French Open 2025 Day One Recap

The 2025 French Open started on Sunday but was dazzled by intermittent rain, which caused several stops on the external courts.

In men’s draws, 20 main drawings were played, everything from the lower half. The rest of the first round will be played on Monday and Tuesday.

While none of the much liked players were in action, several were presented with a puncher’s chance, with Lorenzo Musetti and Tommy Paul, the two highest seeds in action, both progress.

The former maintained its excellent form during the Clay Court swing by brushing aside Yannick Hanfmann. At the same time, Tommy Paul overcame the first set to the backhand specialist Elmer Moller before crossing in four.

Brandom Nakashima (28) and Tomas Machac (21) were the highly profiled injured. Both were predictable, because Nakashima met Clay Court specialist Navone, while Machac seems unable to end a match lately.

During the night session, Ben Shelton came through in five sets against Lorenzo Sonego in a match that ended after midnight and lasted for 3 hours.

Outside the match play, the day began with a tribute to Rafael Nadal, the 14 o’clock Master who retired last year.

Fans dressed thousands of brick-red “Merci Rafa” T-shirts and transformed the tribun while the ceremony revealed a permanent tribute: his footprint embedded in the clay,

Rafa was united by Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer in a large four reunion. Or Big 3 Plus one if you prefer🤣, and it’s good to see these guys together after giving the fans some amazing matches over the past 20 years.

Full results, summary and highlights below.

Today’s summary

Lorenzo Musetti (8) Def. Yannick Hanfmann (Q) 7-5, 6-2, 6-0

Lorenzo Musetti started his Roland Garros campaign in 2025 with a leading 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 victory over the qualifier Yannick Hanfmann on the Court Philippe Chatrier.

While he has not been prominent recently, Hanfmann is a competent clay courter. Although he offered resistance in a tough first set, he was not a match for Musetti, which dominated all the time.

Giovanni Mpeshi Pericard (31) Def. Zizou Bergs 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-4

French No. 31 Seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard gave the fans on the court Suzanne Lenglen something to scream about with a three-hour, 18-minute thriller against Zizou Bergs.

The 6’8 Lyon native stared down a 0/5 deficit in the third set of tiebreak, just to roll away a seven-point run below the closed roof.

Two aces, a fantastic passing shot, and Berg’s’ unclear double mistakes, the script tilted. Mpetshi Perricard, fresh from winning Bordeaux Challenger after fighting on the tour this season, wobbled as he served for the 5-3 match in the fourth but broke back to seal it, shot 12 ESS to secure his place in round 2.

Tommy Paul (12) Def. Elmer Moller (LL) 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3, 6-1

American No. 12 Seed Tommy Paul shook a sluggish start to surpass Lucky Loser Elmer Moller in four sets.

Moller nabbed the first set in a tiebreak, but Paul, who impressed me with his clay game in Rome, flipped the switch and cruised through the next three sets with his brand sathetism. Paul now meets Marton Fucsovics who can be interesting because their head-to-head is tied to 2-2.

Mariano Navone Def. Brandon Nakashima (28) 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-1, 6-2

World No. 98 Mariano Navone pulled down No. 28 Frö Brandon Nakashima in four sets. This was probably the upset that most people would have predicted, as the Argentin’s relentless top spin and the craft of the clay court makes him a formidable opponent here, especially for those who are not as comfortable on the surface.

Quentin Hales Def. Tomas Machac (21) 7-6 (4), 4-1 (ret.)

Frenchman Quentin Hale’s advanced to the second round after No. 21 Frö Tomas Machac retired at 7-6 (4), 4-1 down.

Machac, who struggles with a problem with the lower back, required a medical timeout in the second set. Physio work focused on his waist area, and he retired after Hales broke 4-1.

Czech seems to retire virtually all other matches, and since last year’s US Open he has done it 8 times, this time his second in his many weeks after Geneva.

Strangely enough, pensions never seem to cause missed events or long -lasting magic formulas on the side line, so who knows what is happening there?

Highlights

French Open 2025 Day Two round of 128 matches

Highest half

Lower half