Canadian tennis player Gabriel Diallo had to withdraw from the French Open due to injury during his match against Australian player James Duckworth in the first round. Duckworth was leading 6-3, 4-1 when Diallo retired from the match without securing any aces or break-point opportunities. In contrast, Duckworth managed to score three aces and converted three out of five break-point chances.
Meanwhile, Canadian tennis players Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov are scheduled to play their opening matches on Tuesday, while Leylah Fernandez and Victoria Mboko will kick off their tournament on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
The scorching temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius on the opening day of the tournament caused difficulties for players, with Frenchman Arthur Gea taking an emergency bathroom break during his match against No. 13 Karen Khachanov. Spectators resorted to using newspapers as makeshift fans to combat the heat, as players struggled to stay hydrated.
Diallo cited the extreme heat as the primary reason for his retirement, stating that it was becoming increasingly unbearable. Similarly, No. 21 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina expressed challenges adapting to the heat after his victory over Damir Dzumhur.
In other matches, former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu, along with former French Open runners-up Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin, were eliminated. No. 26 Hailey Baptiste secured a hard-fought victory against 2021 champion Barbora Krejčíková. In men’s play, No. 23 Tomas Etcheverry suffered a loss, while No. 26 Jakub Mensik and No. 28 Joao Fonseca advanced to the next round.
Alexander Zverev, the 2024 runner-up and seeded No. 2, clinched a comfortable victory, and Belinda Bencic, seeded No. 11, also emerged victorious in their respective matches.
The French Open continues with intense competition and unpredictable outcomes as players strive to make their mark on the prestigious Grand Slam event.