Alcaraz Aces First Round, Continues Champion’s Streak

Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, started his 2025 French Open campaign with a dominant victory, underscoring a continuing trend of reigning men’s champions successfully navigating the first round at Roland Garros. His performance, coupled with other notable events on the opening days of the tournament, sets the stage for an exciting competition.

Alcaraz’s Solid Start

On Monday, May 26, 2025, Carlos Alcaraz, seeded No. 2, began his title defense with a straight-set victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, ranked 310th. Alcaraz won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. The match, which lasted approximately an hour and a half, showcased Alcaraz’s solid form on clay. He won all 14 of his service games, successfully saving the three break points he faced.

Alcaraz himself acknowledged his performance as “really, really solid” and expressed pride in his start. This victory extends his winning streak at the French Open to eight matches and marks his 28th win in the past 30 matches on red clay. Alcaraz is coming off a clay-court title at the Italian Open, where he defeated Jannik Sinner in the final.

Iga Swiatek’s Title Defense

Iga Swiatek, the women’s defending champion, also secured a straight-set victory in her first-round match. Swiatek defeated 42nd-ranked Rebecca Sramkova 6-3, 6-3, in an hour and 24 minutes. Swiatek compiled 25 winners and 17 unforced errors. Swiatek faces 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu next.

The Absence of Nadal and Djokovic

The 2025 French Open marks a significant transition, as it is the first since Rafael Nadal’s retirement. Nadal, who has won 14 singles titles. His absence creates an opportunity for new contenders to rise to prominence.

Novak Djokovic, the defending champion in 2023, withdrew from his quarterfinal match in 2024 due to a knee injury. His third-round match against Lorenzo Musetti concluded at 3:07 a.m. local time.

Key Contenders

With Nadal’s retirement and Djokovic’s recent struggles, the spotlight is on a new generation of players. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are considered the frontrunners for the title.

• Jannik Sinner: The world number one has dominated in the past 18 months. He recently returned from a three-month suspension. Sinner reached the Italian Open final.
• Carlos Alcaraz: The defending champion is a strong contender, with a 15-1 win-loss record on clay this year.

Other potential contenders include Alexander Zverev, who was a finalist in 2024.

Notable First-Round Matches and Potential Upsets

While Alcaraz and Swiatek secured comfortable victories, the first few days of the French Open have seen some seeds struggle and a few exits.

• Taylor Fritz, the fourth seed, lost to German Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
• Marta Kostyuk, the 26th seed, lost to Sara Beljek.
• Leylah Fernandez, the 27th seed, suffered a first-round exit.
• Peyton Stearns, the 28th seed, fell in straight sets to Eva Lys.
• Tomas Machac, the 22nd seed, retired in the first round.
• Brandon Nakashima, the 28th seed, lost in the first round.

Historical Context of Top Seed Upsets

Historically, the French Open has witnessed significant upsets, particularly in the early rounds. In 1990, Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker became the first top two seeds to lose in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament. Edberg was defeated by Sergi Bruguera, while Becker lost to Goran Ivanisevic. These upsets highlighted the unpredictable nature of Grand Slam tournaments.

Alcaraz’s Journey to His First French Open Title (2024)

In 2024, Carlos Alcaraz won his first French Open title by defeating Alexander Zverev in the final. His path to the final included a five-set victory over Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals. Alcaraz’s victory made him the youngest man to win major titles on three different surfaces.

British Players in the Mix

Jack Draper demonstrated his clay-court credentials, reaching the Madrid final and Rome quarter-finals. Jacob Fearnley, ranked 54th in the world, is making his French Open debut. Cameron Norrie also has direct entry into the main draw.

The Significance of First-Round Success

A successful first round is crucial for any player aiming to win a Grand Slam tournament. It builds momentum, boosts confidence, and allows players to settle into the tournament environment. For defending champions like Alcaraz, a strong start is particularly important to signal their intent to retain the title.

Conclusion

Carlos Alcaraz’s commanding first-round victory at the 2025 French Open not only continues the trend of reigning champions starting strong but also reinforces his status as a top contender. As the tournament progresses, it will be intriguing to see if Alcaraz can maintain his form and secure another title.