French Open 2025 Day One Recap – Perfect Tennis

The 2025 French Open kicked off on Sunday but was blighted by intermittent rain, causing several stoppages on the outside courts.

In the men’s draw, 20 main draw matches were played, all from the bottom half. The rest of the first-round matches will be played on Monday and Tuesday.

While none of the highly fancied players were in action, several with a puncher’s chance featured, with Lorenzo Musetti and Tommy Paul, the two highest seeds in action, both progressing.

The former maintained his excellent form during the clay court swing by brushing aside Yannick Hanfmann. At the same time, Tommy Paul overcame dropping the first set to backhand specialist Elmer Moller before cruising in four.

Brandom Nakashima (28) and Tomas Machac (21) were the highest-profile casualties. Both were predictable, as Nakashima faced clay court specialist Navone, while Machac seems incapable of finishing a match lately.

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

Outside of match play, the day started with a tribute to Rafael Nadal, the 14-time champion who retired last year.

Fans donned thousands of brick-red “Merci Rafa” T-shirts, transforming the stands while the ceremony unveiled a permanent tribute: his footprint embedded in the clay,

Rafa was joined by Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Roger Federer in a Big Four reunion. Or Big 3 plus one if you prefer🤣, and it’s good to see those guys together after providing fans with some great matches over the last 20 years.

Full results, recap and highlights below.

Winner
Loser
Scoreline

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

Daniel Elahi Galan (LL)
Valentin Royer (WC)
7-6(6) 6-3 3-6 6-7(4) 7-5

Reilly Opelka
Rinky Hijikata
1-6 6-3 7-5 7-6(3)

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

Quentin Halys
Tomas Machac (21)
7-6(4) 4-1 (RET)

Emilio Nava
Botic van de Zandschulp
6-2 7-5 7-5

Frances Tiafoe (15)
Roman Safiullin
6-4 7-5 6-4

Pablo Carreno Busta
Francisco Comesana
6-2 7-6(3) 7-5

Jensen Brooksby
Jaime Faria
6-1 3-6 6-3 6-2

Juan Manuel Cerundolo (Q)
Alex Michelsen (32)
6-3 6-2 6-4

Hamad Medjedovic
Kamil Majchrzak
6-3 6-3 7-6(2)

Vit Kopriva
Thiago Monteiro
6-4 6-3 4-6 6-7(6) 6-1

Nuno Borges
Kyrian Jacquet (Q)
3-6 6-7(3) 6-4 6-3 6-3

Marton Fucsovics
Tristan Schoolkate (WC)
6-4 6-2 6-2

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

Ben Shelton (13)
Lorenzo Sonego
6-4 4-6 3-6 6-2 6-3

Matteo Gigante (Q)
Benjamin Hassan (Q)
6-4 6-2 6-0

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (31)
Zizou Bergs
4-6 6-3 7-6(5) 6-4

Damir Dzhumur
Thiago Augustin Tirante (LL)
3-6 6-4 6-3 7-5

Fabian Marozsan
Luca Nardi
6-2 6-3 7-6(3)

Recap of the Day

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

Lorenzo Musetti kicked off his 2025 Roland Garros campaign with a commanding 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 victory over qualifier Yannick Hanfmann on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

While he hasn’t been prominent recently, Hanfmann is a competent clay courter. Despite offering resistance in a tough first set, he was no match for Musetti, who dominated throughout.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (31) def. Zizou Bergs 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4

French No. 31 seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard gave the fans on Court Suzanne Lenglen something to shout 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 tiebreak, only to reel off a seven-point run under the closed roof.

Two aces, a stunning passing shot, and Bergs’ untimely double fault flipped the script. Mpetshi Perricard, fresh from winning the Bordeaux Challenger after struggling on tour this season, wobbled when serving for the match at 5-3 in the fourth but broke back to seal it, firing 12 aces to secure his spot 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 off a sluggish start to overpower 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, cruising through the next three sets with his trademark athleticism. Paul now faces Marton Fucsovics which could be interesting as their head-to-head is tied at 2-2.

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

World No. 98 Mariano Navone downed No. 28 seed Brandon Nakashima in four sets. This was probably the upset most people would have predicted, as the Argentine’s relentless topspin and clay-court craft make him a formidable opponent here, especially for those who aren’t as comfortable on the surface.

Quentin Halys def. Tomas Machac (21) 7-6(4), 4-1 (ret.)

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

Machac, struggling with a lower back issue, called for a medical timeout in the second set. Physio work focused on his waist area, and he retired after Halys broke to lead 4-1.

The Czech seems to retire virtually every other match, and since last year’s US Open, he’s done so 8 times, this time his second in his many weeks after Geneva.

Strangely, retirements never seem to cause any missed events or prolonged spells on the sidelines, so who knows what is happening there?

Highlights

French Open 2025 Day Two Round of 128 Matches

Top Half

Bottom Half