The 2024 French Open at Roland Garros kicked off on the 26th of May, 2024 with some compelling action and notable scenery in the first round.
The Grand Slam tournament which would mark the end of the Clay season, saw fans and well-wishers heading to Paris and cheering on their favourite athletes competing to win the €49.6 million (up to 12.3 % of 2023) prize money pool. This article highlights the performances of the top and storied contenders at the 2024 French Open.
Rafael Nadal’s Fairytale Ending Crumbles in the First Round
Nadal opened his 2024 French Open campaign against the champion at Rome – Alexander Zverev on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Monday.
Alexander Zverev has reached the semifinals at Roland Garros for three consecutive years. He injured his ankle during the second set of his semifinal game against Nadal in 2022, with the Spaniard subsequently winning the title. Nadal has four wins ahead of Zverev in their head-to-head record ahead of the encounter and has only lost to two other players in the French Open (Novak Djokovic and Robin Soderling) with a remarkable 112-3 record in the tournament.
Rafael Nadal lost 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 to Alexander Zverev in the First Round of the 2024 French Open. For the first time in his long and illustrious career, Nadal has been defeated in two consecutive clay court matches and has lost a game before the fourth round at the French Open.
Zverev has been in excellent form throughout the 2024 season, making it to the semifinals of the Australian Open and the Miami Open. Zverev is also scheduled to appeal a penalty order related to a domestic abuse charge filed by his ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea. However, he is not required to be present for the trial, which starts on May 31.
The spotlight was on Rafael Nadal, who is participating in what is expected to be his final French Open tournament. The 37-year-old “King of Clay” announced last year that he would feature in his final Roland Garros tournament this May.
“It’s a big, big chance it’s going to be my last Roland Garros,” Nadal said in his pre-tournament press conference, “but if I have to tell you it’s 100% my last Roland Garros, sorry, but I will not, because I cannot predict what’s going on. I hope you understand.”
Despite recent injury struggles, Nadal remains a significant figure and a formidable opponent especially given his unparalleled success of 14 victories at this tournament. He has been off the court for the past two seasons, including the earlier major competitions in the 2024 seasons.
After missing the Australian Open due to an injury sustained at the Brisbane International, the Spaniard skipped the Sunshine Swing and a scheduled appearance at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, returning at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
He was defeated in the second round by Alex de Minaur, but he avenged this loss the following week at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he achieved his best result of the year by reaching the fourth round. His performance at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia was less impressive, as he was eliminated in the second round by Hubert Hurkacz.
Rafael Nadal’s cabinet of Grand Slam titles includes two Australian Open (2009, 2022), fourteen Roland Garros (2005-2008, 2010-2014, 2017-2020, 2022), two Wimbledon championships (2008, 2010), and four US Open (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019).
Andy Murray knocked out by Stan Wawrinka
In what seems likely to be his final French Open tournament, Andy Murray lost 6-4 6-4 6-2 to 2015 French Open champion Stan Wawrinka.
The duo has been involved in a series of clashes in the past. Stan Wawrinka eliminated Andy Murray in his last two appearances in Paris (the 2017 French Open semi-finals and opening stage of the 2020 Roland Garros).
The 37-year-old former world No. 1 failed to secure a single break point in the second set, falling behind after being broken by Wawrinka in the third game. He lost his first two service games in the third set, allowing the Swiss to claim a convincing victory and preventing Murray from a potential second-round clash with Cameron Norrie.
Murray said earlier that he doesn’t expect to play much after this summer, meaning he might have just played his final game at the French Open. Murray’s 2024 French Open journey isn’t over, he is set to compete in the doubles with Dan Evans.
His loss against Stan Wawrinka means Norrie, who faces Russia’s Pavel Kotov on Monday, and Dan Evans are the two Brits left in the men’s singles tournament. Jack Draper suffered a five-set defeat to Jesper de Jong on the opening day and lost the chance to go head-to-head with world No.3 Carlos Alvarez.
Opening Day Victory for Young-stars- Alcaraz and Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner suffered minor injury scars ahead of the tournament but bounced back promptly in the Clay season in their quest to make strong impressions in Paris.
Carlos Alvarez and Jannik Sinner beat Jeffery John Wolf and Christopher Eubanks respectively, to advance into the second round. Alvarez’s victory came on the opening day while the 2024 Australian Open winner – Jannik Sinner played on Monday.
Other players to watch in the second Round after individual successes in the first include Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, Brandon Nakashima, Pedro Rodriquez, Lorenzo Sonego, Zhizhen Zhang, Jasper de Jong, Hubert Hurkacz, Grigor Dimitrov, Maximillian Marterer, Richard Gasquet, Sebastian Korda, Ben Shelton, and Felix Auger Aliassime.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and Alexander Zverev had successful clay court seasons leading to Paris. Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, has had a challenging start to the season and is yet to secure a title this year. He faces Pierre-Hugues Herbert on Tuesday, 28th May,2024.
Naomi Osaka Survives Early Scare
The Japanese player made a victorious return to Roland-Garros, defeating Lucia Bronzetti on Court Philippe-Chatrier in three sets, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. This marked her first win in Paris since 2021, after losing to Amanda Anisimova in the first round in 2022, and missing the 2023 tournament due to pregnancy.
Now ranked world No. 134, the four-time Grand Slam champion will face top seed Iwa Swiatek in the second round, after she won her match against the unseeded Leolia Jeanjean on Monday. The head-to-head between the pair is tied at 1-1. Osaka claimed victory in their first encounter in the round of 16 in Toronto in 2019, winning 7-6(4), 6-4. Swiatek won their most recent meeting in the Miami Open final in 2022, 6-4, 6-0.
The women’s draw features Iga Swiatek as the standout favorite. Swiatek, who has dominated clay courts, aims to win her fourth French Open title in five years. Her main competition includes Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, who have had impressive seasons. Ons Jabeur and Marketa Vondrousova beat Sachia Vickery and Rebeka Masarova respectively, to advance to the second round on Monday.
GET ROLAND GARROS TICKETS!
It’s never too late to grab available Roland Garros tickets and witness the grand finale of Europe’s most loved Gram Slam tournament. Secondary marketplaces remain your best bet to see the games on the Clay courts Live! Check out seat maps at the courts to find the ideal spot for an unforgettable experience.
There’s high anticipation for the matches between strong participants in the next Rounds. The tournament has already shown a spectacle of athleticism, strategy, and raw determination in the first round, and we asked for nothing less. The French Open Rounds will be played simultaneously till the men’s singles finals on June 9, 2024.