PARIS: Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the second round of the French Open at a rain-soaked Roland Garros on Tuesday as Novak Djokovic began his title defense to help a season short of Grand Slam seeds.
Australian Open champion Sabalenka, a Paris 2023 semi-finalist, dominated Russian teenager Erika Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 in 68 minutes under Philippe Chatrier’s roof.
World number two Sabalenka fired 27 winners ahead of 100th-ranked Andreeva and served five times in a dominant display.
“I try to do well on clay, there are difficult conditions here, but I like to play here and I try to bring my best tennis every time,” said Sabalenka.
The Belarusian has reached at least the last four in the last six Grand Slams and is expected to be a strong pole challenger for Iga Sviatek for the fourth French Open title.
Heavy rain forced outdoor play, the unopened court was delayed by five hours and only nine of the 40 games scheduled for 6pm local time ended.
No. World No. 1 Djokovic is on his worst run since 2018 after winning his fourth Roland Garros title and record-extending 25th major.
Djokovic, 37, is yet to win a title in 2024 and has yet to reach a final with semi-final appearances at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo Masters.
He was also upset when Roma accidentally hit him over the head with an iron water bottle, causing him to feel nauseous and dizzy.
By Tomas Machak Czech Republic Last week in Geneva, Djokovic said he had stomach problems.
“They are tough in their way,” Djokovic said after watching long-time rival and 14-time champion Rafael Nadal bow out from Alexander Zverev on Monday.
When asked to elaborate on his struggles this season, Djokovic demurred.
“A lot of things have happened in the last few months, but I don’t want to go into it. I don’t want to open Pandora’s box.”
On Tuesday, Djokovic will face French No. 142 world Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who has yet to win on the main tour this year.
Two-time runner-up Kasper Ruud has won on clay in Barcelona and Geneva in the build-up to Roland Garros, defeating the best Brazilian Felipe Meligeni Alves 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
“It’s great to be back here at Roland Garros,” he said. “Hopefully I can have another good year here.”
In last year’s final, Ruud was defeated in straight sets by Novak Djokovic after a one-sided loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2022 showpiece event. He also lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2022 US Open final.
France’s Alize Cornet’s career ended as Zheng Qinwen won a record 69th consecutive Grand Slam.
Cornet lost 6-2, 6-1 to Australian Open champion China Zheng.
He made his Roland Garros debut in 2005 as a 15-year-old and hasn’t missed a Grand Slam since the 2006 US Open.
Cornet reached the 11th of his career in 2009 and made a surprise run to the 2022 Australian Open quarterfinals.
“I cried watching World Raf,” he said.
On court, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina advanced to the second round with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Belgium’s Greet Minne.
Kazakhstan’s fourth seed Rybakina is the only player to beat Sviatek on clay this season, in the Stuttgart semi-finals in April.
In the men’s competition, there is also the elite Argentine Roman Andres Burruchaga, who has achieved success in blood sports.
His father George famously scored the winning goal for Argentina’s Diego Maradona in the 1986 World Cup final against West Germany.
The 22-year-old, ranked 144th, entered the Grand Slam against Germany’s Jean-Lennard Struff.
