By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday May 23, 2022
Day 2 of Roland-Garros is packed with action – and stars! Here’s what we’ll be watching on this potentially rainy Monday in Paris.
More RG22: Day 2 OOP | 10 Popcorn First-Round Matches
Iga Kicks off on Chatrier
Riding a 28-match winning streak, Iga Swiatek, the 2020 champion, will head to Chatrier for her opening match Ukrainian qualifier Lesia Tsurenko. It will take some stopping against the top seed. She has hardly lost games, let alone sets during her streak.
Both Defending Champs to Follow on Chatrier
Barbora Krejcikova will play her first match since February against France’s Diane Parry. Parry, a former junior No.1, is thought to be in with a puncher’s chance (the 19-year-old will face a Top-10 player for the first time), as it isn’t really clear what type of form the 2021 women’s singles and doubles champion will be carrying after her time off with a serious elbow injury.
Next up is a double-header featuring two RG legends. Rafael Nadal and Jordan Thompson will start the twin bill, as Nadal will put his injured left foot to the test for the first time since he fell to Denis Shapovalov in Rome, limping off the court due to the severity of the injury. Many fingers will be crossed during the course of this match.
Finally, the night session on Chatrier (8:45 local time) will feature defending champion Novak Djokovic and Yoshihito Nishioka. All eyes will be on the form of Djokovic, the current top favorite on the men’s side.
Osaka v Anisimova in a Rematch on Lenglen
Court Suzanne Lenglen will kick off with one of the more heavily anticipated first-round matches of the tournament: No.27 seeded Amanda Anisimova vs unseeded Naomi Osaka. Anisimova saved a pair of match points to defeat Osaka at the Australian Open four months ago.
Osaka owns a 19-2 record in first-round matches at Roland-Garros. Anisimova is tied for second on the WTA Tour this season in clay-court wins with 10 (10-3).
Following that, another exciting tussle, featuring 37-year-old Stan Wawrinka and hard-charding mystery man Corentin Moutet. Moutet won their last meeting in Doha, long before Wawrinka’s two foot surgeries.
Raducanu’s Debut
Over on the lovely and scenic Court Simonne-Mathieu, British No.1 Emma Raducanu will take on Czech qualifier Linda Noskova, last year’s Girls’ champ. Raducanu believes in her ability on the clay, the real trick seems to be getting her body to stay healthy.