By Our Special Correspondent
Jabeur, seen as one of the big threats to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the claycourt Grand Slam, came to Paris with a career-high ranking and with a tour-leading 17 wins on the surface this season.
"I wanted to go as far as I could in the tournament because I played well on clay in Madrid and in Rome, and it's difficult to take that one in," Jabeur told reporters. "But that's what sport is like and you need to be smart enough to move forward and get back on court. So maybe it was a good thing to lose today.”
Jabeur came into the event with a season leading 17 wins on clay in 2022, the prestigious Madrid title under her belt and runners up spot to world number one Iga Swiatek in Rome. However, she was undone Sunday by 47 unforced errors in the two hour 28-minute match.
Twice French Open finalist Dominic Thiem crashed out of the tournament in the first round, losing in straight sets to Bolivian world No. 87 Hugo Dellien.
Also making a premature exit was 2016 champion and 10th seed Garbine Muguruza beaten 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 by Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi the oldest woman in the tournament who came back from a set and break down. World No 46 Kanepi who turns 37 next month, made the last eight at the French Open in 2008 and 2012. Sunday’s victory was her 10th top ten win at a Slam.
"It was not a good match at all but it is what it is," Thiem, ranked third in the world in 2021 compared to his current 194th, told reporters. "I knew it would take time and the level is extremely high. It is going to take a few more months until I say now I am ready to beat those guys again." The 28-year-old struggled with his forehand throughout the match.
He earned his first break point in Thiem's opening service game and broke him on his second to race through the first set. Two quick breaks in the second wrapped it up for the Bolivian. He capitulated 6-3 6-2 6-4 in just over two hours.
SCHWARTZMAN in rd 2
15th seed Diego Schwartzman, a semifinalist in Paris two years ago, beat Andriy Kuznetsov 6-3 1-6 6-4 6-2 to set up a second-round clash with Spaniard Jaime Munar, who saw off Daniel Altmaier in four sets.
Canada’s ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime fought back from two sets down to beat Juan Pablo Varillas 2-6 2-6 6-1 6-3 6-3. John Isner converted only one break point but won three tiebreaks against Quentin Halys in a 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(1) 7-6(6) victory.
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