Roland-Garros 2025: Rafael Nadal celebrated, Aryna Sabalenka's speedy performance, a nice debut for Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard... The recap of the first day

The record holder for the number of Porte d'Auteuil titles (14), retired from the courts since last year, was honored on the Central Court on Sunday.

The 2025 edition of Roland-Garros is definitely underway. 78 competitors played their first round on Sunday, May 25, including world number one Aryna Sabalenka and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who won his first match at Porte d'Auteuil . But beyond the results, it was the tribute paid to Rafael Nadal, who retired from the courts at the end of last season, that marked this inaugural day.

These are images that will remain in the annals. Rafael Nadal, record holder for the number of titles at Roland Garros , was honored, one last time, on the Philippe-Chatrier court. Surrounded by his loved ones and his former rivals - notably Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray - the Spaniard bid a final farewell to a "magical place" to which his "heart" will remain "forever linked" . For nearly 45 minutes, speeches and archive images followed one after the other. An emotional ceremony that will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of this 124th edition.

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The favorites had a smooth first day. In the women's draw, world number one Aryna Sabalenka and No. 14 Elina Svitolina were both quick to start the competition. Retiring finalist Jasmine Paolini struggled more against China's Yue Yuan (87th) but still prevailed 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 after 1 hour and 38 minutes of play.

On the men's side, Italy's Lorenzo Musetti (No. 7), a semi-finalist in Rome at the end of May, defeated Germany's Yannick Hanfmann 7-5, 6-2, 6-0. Among the other members of the top 15, Tommy Paul (No. 12) and Frances Tiafoe (No. 15) also qualified, while seven seeded players fell. : Nakashima (n°28), Machac (n°21), Michelsen (n°32) for the men, Kostyuk (n°26), Fernandez (n°27), Stearns (n°28) and Noskova (n°29) for the women.

Contrasting fortunes for the French on this first day at Porte d'Auteuil. Victorious in four sets against the Belgian Zizou Bergs, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, seeded No. 31, qualified for the second round of the tournament for the first time in his career. It's a second for Quentin Halys, who took advantage of the withdrawal of the Czech Machac to continue his journey while leading 7-6, 4-1. However, it's over for Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, Valentin Royer, and Kyrian Jacquet, who had led two sets to zero against the world number 41, the Portuguese Nuno Borges.

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Coming from qualifying, the world number 150 came close to securing his first career victory in the main draw of a Grand Slam. Buoyed by a roaring evening crowd on Court 6, the 24-year-old from Lyon finally cracked at the end of the night, after 3 hours and 34 minutes of a tough battle (3-6, 6-7 [3-7], 6-4, 6-3, 6-3).