Aryna Sabalenka kicked off the 2025 French Open in impressive fashion, showcasing her status as the world’s top player with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 win over Kamilla Rakhimova.
She wrapped up the match in just one hour, bouncing back from her recent loss to Qinwen Zheng at the Italian Open, and delivered five aces along with five breaks of serve.
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This victory marked Sabalenka as the first top seed to only lose one match in their first match at this tournament since Serena Williams experienced a similar fate against Anna Tatishvili in 2013. Williams went on to win the title that year, a path Sabalenka aspires to follow. Previously, Sabalenka reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2023, where she was defeated in three sets by Carolina McNally.
Post-match, Sabalenka humorously expressed her interest in seeking advice from 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal, who was honored after his retirement during the ceremony.
“He’s such an inspiration for younger players,” Sabalenka said in an interview with Tennis Gazette. “I’ll attend the ceremony and ask him for some tips on how to win this tournament.”
Next up for Sabalenka is Jill Teichmann on Wednesday.
Ben Shelton pushes through to the next round
The rising star of American tennis had a more challenging match than anticipated but progressed to the second round. The 12th seed, Ben Shelton, triumphed over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in a hard-fought contest, winning 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 during the evening session.
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Match Duration: 3 hours and 31 minutes.
At 22 years old, Shelton reached the third round of the French Open last year and made it to the semifinals of the 2025 Australian Open. Additionally, he was present to support his girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, a star with the Washington Spirit and USWNT, as she recovers from a back injury.
Tommy Paul wins his opening match
Tommy Paul has recently made headlines off the court, regaining his focus in Florida while participating in the Rome Open. Although he lost to Janik Sinner in that tournament, he earned enough prize money to get back on track.
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It seems he had no distractions in Paris; the 12th seed defeated Elmer Mueller in four sets, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. After dropping the first set, rain delays allowed Paul to regroup and refocus.
Paul’s next opponent in the second round will be Marton Fucsovics, who won his opening match against Tristan Schoolkate in straight sets.
Frances Tiafoe battles through sluggish second set
Fresh off a first-round defeat at the Rome Open, 15th seed Frances Tiafoe secured victory against the tricky Roman Safiullin with a score of 6-4, 7-5, 6-4. It seemed Tiafoe had trouble maintaining his concentration in the second set, and Safiullin capitalized on that moment.
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The American players have had a tough year, losing five of their nine matches leading up to Paris. Tiafoe has struggled at Roland Garros, securing only four career wins at this event.
He will face Pablo Carreño Busta in the second round on Wednesday. Tiafoe struggled in his previous six French Open appearances but has now reached the second round for the fourth consecutive year. He made it to the third round in 2023, where he fell to Alexander Zverev.
Fan Take: This news is significant for sports fans as it highlights the emergence of new tennis talents who could redefine the competitive landscape. The performances of players like Sabalenka and Shelton not only inspire future generations but also add excitement and unpredictability to major tournaments, much like the ever-evolving narratives in soccer.
