Roland Garros – Day 1 (1R)

Roland Garros is the only major which starts on Sunday, it’s a relatively fresh tradition (since 2006). Among most notable players we can’t see in Paris Andy Roddick [11] and David Nalbandian [22]. Also former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, his compatriot Tommy Robredo and Fernando Gonzalez withdrew – all guys injured.

The biggest upset of the first day made 33-year-old Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo [99]. The Spaniard lost nine consecutive first round matches in major, not having won a match at this level since Roland Garros 2006! Today he ousted 19th seeded player Marin Cilic 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4. The Croat served twice to win the 1st set, was two points away in three different games. In the 3rd set he cut the deficit from *1:5 (30-30) to 4:5* (30-0), but experienced Spaniard kept his nerves and won the last four points of the match. “It’s my greatest victory this season, that’s for sure,” Ramirez-Hidalgo said. “I would not say this is the beginning of a new career, because I’m too old for this, but it’s a kind of relief.”
Cilic’s peer, Ernests Gulbis [85], who had aspirations once to win a major, has suffered sixth straight Grand Slam defeat, without even winning a set (0-20 in sets in Grand Slams since Wimbledon ’09!!). Today he was beaten by Blazs Kavcic [79] collecting just seven games. The best players which appeared on day one, David Ferrer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga notched comfortably wins on Court Philippe Chatrier. Lleyton Hewitt (hasn’t played a match in the last two months) pulled out with a foot injury just hours before he was supposed to play against Albert Montanes… 16 matches were played on the first day.

Longest match:
3 hours, 52 minutes: Maxime Teixeira d. Vincent Millot 6-2, 5-7, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-1

Most aces:
13 – Sergiy Stakhovsky, defeated David Guez in four sets

5-set barometer:

1-0 Maxime Teixeira
0-1 Vincent Millot