Roland Garros 2026 Men’s Day 2

Eighth seed Alex de Minaur, who produced his best clay tennis just days ago with a Hamburg semi-final, began his French Open campaign 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 on Monday over Brit qualifier Toby Samuel, the No. 159.

“Happy to get my campaign started, it’s never easy starting the first match of a
tournament… but to get the win in straight sets, I thought I played a very consistent match. I did what I needed to do,” the Aussie said.

 Rising Spanish hope Rafael Jodar raced through a five-set match in 96 minutes as he hammered out a 6-1, 6-0, 6-4 defeat of American Aleksandar Kovacevic.

The 19-year-old has won 16 or his last 19 matches and is playing in only his second Grand Slam.

Thansis Kokkinakis joined his seeded compatriot with an opening win, requiring nearly four and a half hours to defeat Frenchman Terrance Atmane 6-7 (5), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

The Aussie was playing his first Tour match in more than four months after injuries forced walkover at events in Adelaide and at a Croat Challenger this month.

One-time top 10 player Matteo Berrettini earned his first win here since 2021 as the former Wimbledon finalist defeated Marton Fucsovic 6-7 (2), 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.

The 105th-ranked Italian was competing in Paris after missing four editions through injury and earned his ninth win of the season.

Former champion Stan Wawrinka bowed out of his final Roland Garros edition as he hangs up his racquet at season’s end afr a two-decade-plus career at age 41.

The three-time Grand Slam champion Swiss lost to Dutchman Jesper de Jong, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and said goodbye to the Roland Garros crowd.”This was amazing, more than what I could expect and what I could do enough, finishing
with so much support, so much love from the people.

“It was exactly the reason why I kept playing for so long.

“I’ve been on Tour for more than 20 years.
For me, when I was young, my dream was to be a professional tennis player, to be in the top 100, to have the opportunity to play those tournaments.

“But I never expected to achieve so big in the tennis. I never put any limit in my career.

“I always wanted more.I always walk out to get more, push myself, push my own limits, and try to find my own way to get there.

“So I’m happy and proud of what I achieved all those years, of course.

“Today it was really tough. It’s never easy to say good-bye to something you love so much.”