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Welcome back to the French Open Briefing, where The Athletic will explain the stories behind the stories on each day of the tournament.
On day two of Roland Garros 2024, there was valediction on Philippe-Chatrier, Canadian conquest, and a Greek gazumping.
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Match of the day: Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev
For all the reasons you think: the great men’s champion in his living room; the expectation of one last — or penultimate, or… — dance; two years on from the tie-break and the torn ankle ligaments and the pain and the numbed foot.
But for other reasons, too. After suffering just his fourth defeat at the French Open in 18 years of competing, 112 wins and 3 defeats stretching back into the past, Nadal could turn to the side of Philippe-Chatrier and see the future. He could see his son holding a mini racket, his son who has never seen the 20 Grand Slam titles, the 2008 Wimbledon epic, the banana shot forehands, the greatest rivalries men’s tennis has ever seen and the trophies and the defeats and the glory days. All he knows is his dad is doing what he loves, and when he finishes doing it people stand and applaud and drink it in, and even though, at such an age, he can’t really understand it, he holds the racket and he feels it too.
Get him the old Aeropro Drive too, please. (Mateo Villalba / Getty Images)
GO DEEPER
No miracle on Chatrier: Nadal loses fourth match in 18 years at French Open
Comeback of the day: Bianca Andreescu returns after nine months out
In 2019, a 19-year-old Canadian named Bianca Andreescu beat all-time great Serena Williams — in straight sets — to win the U.S. Open.
Since then, Andreescu has been beset by problems, including several serious injuries, culminating in a stress fracture of her back that has kept her out since the National Bank Open in Montreal last summer. She’s also been frank about the mental demands of tennis, taking time out in 2022 after struggling with the relationship between her results on-court and her perception of her self, and her worth, when she steps outside the tramlines.
Andreescu earned a convincing win. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)
Today, she beat Sara Sorribes Tormo in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1. After the match, she said that “it’s a great first round” (and also joined the ranks of players who don’t want to have any idea who they are playing).
“Four months, I hope I’d see some improvement… There were some points during the match where it was a little bit off, but she plays really unconventionally,” she said.
“Good first serve, good return.” Those are pretty solid places to start.
GO DEEPER
Serena Williams – analysing the barely believable data that explains her genius
Stat of the day: A Canadian clean sweep and a British barracking
Andreescu was part of a big day for her country. Compatriots Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime came through in straight sets.
Unfortunately, the Brits can’t say the same. After Jack Draper and Andy Murray’s exits yesterday, Cameron Norrie lost a five-setter to rising Russian Pavel Kotov, while Linda Noskova took out Harriet Dart.
Tomorrow, Dan Evans and Katie Boulter will be hoping they’re not next in line to book their Eurostar tickets home, but with Evans facing 13th seed Holger Rune, and Boulter up against a resurgent Paula Badosa, it won’t be an easy day.
Disappointment for Norrie. (Mateo Villalba / Getty Images)
GO DEEPER
Fifty Shades of Andy Murray
Shock of the day: Maria Sakkari and a Grand Slam curse
World No 88 Varvara Gracheva gets revenge for a defeat in Rome, taking out the Greek world No 7, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Sakkari is the first top-10 player to go out of this year’s French Open, and hasn’t gone beyond the third round of her last nine Grand Slam tournaments.
Shot of the day
I know, I know, it’s kind of indulgent. But you can’t argue with this.
This forehand. This court. A legendary combination 👑
Shot of the day belongs to @RafaelNadal ✨#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ujb685hK0F
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2024
📅 Today’s key results:
- 🇨🇿 Marketa Vondrousova (5) def. 🇪🇸 Rebeka Masarova, 6-1, 6-3
- 🇮🇹 Jannik Sinner (2) def. 🇺🇸 Chris Eubanks, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4
- 🇹🇳 Ons Jabeur (8) def. 🇺🇸 Sachia Vickery, 6-3, 6-2
- 🇩🇪 Alexander Zverev (4) def. 🇪🇸 Rafael Nadal, 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3
- 🇫🇷 Varvara Gracheva def. 🇬🇷 Maria Sakkari (6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
- 🇬🇷 Stefanos Tsitsipas (9) def. 🇭🇺 Marton Fucsovics, 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-1
- 🇺🇦 Elina Svitolina (15) def. 🇨🇿 Karolina Pliskova, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
- 🇺🇸 Ben Shelton (15) def. 🇫🇷 Hugo Gaston, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
- 🇺🇸 Danielle Collins (11) def. 🇺🇸 Caroline Dolehide, 6-3, 6-4
- 🇩🇪 Henri Squire (Q) def. 🇦🇺 Max Purcell, 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(10)
- 🇵🇱 Iga Swiatek (1) def. 🇫🇷 Leolia Jeanjean (Q), 6-1, 6-2
📅 Tomorrow’s highlights:
- 🇨🇳 Zheng Qinwen (7) vs 🇫🇷 Alize Cornet (WC), first on Court Philippe-Chatrier
- 🇦🇺 Alex de Minaur (11) vs 🇺🇸 Alex Michelsen, first on Court Simonne-Mathieu
- 🇷🇺 Erika Andreeva vs 🇧🇾 Aryna Sabalenka (2), third on Court Philippe-Chatrier
- 🇬🇧 Dan Evans vs 🇩🇰 Holger Rune (13), fourth on Court Suzanne-Lenglen
- 🇷🇺 Mirra Andreeva vs 🇺🇸 Emina Bektas, third on Court 9
- 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic (1) vs 🇫🇷 Pierre-Hugues Herbert, night session on Court Philippe-Chatrier
- 🇧🇪 Greet Minnen vs 🇰🇿 Elena Rybakina (4), first on Court Suzanne-Lenglen
Tell us what you noticed on the second day as things continue …
(Top photo: Alain Jocard / AFP via Getty Images)
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Courtesy : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5522369/2024/05/27/french-open-briefing-nadal-andreescu/