6 days ago
15
French Open 2025
Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros
Coverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app
Britain's Katie Boulter finally landed her first French Open main-draw victory at the age of 28 after Jacob Fearnley won on his debut against former champion Stan Wawrinka.
Boulter, ranked 38th in the world, overcame a tense start to win 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-1 against French world number 231 Carole Monnet.
"I'm really pleased with myself," said Boulter, who could play reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the second round.
"I sometimes find it really difficult on this surface and I've kind of persevered and tried my hardest to bring some good tennis.
"This one is special for me and it'll go in my books."
Also playing in front of a partisan opposition crowd, 55th-ranked Fearnley made smooth progress with a 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-2 victory over the popular 40-year-old Wawrinka.
The pair were joined in the second round by Emma Raducanu, who fought through "feeling sick" to beat China's Wang Xinyu earlier on Monday.
However, Jodie Burrage was unable to complete a British clean sweep on day two of the clay-court Grand Slam event.
The 25-year-old, playing under a protected injury ranking, lost 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 to American former world number seven Danielle Collins.
Fearnley was only three years old when Switzerland's Wawrinka made his French Open debut in 2005, but had the benefit of youthful vitality - if not clay-court experience - over the three-time major winner.
Wawrinka beat Novak Djokovic to lift the trophy in Paris ten years ago but has since dropped to 138th in the world rankings.
Fearnley, meanwhile, had never played an ATP Tour match on clay before this year.
The 23-year-old from Edinburgh was ranked outside of the world's top 500 just 12 months ago but has risen rapidly up the rankings to a career-high of 55.
After clinching the opening set via a tie-break, Fearnley broke early in the second and raced out to a 4-1 lead before serving the set out to love.
Wawrinka, who knocked Andy Murray out in the first round last year, dropped serve immediately in the third set but fought back to move level at 2-2 - much to the delight of the crowd on court 14.
Their joy was short-lived as Fearnley quickly restored his lead and won four straight games to wrap up victory.
On overcoming the pro-Wawrinka crowd, Fearnley said: "There were a lot of guys talking to me. It was mostly in French. They could have been saying nice things, but I doubt it."
Fearnley has now won on his main draw debut at each of the three Grand Slams he has featured at so far - Wimbledon, the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
He will face either Christopher O'Connell of Australia or French 22nd seed Ugo Humbert in the second round.
