Who are the favourites?
There will be beautiful people on Court Philippe Chatrier with the beginning of the third round. Women will be honored with Jessica Pegula (3rd player in the world) facing Elise Mertens, before Aryna Sabalenka, number 2 seed, who will face Kamilia Rakhimova. Novak Djokovic will have to be wary of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the first big test of the fortnight on clay. In the night session, Carlos Alcaraz will be opposed to Denis Shapovalov, a great admirer of the Spaniard. On Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 5 seed) will close the day against Diego Schwartzman, resurrected on the clay of the Porte d'Auteuil after months of wandering on the courts. A return enough to make the Greek tremble? Unsure. Previously, Andrey Rublev will try to dismiss Lorenzo Sonego.
To discover
- Roland Garros Men's Singles
- Roland Garros Women's Singles
Today's program
Court Philippe-Chatrier, (from 11:45)Elise Mertens (BEL/n°28) - Jessica Pegula (USA/n°3)Kamilla Rakhimova (RUS) - Aryna Sabalenka (BLR/n°2)Novak Djokovic (SER/n°3) - Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP/n°29)
(not before 20:15)
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/No. 1) - Denis Shapovalov (CAN/No. 26)
Court Suzanne-Lenglen (from 11am)Peyton Stearns (USA) - Daria Kasatkina (RUS/No. 9)Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) - Andrey Rublev (RUS/No. 7)Sloane Stephens (USA) - Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)Diego Schwartzman (ARG) - Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/No. 5)
Court Simonne-Mathieu (from 11am)Karen Khachanov (RUS/No. 11) - Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)Anna Blinkova (RUS) - Elina Svitolina (UKR)Lorenzo Musetti (ITA/No. 17) - Cameron Norrie (GBR/No. 14)Karolina Muchova (RTC) - Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU/No. 27)
Court 14, (not before 12pm)Anastasia Pavluychenkova (RUS) - Anastasia Potapova (RUS/No. 24)Fabio Fognini (ITA) - Sebastian Ofner (AUT)Juan Pablo Varillas (PER) - Hubert Hurkacz (POL/No. 13)
Court 7 (from 11 am)Clara Tauson (DAN) - Elina Avanesyan (RUS)
The player who will be worth a look
In two matches in Paris, Juan-Pablo Varillas has already spent seven hours on the courts. The Peruvian ranked 94th in the ATP and who faces Poland's Hurcacz won his first two arm wrestles in five sets. His second round against Roberto Bautista Agut looks like a remontada. Leading two sets to nil, he toppled the Spaniard to reach the third round when he had never passed the first round of a Grand Slam tournament. The 27-year-old fan of Nadal and Roger Federer is also a big fan of football and Real Madrid. In two matches at Roland-Garros, he is guaranteed to receive 142,000 euros, or about 20% of what he has amassed on the courts since his professional debut ten years ago.
Juan Pablo Varillas. Sandrine Thesillat / PANORAMIC
The figure
192. A veritable army of 192 people is responsible for the maintenance of the tennis courts, spread over Roland-Garros, the Jean-Bouin stadium and the annex throughout the fortnight.
Read alsoRoland-Garros 2023: after the black Wednesday of the French, the sketch of the Unknowns resurfaces
Today's anecdote
In his book 20 years of Roland-Garros (Ramsay editions), Laurent Luyat the star presenter of tennis on the set of France Televisions installed in the left corner of the Central Court tells the little madness of Teddy Riner, present at his side. While Richard Gasquet was battling on the field against Carlos Berlocq, a second ball fell from the stands. "There are two balls on the court!" says Lionel Chamoulaud to the comments. And for good reason, the French judoka had fun throwing a ball in full exchange from the board! "You could have one of the players," Luyat tells Riner. "I have no problem with him coming to pick me up," the tatami colossus replied.
Today's expression: "serving lead"
A player serves the lead when he is extremely effective on his putting and especially on his serves. Excellent servers who collect aces or force their opponents to returns ending in direct fouls are concerned by this expression.
