Rafael Nadal ousted, Swiatek and Gauff cruise at Roland Garros

German Alexander Zverev defeated Rafael Nadal in straight sets at the French Open on Monday, ending what could be the Spaniard’s final career appearance at Roland Garros.

Zverev, the fourth seed, defeated the 14-time French champion 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in Paris to advance to the second round.

“To be honest, I don’t know what to say. First of all, thank you Rafa from all of the tennis world. It’s such a great honor,” Zverev said in his on-court interview. “I’ve watched Rafa play all my childhood and I was lucky enough to play Rafa when I became a professional. I was lucky enough to play him two times on this beautiful court.

“I don’t know what to say. Today is not my moment, it’s Rafa’s moment, so thank you.”

Zverev becomes just the third player to defeat Nadal at Roland Garros, joining Novak Djokovic (twice) and Robin Soderling. Nadal, who fell to 112-4 on the clay in France, owns 22 Grand Slam titles but missed last year’s French Open dealing with injuries.

“It’s difficult for me to talk. I don’t know if it’s going to be the last time that I’m going to be here in front of all of you, honestly,” Nadal said. “I am not 100 percent sure, but if it’s the last time, I enjoyed it.

“The crowd has been amazing during the whole week of preparation and the feelings that I have today are difficult to describe in words. But for me, it’s so special to feel the love of the people the way that I felt in the place that I love the most.”

In other action Monday, No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner of Italy defeated Christopher Eubanks 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, while No. 5 Daniil Medvedev of Russia outlasted Germany’s Dominik Koepfer 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. Ninth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece advanced in straight sets over Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-1.

A trio of seeded Americans opened with victories. No. 14 Tommy Paul swept Argentina’s Pedro Cachin 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, while No. 25 Frances Tiafoe was down a set before beating Italy’s Mattia Bellucci 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-4. No. 15 Ben Shelton dropped the opening set to fan favorite Hugo Gaston of France before prevailing 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

“I love these moments. I enjoy these atmospheres,” Shelton said. “I got a lot of heckling when I was in college tennis, but today the crowd was just loud, chanting, supporting their countryman. It’s something that you love to see. There was a lot of positive out there.”

No. 18 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia, No. 21 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, No. 23 Francisco Cerundolo and No. 30 Lorenzo Musetti of Italy all advanced in straight sets.

No. 20 seed Sebastian Baez of Argentina survived a five-set challenge from Brazilian qualifier Gustavo Heide and won 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, but two other seeded players weren’t as fortunate.

Matteo Arnaldi of Italy upset No. 29 Arthur Fils of France 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, and Russian Pavel Kotov took down No. 32 Cameron Norrie of Great Britain 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

German qualifier Henri Squire beat Australia’s Max Purcell 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (10) to advance.

Other first-round winners included South Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon, Slovakia’s Jozef Kovalik, Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko, Italy’s Fabio Fognini, Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic, Frenchman Gael Monfils, Canadian Denis Shapovalov and Serbians Miomir Kecmanovic and Dusan Lajovic.

Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff cruise at Roland Garros

Top-seeded Iga Swiatek and No. 3 Coco Gauff won in straight sets to swiftly move into the second round of the French Open on Monday at Roland Garros.

Gauff dispatched Russian qualifier Julia Avdeeva 6-1, 6-1 in 52 minutes. Swiatek opened her quest for a third straight French Open title with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean in 61 minutes.

Swiatek will face Japan’s Naomi Osaka in the second round.

“It feels like home here,” said Swiatek, in pursuit of her fourth title at Roland Garros overall. “I’m really happy to be back. Just feel like I can play really good tennis, so hopefully I’m going to be here as long as possible.”

Poland’s Swiatek earned her first French title in 2020. The last woman to win three straight in Paris was Justine Henin (2005-07).

Gauff, a finalist here in 2022, did not face a break point against Avdeeva.

“I never played her. She had a good run in the qualifying. I think I just came out playing well, and I would say I do think she was a little bit nervous with the bigger court, but I played well, too,” Gauff said. “Today was kind of a straightforward match. I didn’t have to do much. I wouldn’t say I, like, played amazing. I just had to play solid today. That’s what I did.”

Fifth-seeded Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic made quick work of Rebeka Masarova of Spain 6-1, 6-3 to advance. No. 8 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia ousted Sachia Vickery 6-3, 6-2.

No. 12 Jasmine Paolini of Italy eliminated Australia’s Daria Saville 6-3, 6-4.

No. 15 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine rallied from a set down to defeat Czech Karolina Pliskova 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

The evening slate in Paris was marked by a pair of high-ranking upsets. France’s Varvara Gracheva rallied to stun Greek sixth seed Maria Sakkari 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, and Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto pulled off a similar comeback to beat No. 13 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

In other action, No. 11 Danielle Collins was a straight-sets winner, as was No. 17 Liudmila Samsonova of Russia and No. 31 Leylah Fernandez of Canada. Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, the No. 23 seed, also earned a straight sets win over France’s Clara Burel.