The clay courts of Roland Garros have come alive, and the first round of the French Open 2025 has already delivered its share of drama and decisive victories. While defending champion Iga Swiatek faced a tougher challenge than anticipated, two-time finalist Casper Ruud made a commanding start to his campaign.
Swiatek Made to Sweat in Gritty Opener
Three-time defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek began her quest for a record-equalling fourth consecutive Roland Garros title with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova. Despite the straight-sets scoreline, the world No. 5 was pushed harder than many expected, especially in the second set.
Swiatek, who has experienced a rare year-long trophy drought leading up to this tournament, showed flashes of her dominant clay-court game. However, Sramkova, ranked 42nd, provided spirited resistance, particularly early in both sets. The Slovakian broke Swiatek at the start of the second set to take a 2-0 lead, momentarily raising eyebrows on Court Philippe Chatrier.
However, the Pole’s resilience shone through. Swiatek quickly reasserted control, breaking Sramkova twice and winning five consecutive games to ultimately close out the match. Her ability to navigate the tricky moments and find her rhythm amidst the pressure was a testament to her champion mentality. Swiatek’s formidable win-loss record at Roland Garros now stands at an impressive 36-2. She will face former US Open champion Emma Raducanu in a highly anticipated second-round clash.
Ruud Cruises into Second Round
Seventh seed Casper Ruud, a two-time French Open runner-up, kicked off his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title with a dominant performance. The Norwegian eased past veteran Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Ruud, known for his prowess on clay, demonstrated why he is a consistent threat at Roland Garros. He controlled the match from the outset, breaking Ramos-Vinolas early in the first set and maintaining his advantage throughout. The victory extended Ruud’s perfect record in French Open opening rounds to 8-0, showcasing his consistent ability to start strong at this Grand Slam.
The 26-year-old recently made history by becoming the first Norwegian to win a Masters 1000 title at the Madrid Open this month, underscoring his strong form on the red dirt. Ruud’s clinical performance sets him up for a second-round encounter with Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
Other Notable First Round Results
The opening day and a half of the French Open also saw other significant results:
- Carlos Alcaraz began his title defense with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri.
- World No. 1 Jannik Sinner navigated a tough test against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5, despite a third-set wobble.
- In a high-profile women’s match, Paula Badosa came from a set down to defeat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-7 (1-7), 6-1, 6-4.
- American ninth seed Emma Navarro suffered a surprising and swift exit, losing 6-0, 6-1 to Spanish world number 68 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
- On the British front, Emma Raducanu battled through a challenging encounter to defeat China’s Wang Xinyu 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, setting up her clash with Swiatek. Katie Boulter also secured her first main-draw win at Roland Garros, while Jacob Fearnley impressively defeated former champion Stan Wawrinka on his debut.
- However, fourth seed Taylor Fritz became the highest-ranked men’s casualty, falling to Germany’s Daniel Altmaier in four sets.
