First day first upset

Polish Linette upsets sixth seed Jabeur; Dellien tops Thiem

Taking the first set 6-3, things looked good for the sixth seed World No.6 Ons Jabeur, but was not to be, as Magda Linette who was attended by the physio during the match, had other ideas as the Polish pulled off 36, 7-6(4), 7-5 verdict for the first upset on yhe openng day of the French Open here on Sunday.

In the process Jabeur became the first day first upset at the Roland-Garros, Court Philippe-Chatrier, here on Sunday, as she fell to Polish world No.56 in the opening match.

The Tunisian, who owns a tour-leading 17 match-wins on clay this season, grabbed the first set 6-3 in 37 minutes before her opponent upped the pressure.

Linette saved 4/4 break points en route to a clinching a 59-minute second set 7-6(4) to force a decider against the recent Madrid champion. Jabeur fell behind 2-4 but battled hard to break right back and stay alive in the contest.

Still Linette would not let up, as she secured a fantastic victory in two hours and 28 minutes.

Suzanne-Lenglen, 2018 runner-up Sloane Stephens came back from a set down against German qualifier Jule Niemeier

to advance with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Bolivian Hugo Dellien claimed a smooth 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over two-time Roland-Garros finalist Dominic Thiem, who is still finding his way back after spending 10 months on the sidelines with a wrist injury.

The Austrian was searching for a first victory in over 12 months but was denied by Dellien, who posted just his third-ever main draw matchwin at a Grand Slam. World No.20 Grigor Dimitrov breezed through his opener against American Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-1, 6-1. Meanwhile, the first winner at the Roland Garros was Romanian No.26 seed Sorana Cirstea, who eased past Germany's Tatjana Maria 6-3, 6-3 in just 64 minutes.