French Open LIVE: Sabalenka vs Kostyuk latest score, updates and Day 1 results



French Open 2023: Sabalenka 1-0* Kostyuk

Serious power from Sabalenka to get out of a small hole.

Kostyuk steps in again on that second serve, but it’s not enough to combat those heavy ground strokes.

Big start. 1-0.

Sabalenka begins French Open campaign against Kostyuk on Day 1 at Roland Garros

It’s the heavy-hitting Sabalenka who serves first here and that’s a shaky start.

Kostyuk up inside the baseline, mind games already perhaps.

Sabalenka eyes early French Open statement against Kostyuk on Day 1 at Roland Garros

This should be a cracker here, can Sabalenka shine here in an early statement to Swiatek as the battle to be the queen of tennis heats up.

After a sexism ‘fiasco’, the focus switches to matters on the court.

The pair have met just once before in Dubai last year, Sabalenka won in straight sets.

French Open 2023 prize money: How much will players earn round-by-round?

There will be a new men’s champion at the French Open this year with 14-time singles winner Rafael Nadal absent from Roland Garros for the first time since 2005.

Nadal triumphed on the Paris clay last June to become the oldest French Open champion in history, but he has been sidelined this year by a hip injury.

Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev will be the top contenders to take Nadal’s title – while in the women’s singles Iga Swiatek is aiming to complete a hat-trick of French Opens as she begins the defence of her crown.

French Open 2023 prize money: How much will players earn round-by-round?

The total prize money for this year’s Roland Garros has gone up by 12.3 per cent from last season

Where can I watch French Open 2023? TV channel, streaming and more

The French Open will host one of the most intriguing grand slams in recent memory as the world’s top players return to the famous red clay of Roland Garros.

The absence of 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal for the first time since 2005 is the big talking point, while Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz could face each other in the semi-finals after they landed in the same half of the men’s singles draw.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek is aiming to complete a hat-trick of French Open titles in the women’s singles but will face competition from Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina – in what is the sport’s next big three.

With Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu also absent, Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper and Dan Evans are the British hopefuls in Paris.

Where can I watch French Open 2023? TV channel, streaming and more

Everything you need to know as Roland Garros plays host to one of the most open grand slams in years

Aryna Sabalenka to begin French Open against player who ‘hates’ her

Aryna Sabalenka could end the French Open as world number one but accepts she will begin it against a player who “hates” her.

The Belarusian won her first grand slam title at the Australian Open and has maintained the momentum, winning the Madrid Open earlier this month and closing the gap on Iga Swiatek at the top of the rankings.

Winning a second successive major crown would guarantee Sabalenka the number one spot for the first time but first up comes what will be an awkward encounter against Marta Kostyuk.

Aryna Sabalenka to begin French Open against player who ‘hates’ her

Sabalenka faces Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the first round at Roland Garros in what will be an awkward encounter

French Open order of play and schedule for Day 1

Court Philippe-Chatrier

From 10am (all times BST)

Marta Kostyuk vs Aryna Sabalenka

Jiri Vesely vs Stefanos Tsitsipas

Alize Cornet vs Camila Giorgi

Not before 7pm

Adrian Mannarino vs Ugo Humbert

Court Suzanne-Lenglen

From 10am

Karen Khachanov vs Constant Lestienne

Maria Sakkari vs Karolina Muchova

Laslo Djere vs Andrey Rublev

Danielle Collins vs Jessica Pegula

Court Simonne-Mathieu

From 10am

David Goffin vs Hubert Hurkacz

Magda Linette vs Leylah Fernandez

Arthur Cazaux vs Corentin Moutet

Jule Niemeier vs Daria Kasatkina

Court 7

From 10am

Shuai Zhang vs Magdalina Frech

Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Dan Evans

Elise Mertens vs Viktoria Hruncakova

Lorenzo Museti vs Mikael Ymer

See the full order of play here

Source: Read Full Article