The curtain rose on the 2026 edition of Roland-Garros on Sunday, delivering a first day packed with emotion and solid tennis. On Court Philippe-Chatrier, Alexander Zverev set the tone early by dispatching Benjamin Bonzi 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in just over two hours. The second seed offered no openings to the Frenchman, breaking in the sixth game of the opening set and never loosening his grip. Next up for the German: Tomas Machac, a considerably tougher test.
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On the outside courts, Marta Kostyuk delivered the most moving moment of the day. The Ukrainian learned that morning that a Russian missile had struck a building just 100 meters from her family home in Kyiv. Despite the shock, the 15th seed brushed aside Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-2, 6-3, extending her clay-court winning streak to 13. "All of my thoughts go to the people of Ukraine," she said courtside.
Belinda Bencic, back in a Grand Slam main draw after maternity leave, posted a convincing 6-2, 6-3 win over Julia Kraus. The Swiss Olympic champion is steadily finding her feet back on tour. Katie Volynets swept aside Clara Burel 6-3, 6-1 to set up a second-round meeting with Kostyuk.
On the men's side, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina had to grind through a marathon against Damir Dzumhur, a reminder that early rounds in Paris always carry traps.
The evening promises fireworks with Novak Djokovic returning to Chatrier for the night session against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. At 39, the three-time Roland-Garros champion begins what could be his final pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title. The 22-year-old Frenchman's booming serve promises a generational clash under the lights.
Notably absent: Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, withdrew in late April with right wrist tenosynovitis. His absence reshuffles the cards in Jannik Sinner's half, with the world No.1 set to begin Tuesday riding a 29-match winning streak.
