Gauff finds groove after forgetting rackets, Medvedev exits French Open

Coco Gauff of United States performs a backhand in opposition to Olivia Gadecki of Australia through the Ladies’s Singles First Spherical match throughout Day Three of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on Could 27, 2025 in Paris, France
| Picture Credit score: Getty Pictures

Coco Gauff forgot to take her rackets to the court docket however reminded her rivals of her French Open title ambitions with a commanding first-round win, whereas Daniil Medvedev was unable to string out his journey past the primary spherical on a moist and windy Tuesday (Could 27, 2025).

Three-times champion Novak Djokovic overcame the tough situations to start his bid for a file twenty fifth Grand Slam title with a victory after final 12 months’s finalist Alexander Zverev acquired off to a flier in his hunt for an elusive maiden main trophy.

Former Roland Garros runner-up Gauff supplied some early comedian reduction because the second seed grinned sheepishly and confirmed her empty bag to her entourage, who scampered to reunite her along with her tools earlier than she beat Olivia Gadecki 6-2 6-2.

“Crucial factor is to play with a racket,” mentioned Gauff, who jokingly posted a photograph on X later of a to-do listing that had ‘put tennis rackets in bag’ unchecked.

“It most likely relaxed me going into the match, as a result of it was such a humorous factor. I am simply completely satisfied to get by way of. I will keep in mind my rackets subsequent time.”

The Madrid and Rome finalist made up for a barely delayed begin to her match on Court docket Philippe Chatrier by easing by way of the primary three video games and wrapped up the opening set with a courageous maintain after dropping serve earlier.

There was no wanting again from there as Gauff tightened her grip on the competition and booked a conflict with Tereza Valentova.

On the boys’s facet, third seed Zverev sealed a complete 6-3 6-3 6-4 victory over Learner Tien, avenging a defeat by the 19-year-old American in Acapulco earlier this 12 months.

Medvedev was not as environment friendly, shedding eight consecutive video games after taking a 3-1 lead within the opening set in opposition to Cameron Norrie and his frustrations boiled over in a collection of animated gestures in direction of his staff throughout a 7-5 6-3 4-6 1-6 7-5 loss.

Norrie loved each little bit of the Russian’s meltdown.

“Each time I performed Daniil, he is by no means snapped. He is by no means mentioned something. He is simply utterly locked in and chops me each time,” Norrie mentioned.

“It was fairly good within the first set to see him freaking out and speaking to his field and making an attempt to search for solutions.”

Fellow Briton Jack Draper discovered all of the solutions after dropping the opening set in opposition to Mattia Bellucci, because the world quantity 5 prevailed 3-6 6-1 6-4 6-2 after seventeenth seed Andrey Rublev saved his cool to beat Lloyd Harris 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-1.

Spirits lifted

Earlier, Dusan Lajovic crashed out 6-2 6-4 7-6(4) to Kazakh fortunate loser Alexander Shevchenko whereas Laslo Djere fell 6-3 6-4 7-6(6) to Australian ninth seed Alex De Minaur, a lot to the frustration of the Serbian followers.

Sixth seed Djokovic lifted their spirits, although, because the 38-year-old wrestled Mackenzie McDonald into submission with a dominant 6-3 6-3 6-3 win on the identical court docket the place he captured singles gold on the Paris Olympics final 12 months.

“It’s nice to return right here a 12 months later. I don’t know what number of Grand Slams I’ve left however that is particular,” he mentioned.

“I really feel good and right here even higher as a result of I can relive the Olympics. At the moment it was a stable match all through all three units.

“I do know I can play at a greater stage than right this moment however I’m glad. There’s the prospect to make additional historical past and that’s the greatest motivation to work, enhance and be right here.”

It was the top of the highway for Bulgarian veteran Grigor Dimitrov after the sixteenth seed pulled up with a left thigh damage throughout his match in opposition to Ethan Quinn to exit a fourth straight Grand Slam attributable to retirement.

Within the ladies’s draw, former runner-up Sofia Kenin superior to the second spherical after a 6-3 6-1 win over French primary Varvara Gracheva whereas Hailey Baptiste beat 2023 semi-finalist Beatriz Haddad Maia 4-6 6-3 6-1.

Former world primary Victoria Azarenka turned the oldest lady within the skilled period since 1968 to win a singles Grand Slam main-draw match with a 6-0 6-0 scoreline, after the 35-year-old dished out a double bagel to Yanina Wickmayer.

Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, breezed previous Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-4 6-4 whereas sixth seed Mirra Andreeva beat Cristina Bucsa 6-4 6-3 to underline her title credentials after a run to final 12 months’s semi-finals.

Andreeva’s idol Ons Jabeur suffered a shock first spherical defeat by Magdalena Frech on Court docket Simonne Mathieu, because the twice quarter-finalist went down 7-6(4) 6-0.