The American Serena Williams and the Austrian Dominic Thiem did not waste too much time for their first match in the Roland-Garros tournament, Monday, September 28. In two sets (7-6, 6-0), the first dismissed his compatriot Kristie Ahn, when the second dominated the Croatian Marin in three sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-3).
Dominic Thiem quickly took his marks and played his game. Even the loss of his serve at the start of the third set (he was led 2-0) did not really slow him down. “I am very happy with my first round”, he congratulated himself, specifying that he “Loves to play when it’s ten, fifteen degrees”. “It reminds me of my junior tournaments in Austria, I like it when the court is not too fast and I have time on the baseline”.
Dominic Thiem will face American Jack Sock in the second round. At 27, the 3e world, winner of the US Open in mid-September (his first Grand Slam), the Austrian is one of the favorites of the Paris tournament. In the last two editions, he had fallen in the final, each time against Rafael Nadal.
The introduction was a little more rushed for Serena Williams who had warned that she did not like the cool and humid weather. Dressed in a black leggings and long sleeve top, getting her started was a bit tricky and she was roughed up in the first set by Kristie Ahn (she was led 4-2). If she recovered in the second set, she however multiplied unforced errors.
Pierre-Hugues Herbert against Zverev in the second round
The French Pierre-Hugues Herbert also passed the first round, beating the American Michael Mmoh (6-3, 6-2, 6-3). But in the next game he will face German Alexander Zverev, a recent US Open finalist.
In women, the finalist of the 2019 edition (against the Australian Ashleigh Barty), the Czech Marketa Vondrousova stumbled. The 19th in the world lost to the 54th in the world, the Polish Iga Swiatek, 19 (6-1, 6-2).
