Sloane Stephens (Philadelphia Freedoms) wasted no time on Day 1 of Roland Garros, dropping just two games in her first-round match.
Stephens rolled over Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-0 in just 49 minutes. The American did not face a break point and converted five of her seven opportunities against the Rus serve to cruise into the second round.
“It’s one of my favorite tournaments,” Stephens said afterwards. “I’m hoping for some good things, but definitely really ready, as you can see.”
The 25-year-old improved to 6-1 in her Paris openers. Stephens’ best event showing is the round of 16, which she reached four years running from 2012-2015. The 10th seed this year, Stephens next plays Magdalena Frech.
Looking Ahead To Monday
The #WTTFamily is well represented across the singles and doubles draws, with six members set to begin their campaigns on Monday.
The 12th seed Sam Querrey (Orange County Breakers) meets fellow WTT star Frances Tiafoe (Washington Kastles) in an all-American affair on Court 7. Querrey won the pair‘s lone meeting in Shanghai last year, but it‘s Tiafoe who enters the event as the in-form player, having reached his first ATP clay final in Estoril just three weeks ago.
The New York Empire‘s John Isner will also compete in a stars and stripes clash, taking on Noah Rubin. Isner, the ninth seed and highest ranked American, is in the same section of the draw as Juan Martin del Potro and Tomas Berdych. Isner won his biggest career title to date earlier this year in Miami.
Naomi Osaka (Kastles) headlines the WTT women in action on Monday. A WTT newcomer, the 21st-seeded Osaka faces Sofia Kenin. Osaka achieved her best major result at the Australian Open this year (fourth round) before lifting the Indian Wells trophy. Vania King (Springfield Lasers) and Tatjana Maria (New York Empire) also get underway, with King taking on 31st seed Mihaela Buzarnescu and Maria squaring off against 2017 NY Empire player Kirsten Flipkens.
Previewing The Rest Of The Event
Kevin Anderson (Freedoms), Jack Sock (Lasers) and Tennys Sandgren (Kastles) will have to wait until Tuesday to get their first crack on the red clay at Roland Garros.
Anderson comes in as the sixth seed and on the back of reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal in Madrid. He meets Paolo Lorenzi in his opener. Anderson has advanced to the round of 16 here on three occasions, most recently a year ago when he upset Nick Kyrgios along the way.
Sock, seeded 14th, has drawn lucky loser Jurgen Zopp and finds himself in the same section as 10-time champion Rafael Nadal and rising Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Paris holds a special play in Sock‘s heart, as it was in Bercy last November where Sock captured his first Masters 1000 crown to ultimately clinch the final spot at the 2017 year-end ATP Finals.
Sandgren looks to build off his quarterfinal run at the Australian Open. He faces Hubert Kurkacz and could meet third seed Marin Cilic in the second round. Sandgren advanced to his first ATP final on clay in Houston to break into the Top 50 for the first time.
On the women‘s side, Taylor Townsend (Freedoms) could take on world No. 1 Simona Halep in the second round if both win their openers. Townsend is currently ranked a career-best No. 71 thanks to a strong run on the USTA Pro Circuit this spring, where she claimed two $80k crowns to earn the USTA Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge. She plays fellow wild card Myrtille Goerges.
Yanina Wickmayer, a member of last year‘s champion Orange County Breakers, battles former finalist Samantha Stosur. The two have met just once on clay before ÔÇô nine years ago in the second round here ÔÇô with Stosur prevailing in three sets.
Doubles Draws Released
The women‘s and men‘s doubles draws were held on Sunday. Among the highlights include Venus Williams (Kastles) teaming up with sister Serena, Andreja Klepac (Breakers) and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez earning the No. 3 seed, the all-WTT duos of Taylor Fritz (Aviators) / Frances Tiafoe (Kastles) and Robert Lindstedt (Kastles) / Marcin Matkowski (Aviators) and a first-round clash featuring Mike Bryan (Kastles) / Sam Querrey (Breakers) versus Neal Skupski (Empire) / Ken Skupski. Below is a list of pairings featuring our #WTTFamily.
Women‘s Doubles
- 3rd seeds Andreja Klepac (Breakers) and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (Empire)
- 11th seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Aviators) and Raquel Atawo
- 13th seeds Nicole Melichar (Kastles) and Kveta Peschke
- 15th seeds Abigail Spears (Lasers) and Alicja Rosolska
- Vania King (Lasers) and Jennifer Brady
- Tatjana Maria (Empire) and Heather Watson
- Taylor Townsend (Freedoms) and Renata Voracova
- Venus Williams (Kastles) and Serena Williams
- Naomi Broady (Aviators) and Magda Linette
Men‘s Doubles
- 16th seeds Mike Bryan (Kastles) and Sam Querrey (Breakers)
- Tennys Sandgren (Kastles) and Scott Lipsky
- Taylor Fritz (Aviators) and Frances Tiafoe (Kastles)
- Daniel Nestor (Lasers) and Jeremy Chardy
- Jack Sock (Lasers) and Steve Johnson
- Robert Lindstedt (Kastles) and Marcin Matkowski (Aviators)
- Marcelo Demoliner (Breakers) and Santiago Gonzalez
- Neal Skupski (Empire) and Ken Skupski
- Fabrice Martin (Freedoms) and Purav Raja
