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Day 2 of the 2024 French Open saw leading contenders such as Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff advance with ease. 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu made a winning return to the tour as she got the better of Sara Sorribes Tormo in her opener.
However, all eyes were on 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal in his potential final appearance at a tournament he has won a record 14 times. He took on Alexander Zverev in a highly-anticipated showdown but came up short.
The Spaniard wasn't the only big name to be shown the door on Monday (May 27). Here's a quick look at some of the most prominent names to exit the French Open on Day 2 of the tournament:
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#5 - Viktoriya Tomova beat (16) Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 7-6 (5)
Tomova, fresh off a semifinal finish at last week's Morocco Open, carried the momentum to record her first win over a top-20 player by ousting Alexandrova. She had lost 15 of her previous matches against them. It also marked her maiden win at the French Open.
Tomova capitalized on an erratic performance by Alexandrova, who committed more than 50 unforced errors. The latter is known for her inconsistency but her performance in the first round was subpar even by her standards.
The Bulgarian's second-round foe is Wang Xinyu, who beat her after saving 10 match points during their first-round clash in Madrid last month.
#4 - Elisabetta Cocciaretto beat. (13) Beatriz Haddad Maia 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
Last year's semifinalist Haddad Maia bit the dust in the first round this time as she blew a one-set lead to go down against Cocciaretto. The Italian weathered the storm and a vocal contingent of Brazilian fans who cheered loudly for her opponent.
Haddad Maia's level dipped as the match went and couldn't keep up with her opponent. Cocciaretto, meanwhile, upped the intensity and dictated the play in the decider with her shotmaking. The Italian has a chance to match her previous best result at the French Open if she wins her second-round contest against Cristina Bucsa.
#3 - Pavel Kotov beat. (32) Cameron Norrie 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2
Kotov had one foot out the door but staged a comeback to outlast Norrie in a thrilling five-set battle. The Russian trailed by two sets to one but raised his level in the fourth set to go 4-1 up.
However, Kotov saw his lead cut down to size as Norrie managed to level the score. The Russian edged out his opponent in the ensuing tie-break and outplayed him in the final set to register his first win at the French Open, and his second at any Major.
Kotov will take on three-time Major champion Stan Wawrinka for a spot in the third round. The Swiss, meanwhile, ousted fellow Grand Slam champion Andy Murray in his opener.
#2 - Varvara Gracheva beat (6) Maria Sakkari 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Sakkari became the highest-ranked player to lose in the first round as she fell to Gracheva in her opener. The Greek recently bested her in the first round of the Italian Open a couple of weeks ago 6-2, 6-2.
Sakkari started well in Paris and looked on course for another win after she claimed the first set. However, Gracheva dug deep and with the backing of the French crowd, pulled off a stunning upset.
Gracheva will face Bernarda Pera in the second round and will fancy her chances of another win. As for Sakkari, she continues to underperform at the biggest tournaments in tennis, failing to cross the first hurdle in four of the last five Majors.
#1 - (4) Alexander Zverev beat (PR) Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3
There was no final hurrah for the most prolific player in the history of the French Open. Nadal, who's on the comeback trail, drew a tough opponent in the first round in the form of World No. 4 Alexander Zverev.
Zverev broke Nadal's serve to start the match and did the same when the latter served to stay in the set to clinch the opener. The Spaniard mounted a fightback in the second set as he went up 4-2.
However, Zverev turned the tables on him and captured the set after sneaking past him in the tie-break. Nadal kept himself in contention after going 2-0 up in the third set but all hopes of a comeback disappeared pretty soon.
Zverev swept six of the next seven games to hand Nadal his very first opening-round defeat in Paris. The atmosphere for the entire affair was surreal, and every time the Spaniard tried to seize control of the match, his younger rival rose to the occasion to deny him.
It was a historic moment and the stadium was packed to the rafters, with Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Iga Swiatek also in attendance. Despite his early exit, it might not be the last time fans get to see Nadal on Court Philippe Chatrier. The former World No. 1 intends to compete at the upcoming Olympics in Paris, which could give him another shot at going out on top.
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