The 2024 French Open kicked off on Sunday as Grand Slam champions Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Naomi Osaka of Japan led several top stars to advance into the second round at Roland Garros.
Alcaraz wrapped up a 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 triumph over American Jeffrey John Wolf in just one hour, and 51 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The 21-year-old Spaniard's routine win at the season's second major will be a confidence booster after he skipped events in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome due to an arm injury suffered in Madrid.
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after winning his men's singles match against Jeffrey John Wolf of the United States (not pictured) during the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris, France, May 26, 2024. /CFP
"Honestly, I'm with low expectations coming into this tournament," said Alcaraz. "But after the practice week after this first round. Well, the confidence, is higher. My expectations are probably higher after today's match, but, let's see, you know, all I can say is I'm feeling great on the court. I feel, amazing, in this match. So hopefully keep going."
The World No. 3 will next take on Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong, who defeated Jack Draper 7-5, 6-4, 6-7(3), 3-6, 6-3 in the first round.
Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland celebrates after winning against Andy Murray of Britain (not pictured) during their men's singles match at French Open in Paris, France, May 26, 2024. /CFP
In a battle of Grand Slam champions, 2015 title holder Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland fended off former World No. 1 Andy Murray of Great Britain 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the second round.
Murray, now aged 37, and Wawrinka, 39, had stepped on court together 22 times before they arrived on Chatrier to resume a rivalry that began nearly 20 years ago. The Swiss player advanced in two hours and 19 minutes to claim his third consecutive win against the Scot on the Parisian clay and his 10th victory in their rivalry which Murray leads 13-10.
"It was emotional, for sure. We're getting closer to the end, and we played so many times over the past 20 years," Wawrinka said. "A lot of emotion. [It] was amazing to be on the Chatrier night session, something I never had a chance to do. And, yeah, he's [an] amazing guy, amazing player, such a big fighter. We have a lot of respect for each other."
The former World No. 3 will next play 32nd seed Cameron Norrie or Pavel Kotov.
Naomi Osaka (L) of Japan meets Lucia Bronzetti at the net after beating the Italian at French Open in Paris, France, May 26, 2024. /CFP
On the women's side, former World No. 1 Osaka was forced to battle hard for the first Grand Slam win after her comeback from maternity leave, holding off a late charge from Lucia Bronzetti to triumph 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in the first round of Roland Garros.
The 26-year-old Japanese player led 4-0 in the third set before 67th-ranked Bronzetti rattled off five straight games to lead 5-4. However, Osaka managed to grit out the last three games in a row to notch her first win in Paris since 2021, and her first victory in the three matches she has played this year, which have gone the distance; she previously lost in three sets to Karolina Pliskova in Brisbane and Liudmila Samsonova in Madrid. Next up for her in Paris will be either No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek or qualifier Leolia Jeanjean.
(With input from agencies)