Croatian Borna Coric and Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis led the teenage contingent in the men’s draw at the French Open on Monday, but American Frances Tiafoe’s debut was a brief one.
Coric, who plays with a maturity beyond his years and is already in the world’s top 50, beat American Sam Querrey in four sets while wild card Kokkinakis, one of his country’s exciting set of youngsters, fought past Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Tiafoe, who turned 17 in January and is the youngest of the seven teenagers in the draw, found his first grand slam a chastening one as he lost 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 to Slovakian Martin Klizan.
“It was great. I had a blast. I didn’t play my best today. Hopefully I can play again in the main draw next year,” wild card Tiafoe said.
“It’s definitely different, walking around, seeing the greats in the locker room. But it’s great. Definitely fun.”
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Tiafoe is one to watch in the future, but Coric already looks like the real deal, with comparisons being made to a young Novak Djokovic.
Coric, 18, also making his debut at Roland Garros having scaled the ATP rankings to reach 46th, looked like a seasoned professional during a 7-6, 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 victory over Querrey.
Spanish clay-court specialist Tommy Robredo waits in the next round, although with a win against Rafael Nadal already on his CV, Coric will not go in to that clash feeling daunted.
Nick Kyrgios, 20, is already established as head boy in Australia’s new golden generation after his stunning Wimbledon upset of Nadal last year, but Kokkinakis, 19, looks like keeping him company in the years ahead.
Already up to 84th in the rankings after winning his first clay-court title, a Challenger in Bordeaux this month, he delighted a sizeable Aussie contingent with his display against Basilashvili.
Third seed Andy Murray took his clay record this season to 11-0 with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win over Argentine Facundo Arguello.
Women’s champion Maria Sharapova reached the second round but was jeered by fans after she refused to carry out an on-court TV interview.
Second-seeded Sharapova defeated Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-4 to set up a clash against Russian Fed Cup teammate Vitalia Diatchenko.
Sharapova said she was suffering from a cold in a worrying repeat of last year, when she was also sick in the run-up to Paris. “I’m not making any excuses, but I’ve got to do what I have to do.”
Former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka marked her return to Roland Garros by easing past Spain’s Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor 6-2, 6-1 in the first round.
Azarenka missed last year’s clay-court grand slam during a season hindered by a foot injury, but she is seeded 27th this time around and her class eventually shone through on Court One.
“It’s never easy to play the first round of a grand slam no matter what your ranking is or your position. But it’s important to start the tournament well,” she said.
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