The defending French Open champions to lose in Round 1: Can Swiatek, Alcaraz avoid fate?
Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek stormed to Roland Garros glory in 2024 – and both will look to defend their titles over the next fortnight.
The duo are among the leading contenders for the titles once again in Paris, but not every defending champion has avoided an early exit from the event.
In fact, three defending French Open champions have previously fallen in the opening round of their title defence.
Anastasia Myskina – 2005
Myskina made history at the 2004 French Open, defeating compatriot Elena Dementieva in straight sets to become the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title.
However, the former world No 2 then made rather more unfortunate history twelve months later, becoming the first reigning champion to lose in the opening match of their title defence.
Seeded fifth, Myskina was beaten 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 by world No 109 Maria Sanchez Lorenzo.
“I was thinking about the fact that I was beating the champion on centre court, all these things,” reflected the Spaniard post-victory.
“That the match was in my hands, that it was right there. Even if you’re trying to control your thoughts, it’s not always easy.”
Sanchez Lorenzo was beaten in the second round by Emmanuelle Gagliardi, while Myskina would make just two more French Open appearances, her career curtailed by injury.
Jelena Ostapenko – 2018
Ostapenko stunned the tennis world with an extraordinary triumph at Roland Garros in 2017, the unseeded Latvian downing title favourite Simona Halep to lift her first tour-level title.
She had never won a main draw French Open match prior to her triumph and was unable to add to her Paris match wins in 2018, beaten in the first match of her title defence.
Seeded fifth – just like Myskina 13 years previously – Ostapenko was stunned 7-5, 6-3 by Ukraine’s Kateryna Kozlova, the world No 66.
“Obviously, it feels great. I didn’t expect anything from the match. I just went to enjoy every moment on the court because I was not sure if I will be able to play in French Open,” said Kozlova.
The Ukrainian would fall in round two to Katerina Siniakova, while Ostapenko would also fall in the opening round in 2019, before snapping her losing run in 2020.
Barbora Krejcikova – 2022
Another surprise unseeded champion, Krejcikova saved a match point to beat Maria Sakkari in the last four before a three-set triumph over Anastasia Pavluychenkova in the 2021 final.
The Czech climbed up the rankings over the next twelve months and came into her 2022 title defence as the second seed, though her hopes were dashed early on.
Despite a strong start against Diane Parry, Krejcikova could do little as the home French favourite fought back to claim a stunning 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.
“It’s a dream for me. It was always a dream to play on this court, with the French crowd to support me. They clearly pushed me to victory today,” Parry said. “I’m the happiest person right now.”
It was world No 97 Parry’s first-ever match against a top-10 opponent, and she would go on to reach the third round in 2022.
Krejcikova was also beaten in round one in 2023 and 2024, and is still looking for her first Roland Garros match win since claiming the title on Court Philippe Chatrier.
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Who do Swiatek and Alcaraz face?
Swiatek has won three straight titles at Roland Garros, and is on a 21-match win streak at the French Open.
The fifth seed will look to avoid an early exit and make it 22 straight wins when she takes on world No 42 Rebecca Sramkova on Monday; she beat the Slovakian 6-0, 6-2 at the Australian Open in January.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz will look to win his second title in Paris and avoid becoming the first men’s singles champion to fall in the first hurdle of his title defence.
The world No 2’s title defence also begins on Monday, with the Spaniard up against Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri.
