Paris: Italian teenager Jannik Sinner stunned 11th seed David Goffin (Belgium) and registered a straight-set 7-5, 6-0, 6-3 win on his French Open debut.
The 19-year-old, who had emerged victorious in the NextGen ATP Finals in 2019, made it two victories out of two against Goffin. Sinner had got the better of the Belgian in straight sets in their first meeting at Rotterdam earlier this year.
Meanwhile, in the women’s singles competition, top seed Simona Halep (Romania) and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus progressed to the next stage.
While Halep defeated Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 6-0 on her 29th birthday, Azarenka beat Danka Kovinic (Montenegro) 6-1, 6-2.
The match-up that drew the most attention was Stan Wawrinka against Andy Murray in a battle of three-time Grand Slam champions. It was a blockbuster clash, but Wawrinka didn’t allow the drama to build further on Sunday once they stepped on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The Swiss star cruised past Murray 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the second round in Paris. The 2015 champion played a solid match in the cool conditions, going unbroken in his one-hour, 37-minute victory.
I was expecting a tough match. I was really focussed with a champion like Andy. Even if the scoreboard is only one side like today, you have to keep focus, Wawrinka said. ‘You never know what can happen. Today I’m really happy with what I have done on the court. Great to be back, great to feel that way, and looking forward for the next match.’
The last time the superstars competed against one another at Roland Garros was in their five-set 2017 semi-final. Later that year, Wawrinka underwent two left knee surgeries. In the time since, Murray has had two right hip operations. Now both players are on their way back to peak form, but Wawrinka was simply better in their encounter.