'Only Draper can stop Alcaraz & Sinner'published at 12:33 British Summer Time 25 May
12:33 BST 25 May
Can anyone in the men's draw prevent the Carlos Alcaraz v Jannik Sinner final most would expect at the end of this fortnight?
Well, former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash believes Britain's Jack Draper is the only player on the men's tour who poses a serious threat to the dominance of Spaniard Alcaraz and Italian Sinner.
Media caption,
French Open: Jack Draper only one who can catch top players - Pat Cash
The new king of clay?published at 12:28 British Summer Time 25 May
12:28 BST 25 May
On the men's side, this year's French Open is going to feel rather strange. It is the first Roland Garros since Rafael Nadal - the man who won 14 singles titles and is synonymous with the tournament - retired.
His abdication means there is a chance for someone to make a sustained attempt at becoming the new 'King of Clay' - a title to which Spain's Carlos Alcaraz has long been the heir apparent.
The 22-year-old defending champion is a natural clay-courter with a 15-1 win-loss record on the surface this year - and, perhaps crucially, more match practice than rival Jannik Sinner.
Italy's Sinner is the other standout candidate. The world number one has dominated over the past 18 months but only recently returned from a three-month doping ban.
Sinner dropped just one set in reaching the Italian Open final, including a ruthless quarter-final thrashing of two-time French Open runner-up Casper Ruud.
But Sinner was put in check by world number two Alcaraz in the final, with many expecting a repeat of it in the Paris showpiece on 8 June.
It will be all eyes on Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff in the next couple of days to see how they begin their tournaments after that impressive display by Aryna Sabalenka.
'I will ask Rafa, please help me win this tournament'published at 12:21 British Summer Time 25 May
12:21 BST 25 May
Image source, Getty Images
World number one Aryna Sabalenka, speaking to Marion Bartoli on court at Roland Garros: "I'm super happy to be back in Paris, I love playing in front of all you guys. I hope I can do really good here. It's hard in round one to play someone you really like, but I'm happy to have got the win."
On taking photos with a polaroid camera after securing victory: "The idea was to take some good moments in my life - I started in December and I already have a pretty big album. When I feel sad, I go through the album and the good moments, they give me good vibes. The album is full of my team, which is annoying sometimes but it is good fun."
On the ceremony in hour of Rafa Nadal and whether she will stick around to watch: "Whenever someone asks me about Rafa, I think of a really hard worker. He is such an inspiration to young players. I will try and stick around to watch the ceremony, and ask him, please do you have advice on how to win this tournament!"
Kvitova out in round onepublished at 12:18 British Summer Time 25 May
12:18 BST 25 May
More news from notable names around Roland Garros, and we're afraid it is not good for Petra Kvitova.
The two-time Wimbledon champion has been beaten in round one by Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland, who triumphed 3-6 6-0 6-4 on court seven.
This is Kvitova's first slam since maternity leave, but she was unable to find a first win as a mother at a major tournament. The Czech will move on to Wimbledon, on her more favoured grass surface.
Annabel Croft Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
Early in the year for Rakhimova, she had a lot of first round losses. Then in Rome, she got a lucky loser age and a couple of wins, plus she took out Emma Raducanu at Indian Wells.
A double fault by Aryna Sabalenka puts Kamilla Rakhimova 0-30 up.
The world number one is so far ahead in this match that there are one or two signs she's just struggling to stay completely focused until the very end.
Sabalenka holdspublished at 12:03 British Summer Time 25 May
12:03 BST 25 May
Sabalenka 6-1 4-0 Rakhimova*
Aryna Sabalenka eventually comes through on serve after facing a couple of break points and surely ends any hope Kamilla Rakhimova had of forcing a way back into this.
Break point Rakhimovapublished at 12:01 British Summer Time 25 May
12:01 BST 25 May
*Sabalenka 6-1 3-0 Rakhimova
Perhaps the biggest threat to Aryna Sabalenka is herself. Clearly keen to get this done as quickly as possible, she's showing signs of frustration when a point doesn't go well - despite her commanding position.
A couple of unforced errors give Kamilla Rakhimova a first break point of the contest. Sabalenka shuts down the first, but another poor miss gives her opponent another chance.