The 2025 French Open kicked off with electrifying energy on Day 1 at Roland Garros, featuring thrilling performances, unexpected upsets, and dominant wins from top contenders. Fans were treated to standout matches involving Aryna Sabalenka, Ben Shelton, and Amanda Anisimova as the clay-court Grand Slam set the tone for what promises to be an intense fortnight of tennis.
Aryna Sabalenka Powers Through Opener
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka wasted no time making a statement, defeating Belgium’s Greet Minnen in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Sabalenka looked in top form, using her explosive groundstrokes and aggressive returns to keep Minnen on the defensive. The Belarusian, who reached the semifinals in Paris last year, is eyeing her first French Open title and showed she’s ready to contend. She fired 27 winners and broke Minnen’s serve five times in a commanding display.
Ben Shelton Survives Early Scare
American rising star Ben Shelton was pushed to the limit in his opening-round clash against French wildcard Arthur Rinderknech. Shelton, known for his powerful lefty serve and fearless shot-making, dropped the first set but rallied to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. The crowd heavily backed Rinderknech, but Shelton kept his composure and adapted well to the slower clay surface. This win marks Shelton’s first at Roland Garros and signals his growing versatility on all surfaces.
Amanda Anisimova Stuns 10th Seed
One of the biggest surprises of the day came from American Amanda Anisimova, who stunned the No. 10 seed Daria Kasatkina in a three-set thriller, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. Anisimova, a former semifinalist in Paris, looked confident and in control during key moments of the match. After a rocky 2024 season due to injury, this win could signal a strong comeback for the 23-year-old. Her aggressive baseline play and mental toughness were on full display as she closed out the match in a tense final game.
Other Notable Results
Elsewhere, defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz cruised past qualifier Elias Ymer 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, showing no signs of slowing down. On the women’s side, French veteran Alizé Cornet bid an emotional farewell after losing her final professional match in straight sets to Jelena Ostapenko.
Day 1 Wrap-Up
With top names advancing and early upsets shaking up the draw, Day 1 of the 2025 French Open delivered drama, passion, and classic clay-court battles. As fans gear up for more action, all eyes will be on how the favorites hold up and which underdogs rise in the days to come. Stay tuned for more highlights, results, and surprises from Roland Garros.
