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Associated Press

Reuters

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka took advantage of the heatwave at the French Open to impose her attacking game in the first round on Tuesday.
Daniil Medvedev struggled, though, in a five-set loss to 97th-ranked Australian opponent Adam Walton.
Walton, who received a wild card invitation from tournament organisers, beat Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
Also advancing was 17th-seeded Iva Jovic, who beat good friend Alexandra Eala of the Philippines 6-4, 6-2.
Another Southeast Asian knocked out on Tuesday was Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, who lost 6-4, 6-3 to Emma Navarro of the US.

China’s world No 61 Zhang Shuai also lost her first-round match, and also to another American in 30th seed Ann Li, 6-4, 6-2.
Her compatriot, men’s world No 224 Zhang Zhizhen, was also knocked out, losing 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 to Argentinian qualifier Facundo Diaz Acosta.
Sabalenka beat 50th-ranked Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier with an array of approaches to the net and volley put-aways.
“That’s the most enjoyable part of the game right now – that I’m able to come to the net to play points there,” Sabalenka said. “I’m super proud that I was able to improve that part of the game.”
The unusually hot conditions at Roland Garros make net rushing – usually better reserved for hard and grass courts – a viable option because the court is drying out quicker and playing faster.
For a third consecutive day, the temperature in Paris was forecast to rise to at least 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).
“Let’s hope that this is the perfect condition for me,” Sabalenka said. “It suits my game really well.”
Sabalenka reached the final in Paris last year, losing to Coco Gauff. She has won the Australian Open and the US Open on hard courts.
Gauff was opening her title defence later against fellow American Taylor Townsend.
Former world No 1 Medvedev had fallen at the first hurdle in six of his previous nine appearances at the clay court grand slam, highlighting his uneasy relationship with Roland Garros and the ⁠sport’s slowest surface.

He showed early signs of frustration when he ‌dropped serve and then allowed Walton to build a 4-2 lead in the opening set, which ‌the 30-year-old relinquished with a forehand that sailed over ⁠the ⁠baseline.
The recovery was swift and emphatic as Medvedev regained his rhythm to wrest ‌control by claiming the next set for the loss of only one game, but the sixth seed could not maintain his grip and ‌let the third set slip away.
Walton, who ⁠was seeking a first win over a top-10 player, surrendered ⁠the fourth set but fought on bravely in the decider to break back at 4-4, before producing ‌a tight hold ‌and then dismissing Medvedev for a famous victory.
Up next for the 27-year-old is a second-round meeting with American Zachary Svajda, who beat Australian Alexei Popyrin.
Later, top-ranked Jannik Sinner looks to extend his 29-match winning streak when he opens against French wild card Clement Tabur in the night session.


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French Open

Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka uses a handheld fan to cool down during a break in play against Spains’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Photo: Reuters

Philippines’ Alexandra Eala lost to Iva Jovic of the US. Photo: AFP

Daniil Medvedev (left) congratulates Adam Walton on his five-set victory. Photo: AFP

‘SEASters’ Alexandra Eala, Janice Tjen bring Southeast Asian pride to French Open

Alexandra Eala, who turns 21 the day before Roland Garros starts, is the first player from the Philippines to break into the top 50. Photo: AFP

Janice Tjen is the highest-ranked Indonesian woman since Yayuk Basuki. Photo: AP

Janice Tjen (right) won the Guangzhou Open doubles title in October with Poland’s Katarzyna Piter (second from right), beating Hong Kong’s Eudice Chong (second from left) and Taiwan’s Liang En-shuo. Photo: AFP

Alexandra Eala received her Rafa Nadal Academy diploma from Nadal in 2023, while Iga Swiatek delivered a graduation speech. Photo: @rafanadalacademy/Instagram

Zheng Qinwen's defeat to Maja Chwalinska of Poland on Monday is her first in the opening round of the French Open. Photo: Xinhua

World No 114 Maja Chwalinska beat China’s Zheng Qinwen in straight sets. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Tennis

Ex-world No 1 Daniil Medvedev struggles in conditions before bowing out, as do China’s Zhang Shuai and Zhang Zhizhen


Ex-world No 1 Daniil Medvedev struggles in conditions before bowing out, as do China’s Zhang Shuai and Zhang Zhizhen.


French Open: Sabalenka takes advantage of heatwave as Southeast Asians Eala, Tjen exit

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Ex-world No 1 Daniil Medvedev struggles in conditions before bowing out, as do China’s Zhang Shuai and Zhang Zhizhen

Ex-world No 1 Daniil Medvedev struggles in conditions before bowing out, as do China’s Zhang Shuai and Zhang Zhizhen