French Open: Naomi Osaka, Carlos Alcaraz bring curtain up on year’s second grand slam, Chinese players in action early
- Osaka is first up on the showpiece Court Philippe Chatrier against Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti
- China’s No 1 Zhang Zhizhen takes on Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic in first round of men’s singles
Naomi Osaka and Carlos Alcaraz bring the curtain up on the French Open on Sunday as Roland Garros prepares to bid an expected farewell to Rafael Nadal.
Osaka, a four-time major winner who has yet to get past the third round in Paris, is first up on the showpiece Court Philippe Chatrier against Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti.
Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, then begins his campaign against JJ Wolf of the United States, a lucky loser from qualifying.
Andy Murray and his fellow three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka will close proceedings in the night session.
A number of Chinese players are in action early in Paris, with Zhang Zhizhen, the country’s top men’s player, taking on Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic in the first match on Court 9.
In the women’s singles Wang Yafan gets her tournament under way against Maria Timofeeva, while compatriots Wang Xiyu and Zhouxuan Bai face each other, and Wang Xinyu takes on Germany’s Jule Niemeier.
