Australian Azla Tomljanovic has created a huge boil in Roland-Garros, knocking out world number five Annette Contavit on a big day for Australian women.
After Daria Seville’s first-round win over Valentini Gramaticopolu the previous day, the new Australian No. 1 defeated fifth-seeded Estonian Contavit to ensure one of the best wins of his career.
Despite being sidelined from last week’s Morocco Open, Tomaljanovic is still heavily tied to his right thigh, showing no ill effects as he wins a hard-fought 7-6 (7-5) 7-5.
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He will next play Varvara Gracheva, who defeated Australian Astra Sharma.
The incredible progress of the Australian players came at a time when defending champions Barbora Krejsikova and other big names were left out.
Second-seeded Krejsikova got off to a great start before everything broke down, losing 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to 19-year-old Diane Parry of France, who is ranked 97th and entered the day with a career record of 1-5 Grand Slam matches.
Krejsikova came to Roland-Garros as the defending champion in singles and doubles. He also missed a three-month absence from the tour due to a right elbow injury, so even his own expectations were modest.
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Krezsekova was right to panic – and became the third woman in the professional era to exit the first round at Roland-Garros a year after winning the trophy.
“It was tough. I mean, I expected it was going to be tough, and it was,” said Krejskova, who wiped away the tears at her press conference. “Overall, I think tennis-based, it wasn’t that bad. I think physically, it was a little bit worse. “
In 2021, he was unseeded in Paris, competing in singles at a Grand Slam tournament for only the fifth time, and had previously won a single title at any tour-level.
Krejsikova said she had no elbow problems.
Instead, it was the lack of recent match play that led to the inability to take quick enough shots and he faded into what he called “hitting the wall” and “just crashing”.
Parry Court received tremendous support from spectators shouting for him at Philippe Chatterjee, where the echoing sound under the retractable roof was stopped by rain.
“It simply came to our notice then. Playing on this court has always been a dream, the French people will support me. They definitely pushed me to victory today, “said Parry. “I’m the happiest person right now.”
After taking a long break to go to the locker room and change clothes before the third set, the biased crowd scolded Krejskova.
This was Krezsekova’s first match since February and rust appeared.
The only other women to lose in the first round a year after winning the Roland-Garros title were Anastasia Myskina in 2005 and Jelena Ostapenko in 2018 – both of whom were stunning champions like Krezsekova.
Since the beginning of the professional era in 1968, Krejskova has become only the seventh female champion to bounce in the first round of all Grand Slam tournaments.
Against Parry, Krejsikova double-faulted the first point of the match, and then saw every bit as anyone was ready for his best tennis performance. The next 15 points went the way of Krezsekova when he was leading 4-0.
“It’s never been easier to get on such a court against a defending champion,” Parry said. “You can be a little tough, which was in the first set. But then I was able to relax. “
He never did.
After Krejsikova wrapped up that opening set, the situation changed when Paris played with more confidence.
Krezsekova’s mistakes mounted: In the end, he accumulated 45 unforced errors, 19 in the third set. Parry finished with a total of 26.
“I have to start somewhere, so it’s a pity it had to stay here, and I had no more matches,” Krejsikova said, “but I think it’s a good way to go.”
Other winners of the women’s tournament included world number one Iga Suatech, as well as former Grand Slam champion Petra Kevitova, Victoria Azarenka, Emma Radukanu and Bianca Andrescu.
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