Roland Garros began flying in the bloody, “ridiculous” humidity of Paris on Sunday with Victoria Azarenka leaving the court, complaining that he was “too unscrulent” to play, before Stan Wawrinka discarded his three-time winner Andy. Murray in the shock of day.
The French Open, which moved away from its classic period from May to June due to coronavirus, began with a constant drizzle and temperatures struggling to succeed in 10 degrees (50F).
Too much for Azarenka, 31, who left Suzanne Lenglen’s court almost abandoned after only three games.
“I don’t see the point of sitting in the box when it’s at 8 degrees,” said Azarenka, a two-time primary winner.
On the court he complained: “We’re sitting like ducks. It’s too cold, it’s 8 degrees, I live in Florida. It’s getting a little ridiculous. I’m not waiting,” he said before he went to seek refuge.
He returned here with a full 6-1, 6-2 win, with black leggings and a tracksuit shirt.
“Does this increase the threat of injury to players? Absolutely, I think so,” he added within a week in which bloodless and rainy situations are expected to continue.
This echoes the fears expressed through 12-time champion Rafael Nadal, who said situations combined with a new, heavier ball can cause problems with players’ elbows and shoulders.
On the court Simonne Mathieu, Belgian number 16
Elise Mertens and Russian Margarita Gasparyan left the arena twice after preventing the game due to slippery conditions.
– ‘Perfect Birthday’ –
At least the rain had dissipated when 2015 champion Wawrinka and Murray went to the Philippe Chatrier court with the retractable roof open for the first time of the day.
Murray, betting his first clay-court attack since his five-set semi-final loss to the Swiss star in 2017, has liked it to remain close when 16th-seeded Wawrinka won 6-1, 6-3, 6-2. .
The 35-year-old sent 42 winners back to wildcard Murray, now ranked 111th in the World Cup after being taken to retirement through his long war with a hip injury.
“I thoroughly analyze this and see why the functionality was like this,” Murray, 33, said after his worst joint Slam defeat.
Wawrinka added: “I was aiming with a champion like Andy, although the score is just an aspect like today, you have to keep aiming. You never know what can happen. “
On a dark day for Britain, ninth seed and 2019 semi-finalist Johanna Konta eliminated through teenage sensation Coco Gauff after committing 41 direct fouls.
The 16-year-old American, who made her major score debut after being a junior champion just two years ago, achieved a 6-3, 6-3 victory despite 12 double faults.
Simona Halep, first seed and 2018 champion, won the moment with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Spanish no. 70 overall Sara Sorribes Tormo.
Playing on the roof, second place Halep was down 4-2 but won the last 10 games to advance in 82 minutes.
“The best gift I won today, ” said Halep, who celebrates his 29th birthday.
Italian teenager Jannik Sinner was honored to get the first victory on the roof, knocking down Belgian David Goffin, 11th seed, 7-5, 6-0, 6-3.
Another rookie winner, Sebastian Korda, son of Petr, Roland Garros finalist in 1992 and Australian Open champion in 1998, who beat Italian Andreas Seppi 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Venus Williams, now 40 and betting her first Roland Garros in 1997, stored two balls in shape, but the third fell to a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia who had won a one-off attack in five years.
Schmiedlova will face Azarenka in the round.
The winter weather, which is expected to last all week, was the last thing the organizers needed after betting on the cat and mouse with the Covid-19 effect.
An increase in cases reduced attendance to just 1,000 viewers according to the day. In 2019, more than 500,000 others watched the two-week tournament at the venue.
– Masks, scarves, jackets –
The few who were there on Sundays wore scarves, winter coats and mandatory masks. Normally, bustling outlets, supermarkets and other advertising stalls are closed.
Nadal, who will win a 13th Roland Garros and go on to draw with Roger Federer absent in a record 20 majors, plays on Monday against Egor Gerasimov, the 83rd-ranked Belarusian.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, in search of a major No. 18, will start on Tuesday with a record 31 wins and one loss in 2020 due to his failure at the US Open. The 33-year-old Serbian faces Sweden’s Mikael Ymer .
Three-time champion Serena Williams, who pursues an elusive career, begins on Monday opposite fellow American Kristie Ahn.
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