The first yellow balls flew on the courts of the Porte d’Auteuil, Monday, May 16, with the start of the qualifications for Roland-Garros. Among the men, three Frenchmen qualified but Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Arthur Fils were eliminated. Among the women, only one Tricolor (Jessika Ponchet) qualified for the second round, like the former Italian finalist Sara Errani. Here’s everything you need to remember from the first day of qualifying.
Müller passes, Herbert and Son pass away
The main draw at Roland-Garros has not even started yet and the Tricolores are not celebrating yet. Of the nine entered today, only three won. Alexandre Müller (216th in the world) was the first to qualify in the second round against the Turkish Cem Ilkel, 213th at the ATP (6-0, 6-1) while Gabriel Debru (781st) eliminated the finalist of the junior edition in 2021, Arthur Fils (407th) on abandonment (6-7, 7-5, 5-3). In the other Franco-French duel of the day, Sean Cuenin beat Clément Tabur in three sets (6-4, 6-7 [7-3]6-4).
On the other hand, Pierre-Hugues Herbert (168th), double winner of Roland-Garros in doubles, was surprised at the start by the young Argentinian Thiago Agustin Tirante (21 years old, 192nd) in a meeting in three sets (6-4, 1-6, 6-2).
Sascha Gueymard Wayenburg (589th) and Constant Lestienne (170th) were respectively eliminated by Flavio Cobolli (153rd, 6-3, 6-4) and Norbert Gombos (115th, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5).
Poncht only survivor of the day
Among the French, only Jessika Ponchet (197th) overcame the obstacle of the first round by taking the best of the Bosnian Dea Herdzelas (186th) in two sets (6-3, 7-6 [7-0]). In the next round, she will face the number two seed of these qualifications, the German Jule Niemeier (103rd).
The other two French women bowed. Audrey Albie (442nd) against the Hungarian Réka Luca Jani (128th, 6-4, 6-2) and Salma Djoubri (430th) against the American Grace Min (182nd, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1) .
Vekic and Errani continue the adventure, not Sam Querrey
Women’s Qualifier seed No. 6 and 2019 US Open quarter-finalist Donna Vekic (101st) will see the next round. She beat the American Robin Anderson (166th, 6-4, 6-4).
For her part, ten years after her final at Roland-Garros against Maria Sharapova, Sara Errani continues to roam the clay courts of Paris. Ranked in 160th place WTA, the Italian must now go through the qualifications. She only has two games left to win to reach the main draw since she easily eliminated South Korean Su-jeong Jang (156th) in two sets (6-1, 6-2).
His compatriot Andreas Seppi, 137th in the world today but 18th in 2013, was taken out from the start by another Italian, Giulio Zeppieri (215th, 6-3, 6-4). Also in the men’s draw, former Wimbledon semi-finalist Sam Querrey (107th) fell to Hungarian Zsombor Piros (189th, 6-2, 6-2).