Rafael Nadal races past Jordan Thompson for historic French Open win

Rafael Nadal created more history as he booked his place in the French Open second round with a commanding straight-sets victory over Jordan Thompson on Monday.

The ‘King of Clay’ claimed his 106th match win at Roland Garros; surpassing Roger Federer with the most recorded by any male player at a single Grand Slam event.

A 13-time winner in the French capital, Nadal advanced to round two for an 18th successive year after overcoming the Australian qualifier 6-2 6-2 6-2.

The 21-time Major winner is joined in the second round by Novak Djokovic, Cam Norrie and Dan Evans.

Reigning champion launched his title defence with a comprehensive 6-3 6-1 6-0 win over Yoshihito Nishioka, while the British duo of Norrie and Evans also advanced in straight sets against Manuel Guinard and Francisco Cerundolo respectively.

However, there was no joy for Barbora Krejcikova; the defending champion beaten by home favourite Diane Parry.

An elbow injury meant Krejcikova, who also claimed the doubles title alongside Katerina Siniakova 12 months ago, was making her first competitive appearance since February.

But despite dominating the opening set, the Czech became the first reigning Ladies’ champion to fall at the first hurdle since Jelena Ostapenko in 2017 after going down 1-6 6-2 6-3 against the world number 97.

Fifth seed Anett Kontaveit also bowed out in the opening round; beaten 7-6(5) 7-5 by Alja Tomljanovic.

Elsewhere, world number one Iga Swiatek – a winner of five WTA titles this term – took just 54 minutes to record her 29th successive victory, putting Lesia Tsurenko to the sword 6-2 6-0.

Former Slam winners Angelique Kerber, Victoria Azarenka and Emma Raducanu also recovered from losing their opening set to advance to round two.

Kerber saved two match points against Poland’s Magdalena Frech to claim her first win at Roland Garros since 2018, while Azarenka and reigning US Open champion Raducanu overcame Anna Bogdan and Linda Noskova respectively.

But there was no joy for 17th seed Reilly Opelka, who was beaten 7-6(5) 6-2 6-3 by world number 56 Filip Krajinovic.

An ATP winner in Dallas and Houston this season – and semi-finalist in Geneva earlier this month – Opelka could not avoid falling at the first hurdle at Roland Garros for the third time in four years.

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French Open 2022 – Day Two Results

Monday May 23

Round One

COURT PHILIPPE-CHATRIER
Iga SWIATEK (POL) [1] 6-2 6-0 Lesia TSURENKO (UKR)
Diane PARRY (FRA) 1-6 6-2 6-3 Barbora KREJCIKOVA (CZE) [2]
Jordan THOMPSON (AUS) 2-6 2-6 2-6 Rafael NADAL (ESP) [5]
Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB) [1] 6-3 6-1 6-0 Yoshihito NISHIOKA (JAP)

COURT SUZANNE-LENGLEN
Amanda ANISIMOVA (USA) [27] 7-5 6-4 Naomi OSAKA (JAP)
Stan WAWRINKA (SUI) 6-2 3-6 6-7(2) 3-6 Corentin MOUTET (FRA)
Anett KONTAVEIT (EST) [5] 6-7(5) 5-7 Ajla TOMLJANOVIC (AUS)

COURT SIMONNE-MATHIEU
Oceane DODIN (FRA) 4-6 2-6 Andrea PETKOVIC (GER)
Cameron NORRIE (GBR) [10] 7-5 6-2 6-0 Manuel GUINARD (FRA)
Linda NOSKOVA (CZE) 7-6(4) 5-7 1-6 Emma RADUCANU (GBR) [12]

COURT 7
Bianca ANDREESCU (CAN) 3-6 7-5 6-0 Ysaline BONAVENTURE (BEL)
Dan EVANS (GBR) [29] 7-6(3) 6-4 6-4 Francisco CERUNDOLO (ARG)
Marton FUCSOVICS (HUN) 6-2 6-4 6-4 Geoffrey BLANCANEUAX (FRA)

COURT 6
Santiago Fa RODRIGUEZ TAVERNA (ARG) 6-7(2) 6-3 3-6 6-4 4-6 Taylor FRITZ (USA) [13]
Leolia JEANJEAN (FRA) 6-4 6-3 Nuria PARRIZAS DIAZ (ESP)
Angelique KERBER (GER) [21] 2-6 6-3 7-5 Magdalena FRECH (POL)

COURT 4
Alessandro GIANNESSI (ITA) 4-6 7-6(3) 7-6(4) 6-7(4) 4-6 Borna GOJO (CRO)
Anna Karolina SCHMIEDLOVA (SVK) 4-6 7-6(1) 6-2 Kristina KUCOVA (SVK)

COURT 5
Maryna ZANEVSKA (BEL) 3-6 1-6 Qinwen ZHENG (CHN)
Dusan LAJOVIC (SRB) 3-6 6-3 4-6 3-6 Sebastian BAEZ (ARG)
Norbert GOMBOS (SVK) 1-6 6-3 2-6 3-6 Pedro CACHIN (ARG)

COURT 8
Anna Bondar (HUN) 6-7(0) 1-6 Petra KVITOVA (CZE) [32]
Nikoloz BASILASHVILI (GEO) [22] 3-6 2-6 7-6(8) 6-4 6-4 Maxime CRESSY (USA)
Zhu LIN (CHN) 4-6 6-3 3-6 Veronika KUDERMETOVA (RUS) [29]

COURT 9
Valentini GRAMMATIKOPOULOU (GRE) 1-6 2-6 Daria SAVILLE (AUS)
Brandon NAKASHIMA (USA) 6-4 2-6 4-6 7-6(3) 6-2 Kamil MAJCHRZAK (POL)
Mikael YMER (SWE) 6-2 6-4 6-2 James DUCKWORTH (AUS)

COURT 12
Martina TREVISAN (ITA) 6-0 6-2 Harriet DART (GBR)
Alison RISKE (USA) 6-3 6-3 Dayana YASTREMSKA (UKR)
Mackenzie MCDONALD (USA) 1-6 6-2 6-3 7-6(3) Franco AGAMENONE (ITA)

COURT 13
Filip KRAJINOVIC (SRB) 7-6(5) 6-2 6-3 Reilly OPELKA (USA) [17]
Danka KOVINIC (MON) 2-6 6-2 6-1 Ludmilla SAMSONOVA (RUS) [25]
Miomir KECMANOVIC (SRB) [28] 6-3 7-5 6-3 Tomas Martin ETCHEVERRY (ARG)

COURT 14
Victoria AZARENKA (BLR) 6-7(7) 7-6(1) 6-2 Ana BOGDAN (ROM)
Heather WATSON (GBR) 3-6 3-6 Elsa JACQUEMOT (FRA)
Attila BALAZS (HUN) 0-6 1-6 2-6 Marin CILIC (CRO)