The 2025 French Open ignited with excitement as defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek sailed through their opening matches on Monday, while emotional tributes to Rafael Nadal resonated throughout Roland Garros.
Alcaraz, the reigning men’s champion, began his quest to become the first man since Nadal to defend the French Open title. He delivered a commanding 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri. The 22-year-old Spaniard reflected on Nadal’s farewell ceremony, saying, "Rafa has been my idol since the beginning… To watch his last match here and be part of his ceremony was a special moment for me." Alcaraz is set to face Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in the next round, aiming to maintain his momentum in a wide-open draw.
Meanwhile, World No.1 Jannik Sinner extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 15 matches, overcoming France’s Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-3, 7-5. Despite trailing 4-0 in the third set, the Italian star rallied, silencing the Chatrier crowd with a stunning comeback. Sinner will meet French veteran Richard Gasquet in the second round, showcasing resilience and determination.
On the women’s side, three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek weathered a second-set challenge from Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova, securing a 6-3, 6-3 win to extend her Roland Garros streak to 22 matches. After the match, the Polish star spoke about Nadal’s farewell, admitting, "I wouldn’t call it serious crying… but there were tears. We all should be grateful for everything he’s done." Swiatek’s next test comes against 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu, who advanced earlier in the day.
The atmosphere at Roland Garros was electric, with fans celebrating the present and honoring the legacy of Rafael Nadal. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Alcaraz and Swiatek to see if they can continue their dominance on the clay courts of Paris.
