Live | Roland-Garros 2025: the first matches have begun

You've summed up this Sunday's schedule well. Indeed, at first glance, the program isn't very appealing, but as you know, sport can have some pleasant surprises in store for us. And then, the French will enter the fray as the day progresses, which gives us time to warm up too.

While waiting for world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka to make her debut on Philippe Chatrier Court, action is already underway on Suzanne Lenglen Court. Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (seeded number 14), who is none other than Gaël Monfils's partner, is making her debut against Zeynep Sönmez (Turkey). The former won her first game and has just broken her opponent. Already 2-0.

Here we are. It's 11 o'clock. The matches are about to begin. Let's indulge in the first "tut tut" of the day.

Any good Roland-Garros delivery driver must be able to provide regular weather updates. And for this first day, the sky is overcast in the capital. Météo-France even reports light showers during the day. While the Philippe-Chatrier court has been equipped with a retractable roof since 2020, matches scheduled on other courts could be delayed and rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. The unpredictable weather had already interrupted qualifying matches last week.

In 2018, we already noted that it rained at least 42% of the time at Roland-Garros between 2006 and 2017. That doesn't seem to have changed.

He has been the master of the place since 2005. Rafael Nadal, recently retired - since November 2024 - will make his return to Roland-Garros this year. Despite the Spaniard's purists and fans, "Rafa" will indeed be on the Philippe-Chatrier court this Sunday, not to play in the first round of the Grand Slam, but for a ceremony in his honor. This tribute was organized by the tournament and the French Tennis Federation and is scheduled for the end of the day, after the three matches scheduled on center court and before the night session that will pit American Ben Shelton (seeded number 13) against Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

When questioned, the Spaniard, fourteen times winner of the French Open in nineteen participations, had expressed his discomfort about a ceremony in his honor. "It makes me uncomfortable, I'm not very good at this kind of thing," he declared in an interview with L'Equipe , Thursday, May 22. We will obviously be attentive to these emotional moments. We promise, we will keep you informed when it is time to get out the tissues.

Hello dear "Kopiste de thrs". Indeed, you were right. I was treated to magnificent croissants and pains au chocolat straight from the bakery for this first day of live. I have a slight preference for pains au chocolat, by the way, and you? We hope you have a wonderful day with us, despite the rain that might already be part of the party today.

Here is the entire menu planned for today (weather permitting and the duration of the meetings, of course).

In the women's draw, world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka will make her debut at 12 p.m. on Court Philippe-Chatrier. She will face Russian Kamilla Rakhimova. Italian Jasmine Paolini (seeded number 4) and Chinese Qinwen Zheng (seeded number 8) will play their first rounds, respectively, against Yuan Yue (China) and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia). Note the debut of Frenchwoman Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah. The 19-year-old, who is competing in her first Roland-Garros tournament, will face Spanish qualifier Leyre Romero Gormaz.

In the men's draw, Italy's Lorenzo Musseti (seeded number 8) will face Germany's Yannick Hanfmann on Philippe-Chatrier Court this afternoon. Four French players will make their debut this Sunday. Starting with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, ranked 31st in the world, he will attempt to win his first match on Parisian clay against Belgian Zizou Bergs. Quentin Halys will face Czech Tomas Machac (seeded number 21) on Simonne-Mathieu Court. Valentin Royer will play Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena on Court 6. His match will be followed by a clash between French qualifier Kyrian Jacquet and Portugal's Nuno Borges.

And welcome to this first day of live coverage dedicated to the 2025 edition of Roland-Garros. After an emotional day yesterday marked by UBB's first Champions Cup victory against the English team of Northampton, then Paris SG's 16th Coupe de France following their victory against Stade de Reims (3-0), we are already back for yet another live sports broadcast. This time, it's time for the little yellow ball and the first round of Roland-Garros, the tournament of which opens today.

So yes, we grant you, the wake-up call is early, but you'll have to get used to it: we'll be meeting every day at this time to experience what promises to be an exciting fortnight. Don't panic, we'll let you wake up quietly, look for pains au chocolat and croissants, and settle down quietly in front of your television and computer to follow the first matches with us, which start at 11 a.m.