Defending champ Ostapenko ousted early in Paris
PARIS – A year after stunning the tennis world by winning the French Open for her initial tour-level title, Jelena Ostapenko is again in rare company: a first-round loser as the defending champion at a Grand Slam tournament.
Something even more unusual happened at Roland Garros, too: Venus Williams was beaten in her opening match at a second consecutive major, the only time in her lengthy, distinguished career she’s had such early back-to-back exits.
All in all, it was quite a Day 1 at the only Grand Slam site that gets things started on a Sunday. There already is certain to be at least one first-time French Open finalist, because 2010 champion Francesca Schiavone and 2012 runner-up Sara Errani joined 2017 champ Ostapenko and 2002 runner-up Williams on the way out of the bottom half of the draw.
Ostapenko’s high-risk game produced far fewer rewards than problems, with 48 unforced errors to only 22 winners as she bowed out to 67th-ranked Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine 7-5, 6-3 at Court Philippe Chatrier. Over at Court Suzanne Lenglen, things went similarly for Williams, a seven-time major champion, who had 21 more unforced errors than her opponent in a 6-4, 7-5 loss to 85th-ranked Wang Qiang of China.
“Terrible day at the office today for me. I mean, in general, I played maybe, like, 20 percent of what I can play. Made like 50 unforced errors and so many double-faults. Like, couldn’t serve today,” Ostapenko said. “I had this unbelievable pressure. I felt that I’m not myself.”
French Open for Monday
No.1 seed Rafael Nadal starts his bid for an 11th title at the French Open and the only man to beat him this season on clay, seventh-seeded Dominic Thiem, is on the day’s program, too. Nadal faces Simone Bolelli of Italy on Court Philippe Chatrier while Thiem faces Ilya Ivashka of Belarus on Court 1. Former champion Novak Djokovic, the No. 20 seed, is up against Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil. In women’s play, No. 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki takes on American Danielle Collins.