out of qualifying, Lucas Pouille finds the light and reaches the second round

After a controlled match, Pouille again offered the Austrian, whom he had faced in qualifying (6-2, 6-4, 6-3). He will be in the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time since 2019.

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Lucas Pouille during his victory against Jurij Rodionov in the 1st round of Roland-Garros, May 28, 2023. (EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP)

This time he didn’t even shake. Again opposed to Jurij Rodionov, beaten in qualifying but drafted, Lucas Pouille easily won (6-2, 6-4, 6-3), Sunday May 28 in the 1st round of Roland-Garros. Dominating from start to finish, he did not, unlike Thursday, concede a set to the Austrian, confirming his rise in power and folding the case in 1h56. The Frenchman will play his first Grand Slam second round in almost four years.

The spring sweetness and the twilight sun above the confidential court 14 suit him perfectly. But at this rate, Lucas Pouille will quickly leave the warmth of the adjoining courts that he has taken a liking to haranguing, to enjoy the light of the main pitches. The atmosphere will certainly be less intimate, less galvanizing, but it will confirm the rebirth of the 29-year-old Northerner.

He could find Paire in the next round

On Sunday, he in any case displayed skills proving that his level was far from his current 675th rank in the ATP rankings. Better, he varied his strikes and his zones as his success took shape, a sign of a certain progression on the meeting. If it does not wither in the next round and its physique continues to spare it, Pouille could prolong the pleasure. He will find Cameron Norrie – seeded number 11 – or Benoît Paire, also looking for redemption, in the next round.


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