Musetti, Sabalenka Advance Second Round French Open, Nadal Honored

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka began her French Open campaign with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 first-round victory over Kamilla Rakhimova, marking the most decisive opening win by a top seed at Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2013. Sabalenka, a three-time major champion, showcased a blend of power and finesse, hitting 30 winners and serving five aces while breaking her opponent five times without conceding a break. She aims to reach her first Roland Garros final and could potentially face eighth seed Zheng Qinwen or three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in later rounds. Meanwhile, eighth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti eased into the second round with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 win over qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, receiving a warm ovation from the crowd at Court Philippe-Chatrier. Musetti has been in excellent clay form recently, and the French Open also featured an emotional ceremony honoring Rafael Nadal’s retirement, with appearances from rivals Djokovic, Federer, and Murray. Additionally, 13th seed Elina Svitolina advanced with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Zeynep Sonmez, setting up a second-round clash with Hungary’s Anna Bondar.