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Sabalenka and Gauff thrive in French Open heat

tennis26 May 2026 18:42| © AFP
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Aryna Sabalenka began her French Open campaign with a comfortable win on Tuesday.

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The Belarusian top seed hurried through a 6-4, 6-2 win against Spanish world number 50 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro as temperatures continued to soar through the first week of the tournament.

The only real blip for Sabalenka as she returned to winning ways on clay after a surprise early exit from the Italian Open was her failure to serve out the match on Court Philippe Chatrier.

But the four-time major winner broke in the next game to book her spot in the second round after just 75 minutes on court.

"I'm super happy to be through. I feel like it was a tricky first-round opponent," Sabalenka said.

"I'd say that for me always not easy, the first rounds. And then, as I get further in the tournament, as I get more comfortable, my level becomes better."

Sabalenka will meet either France's Elsa Jacquemot or Czech qualifier Linda Fruhvirtova in the round of 64.

Following a wet and cold Italian Open earlier in May and similar conditions during the practice week at Roland Garros, the big-hitting 28-year-old said the scorching conditions played somewhat in her favour.

"I'd say that it was a bit warm," she joked.

"Especially compared to the first days when I first got here, it was like 14C, like, freezing.

"Now it's boiling hot and balls are flying, everything is much faster. But physically I feel strong, so I feel like it can benefit me."

GAUFF CRUISES INTO THE SECOND ROUND

Coco Gauff began her defence of her French Open title by despatching fellow American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-0.

Townsend, who had beaten Gauff in their only previous meeting in 2019, broke in the opening game.

The 30-year-old held on her first two service games, but from 3-1 up in the opener, won only one more game. That was at 3-5 down in the first, when Townsend saved a set point on Gauff's serve but dropped serve immediately to lose the set and that ended her resistance.

Gauff galloped through the second set in 24 minutes and will face Egyptian Mayar Sherif in the next round.

Gauff applied ice during breaks in the cauldron of Philippe Chatrier but said that was only because her coach told her to.

"I'm from Florida so this is nothing," the fourth seed said on court. "Honestly I felt more bad for the fans. Dang you're watching in the heat and I hoped no one passed out. So I'm glad I finished quickly."

Lois Boisson, the home sensation of last year's French Open, made a much shorter stay this time, crashing out in the first round beaten 6-2, 6-2 by 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya.

Last year Boisson entered Roland Garros ranked 361st in the world but battled to the last four. She then won on clay in Hamburg to enter the top 50 before her progress was derailed by injuries.

On Tuesday, Kalinskaya dominated from the start breaking the 23-year-old Boisson's serve in the first, third and fifth games. Boisson managed a break of her own in game four but it was not enough.

The Russian broke twice again at the start of the second set as she cruised to victory in 1 hour and 19 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

She will play qualifier Alina Korneeva in the second round.

FIRST-ROUND RESULTS

Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x1) bt Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP) 6-4, 6-2

Elsa Jacquemot (FRA) bt Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE) 6-4, 6-3

Iva Jovic (USA x17) bt Alexandra Eala (PHI) 6-4, 6-2

Emma Navarro (USA) bt Janice Tjen (INA) 6-4, 6-3

Donna Vekic (CRO) bt Alice Tubello (FRA) 6-3, 6-2

Naomi Osaka (JPN x16) bt Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3)

Victoria Mboko (CAN x9) bt Nikola Bartunkova (CZE) 6-1, 6-2

Katerina Siniakova (CZE) bt Simona Waltert (SUI) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)

Antonia Ruzic (CRO) bt Ashlyn Krueger (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2

Madison Keys (USA x19) bt Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL) 6-3, 6-0

Oleksandra Oliynykova (UKR) bt Elena Pridankina (RUS) 6-1, 6-2

Kimberly Birrell (AUS) bt Jessica Pegula (USA x5) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3

Antonia Ruzic (CRO) bt Ashlyn Krueger (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2

Coco Gauff (USA x4) bt Taylor Townsend (USA) 6-4, 6-0

Mayar Sherif (EGY) bt Dalma Galfi (HUN) 7-5, 6-4

Anna Kalinskaya (RUS x22) bt Lois Boisson (FRA) 6-2, 6-2

Alina Korneeva (RUS) bt Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) 6-3, 6-3

Maria Sakkari (GRE) bt Linda Noskova (CZE x12) 7-5, 7-6 (7/3)

Claire Liu (USA) bt Moyuka Uchijima (JPN) 3-6, 6-0, 4-1 retired

Ann Li (USA x30) bt Zhang Shuai (CHN) 6-4, 6-2

Diane Parry (FRA) bt Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) 0-6, 6-2, 6-4

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