his cause. The "Go Victor" and "Thank you Victor" at the end warm his heart. "We have just seen a future world nugget and I'm not talking about the Spaniard, slips Séverine at the end of the course. He is still a little young but we see that he already has everything going for him: a game under construction and a damn nice face. He reminds me of someone who won here <> years ago if you know who I'm talking about. I don't know if Arthur will ever win Roland Garros but he won't be far from it. I will be able to say at that moment that I saw his first match. »

In 2021 and 2022, the current No. 63 in the ATP had failed to pass the second round of qualifying. A wild-card opens the doors this time. He closes them too early but with a check for 69,000 euros in his pocket: "It's great to play on big courts like this, in such conditions with so many people, says the native of Bondoufle (Essonne). That's why I play tennis. I would have liked it to continue a little more. I want to come back to go further... »

Facing the blond Spaniard with a black sock (and the other white), Arthur Son certainly lacks experience, perhaps also freshness. He missed his first set, 48 hours after winning his first ATP title the day before in Lyon: "I don't think fatigue played a role," says the Frenchman, who is now focusing on the grass season. I actually missed the first set and for the whole match, I wasn't great. Davidovich is the best player I've faced on clay this year. I have a lot of lessons to learn from this match. Hot, they are not positive but I think that tomorrow, I will see the bright side. He makes an appointment. That's a lot.

Source: leparis

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