Anna Kalinskaya survived a remarkable sequence of wasted match points before finally closing out a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Loïs Boisson on Suzanne-Lenglen, a contest that turned the final game into a mini-epic lasting 18 points and featuring no fewer than four match points squandered by the Russian.
Serving for the match at 5-2 in the second set, Kalinskaya initially saw off a break point only to fire into the net on her first match point, sending the game back to deuce. A series of heavy forehands earned her a second chance, which she promptly surrendered with a double fault. A big serve gave her a third opportunity, again wasted when she netted a loose backhand, handing Boisson a break point. The Frenchwoman, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros last year, then drifted a dropshot into the net with Kalinskaya deep behind the baseline. Kalinskaya saved another break point with a heavy backhand, and when Boisson earned a fourth break point the Russian unleashed an ace down the middle. On her fourth match point, Kalinskaya went long, but the drama finally ended when Boisson netted a backhand. The defeat means Boisson will not repeat her run to the last four of 2024; it remains the only time she has won a main-draw match at a grand slam.
Before that extraordinary denouement, the match had already shown signs of tension. Kalinskaya, who arrived at the grounds with a pet dog, broke Boisson immediately and consolidated for a 3-0 lead, eventually taking the first set 6-2. Boisson broke back early in the second to make it 1-1, but Kalinskaya broke again to lead 3-1 and served out the set – albeit with the extended, nerve-shredding final game that ultimately defined the contest.
Bublik rallies, Faria makes his mark
On Court 14, Alexander Bublik staged a spirited fightback after losing the first set 7-5 to Jan-Lennard Struff. Trailing 4-5 in the second, the ninth seed appeared on the verge of going two sets down but reeled off five consecutive points to take the tie-break, levelling the match. The Kazakh’s pass to go 7-6 up in the breaker was described as exquisite. Struff had earlier taken the first set 7-5 and led 3-3 in the second before Bublik’s resurgence.
On Court 7, Portugal’s Jaime Faria took the first set 6-4 against Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Shapovalov, a former world No. 10, has reached the third round at Roland Garros previously but is currently ranked nearly 30 places below his career high.
Spain’s Martin Landaluce outlasted Bolivia’s Juan Carlos Prado in a five-setter, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4, while Learner Tien earned a thumping win over Cristian Garin, recovering from a second-set wobble to triumph 6-0, 2-6, 6-0, with the fourth set unfinished but reported as a victory. Tien, who has never previously progressed beyond the first round at Roland Garros, now meets either Díaz Acosta or Zhang. His run is all the more notable given that top seed Daniil Medvedev is already out; Felix Auger-Aliassime could await in the quarter-finals if Tien wins his eighth.
Kalinina bagsels Parry; Norrie forced to retire
On Chatrier, Anhelina Kalinina produced a dominant start, bagelling Diane Parry 6-0 in the first set. Parry fought back in the second, breaking early to lead 0-2 after a brilliant backhand and a forehand winner, but Kalinina remained ahead 6-0, 0-2 when play was reported. The match later saw Parry get on the board at 0-6, 1-0.
In an all-French clash, Elsa Jacquemot defeated Brenda Fruhvirtova 6-4, 6-3, while Román Andrés Burruchaga – son of former World Cup winner Jorge Burruchaga – advanced when Sebastián Báez retired while trailing 2-1 in the first set, 2-0 in the second.
Cameron Norrie’s participation ended prematurely due to a rib injury compounded by heat and breathing difficulties. The British No. 1 had lost the first set in a tie-break to grand slam debutant Vallejo, who led 6-5 in the opening set before Norrie earned three set points; Vallejo saved them all and eventually took the tie-break 7-6. Norrie, known for his tenacity, was clearly struggling physically and could not continue. Vallejo next faces Moise Kouame.
Osaka and Gauff advance in straight sets
Naomi Osaka overcame a stubborn Laura Siegemund on Lenglen, winning 6-3, 7-6 after a second-set tie-break. Siegemund, remembered for her run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, broke Osaka to lead 5-3 in the second set and forced a breaker. Osaka responded by earning a mini-break, immediately giving it back on a double fault, then restoring the lead with a forehand return. A delicate volley spun on to the sideline gave her a 4-3 advantage, and she ultimately closed out the match with three match points. Next for Osaka is Donna Vekic.
Later, Osaka said she felt “really nervous” but was pleased to be on court after not having played on Lenglen in “a little minute”. She called herself a veteran at this stage and said her goal was to “have a lot of fun and smile a lot”. On the court conditions, she found it “a little slippery” when running in for drop shots, but added that conditions are the same for everyone. She also explained that her dress – a gold number – was “very couture” and reminded her of the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. On her day off, she said she would call her daughter and “lie there waiting for the match”.
Defending champion Coco Gauff also progressed, beating doubles specialist Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-0 on Chatrier. After a tight first set in which Townsend broke early and held a break-back chance at 4-5, Gauff sealed the opener with a break and then raced through the second set, breaking immediately to lead 2-0 and eventually 5-0 to close out the match. Gauff acknowledged she was a “little nervous at the start” but found her calm and credited her team’s plan. Playing a lefty like Townsend, who hits with heavy spin, was a challenge, but Gauff said she had a good hitting partner who replicated the style. She also paid tribute to Althea Gibson, who became the first Black grand-slam winner 70 years ago, noting that Gibson – along with Zina Garrison and the Williams sisters – paved the way for her and Townsend.
Other results
In the men’s draw, 16th seed Vacherot defeated Faurel in four sets and will face Tabilo next. Matteo Arnaldi beat Griekspoor in four sets to set up a second-round meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas. In the men’s doubles, reigning Wimbledon champions Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool moved into the second round.
On Court 8, Jacob Fearnley was underway against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, the younger brother of 25th seed Francisco Cerúndolo, with the match level at 1-1 in the first set. Earlier, Antonia Ruzic beat Ashlyn Krueger.
