Change was in the air as the first balls were struck at the French Open in Paris on Sunday morning, despite the spectators who dotted the stands and the sunshine weather as the Grand Slam made a welcome return to its familiar springtime timeslot.
For the first time in a Grand Slam, world number one Novak Djokovic, world number three and thirteen-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal, and world number eight Roger Federer find themselves in the same side of the draw. That appeared to open up a pathway not only for world number four and twice-finalist Dominic Thiem, but for a generation of players still striving to make a splash at the French Open, including world number two Daniil Medvedev, number five Stefanos Tsitsipas, and number six Alexander Zverev.
More pressing was the announcement made earlier in the week by Naomi Osaka, who cited concern for her mental health as she explained her decision to forgo the mandatory press duties at Roland Garros. Osaka wrote:
‘I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one. We’re often sat there and asked questions that we’ve been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds and I’m just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me.’
In part Osaka’s decision reflects the longstanding concerns of players who find the traditional post-match press conferences uncomfortable: too long, overly repetitive, and taking place when the emotions are still raw too early upon the end of a match. As Osaka noted in her Instagram post, tetchy exchanges and signs of distress during these press conferences are far from uncommon.
Partly too the situation reflects the unique circumstances around Osaka, who has overcome a natural reserve to forge a close relationship with tennis fans and members of the wider public. Speaking at length, Osaka typically eschews the staid beats and stilted rhythms of the press circuit, more introspective and precise while showing warmth through her idiosyncratic sense of humour.
Osaka found a willing press at the US Open last September when she wore a series of face masks in tribute to victims of racial injustice. Her choice of masks stirred public debate and became almost as hotly anticipated as her matches. The coverage was giddily widespread when she scrawled a message to her sister on the camera lens earlier this year at the Australian Open.
Success at the US Open in September then at the Australian Open in February saw Osaka double her tally of Grand Slams. Her ability on court, the large following she commands across Asia, the Americas, and beyond courtesy of her Japanese and Haitian heritage, and her willingness to break the mould and prove forthcoming in her interactions with the press have all contributed to her standing as the highest-paid female athlete of all time, adorning the covers of popular magazines and highly sought after by sponsors. Osaka takes it upon herself to make a stand where there are issues which prick at her conscience, and nobody in tennis is better poised to make a difference.
Her decision summons all of the usual questions around the role of the legacy media in an age dominated by social engagement. There is also an issue of timing, as speculation swirls and judgements are made around the viability of the Tokyo Olympics. Osaka probably doesn’t wish to play spokesperson either for the Olympics themselves or for the attitudes of Japanese people.
For those who would wish for a compromise between Osaka and tennis organisers, the rush to the barricades over the past week might seem lacking in tact, though the collective statement issued by the Grand Slams on Sunday felt like more of an awkward nudge than an ultimatum.
Osaka battled through to the second round on Sunday, and carried out the usual on-court interview following her 6-4, 7-6 victory over Patricia Maria Čig. In the women’s draw Victoria Azarenka outlasted Svetlana Kuznetsova over three sets, while Madison Keys survived in three up against French wild card OcĆ©ane Dodin. Petra KvitovĆ”, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros last year, kept her challenge alive over three sets versus Greet Minnen, but Angelique Kerber continued her long run of poor form with a first-round exit to the qualifierĀ Anhelina Kalinina.
The biggest shock of the opening day saw Dominic Thiem, the fourth seed and runner-up in 2018 and 2019, fall at the first hurdle to world number 68 Pablo AndĆŗjar. The 35-year-old underdog from Spain – in a rich vein of form after beating Roger Federer a couple of weeks ago in Geneva – came through despite losing the first two sets, with the final score reading 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
This was Thiem’s worst performance in eight appearances at Roland Garros, but the talented Austrian has suffered something of a slump following his first Grand Slam triumph at the US Open last September. After the match, Thiem found fault with his game, laying to one side questions regarding his current level of motivation.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw their were comfortable victories for Stefanos Tsitsipas, Pablo CarreƱo Busta, and Roberto Bautista Agut. Alexander Zverev had to work his way back from two sets down against qualifier and fellow German Oscar Otte, while Grigor Dimitrov was forced into a first-round retirement.
The French Open will welcome 5,000 fans a day until 9 June, when eased restrictions should see that number rise to 13,000. For the first time the tournament has scheduled in night sessions, with one match per day to take place after 9 pm. However the bulk of those matches will play out on Court Philippe Chatrier absent any crowd, as Paris lingers under the cloud of an evening curfew.
Roger Federer and Serena Williams begin their French Open campaigns on Monday, though the Swiss star remains realistic about his prospects as he continues his comeback from two knee surgeries. Rafa Nadal will hope to edge ahead of Federer by securing his 21st Grand Slam, while Novak Djokovic seeks to close the gap.
Despite entering the tournament as the second seed, Daniil Medvedev has never been past the first round of the French Open, and a few weeks ago in Rome even made a plea for disqualification such is his dislike of clay. On the women’s side, seventh seed Williams will be up against not only the world number one Ash Barty and world number two Osaka but an in-form Aryna Sabalenka, with the 20-year-old Polish starlet Iga ÅwiÄ tek primed to repeat last year’s success, and danger lurking in the form of Sofia Kenin, GarbiƱe Muguruza, and Elina Svitolina.
