THE opening day of Roland Garros proceedings saw plenty of significant results, although none more so than the ousting of fourth seed Austrian Dominic Thiem. Thiem looked well on his way to booking a second round entry with a two sets to love lead, before dropping the remaining sets to be taken down in five sets. The Austrian was the only Grand Slam winner in his favourable half of the draw, ultimately making him a shoe-in for making the latter rounds, however Thiem’s poor recent form continues to plague him as Pablo Andujar took full advantage to claim a huge opening round win.

“It is very special to win here in Roland-Garros, in Court Philippe-Chatrier. Such an emotional win for me, being two sets to love down against an amazing player,” Andujar said.

“In every step I took since I came back after my injury, I really tried to enjoy everything, I really tried to give everything.

“I remember 2015 was a great year for me (third round at Roland Garros).” Maybe I have less legs and I play better tennis. “But I think that’s the most important part of it, it’s the one I’m enjoying the most.”

Andujar claimed the 4-6 5-7 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory in just under four and a half minutes, hitting 46 winners for 47 unforced errors throughout the marathon encounter. While Thiem hit 20 more winners, he also piled on 14 more unforced errors. Thiem was frustrated by his performance, stating that despite practicing well for the past few months, that form is not showing on court.

“All the shots are missing power. They are not accurate enough. I’m not moving well enough, so everything in my game has some per cents missing,” Thiem said post-match.

“I don’t really know why, because since I stepped back on court it’s already been two months, and I was really practising well, super intense as well.”

While Thiem was the highest seed to fall on the opening day, he was by no means the only one, with 16th seed Grigor Dimitrov forced to retire midway through his clash with American Marcos Giron, while 19th seed Pole Hubert Hurkacz and 25th seed Brit Daniel Evans also fell, with the former downed in five by qualifier Botic Van de Zandschulp and the latter succumbing to Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.

It was a successful day for the remaining seven seeds, as top 15 talents Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta all reigned supreme, joined by the likes of Cristian Garin, Karen Khachanov and Fabio Fognini in the second round.

A fourth Spaniard in Alejandro Davidovich Fokina made his way to the second round, as did a smattering of qualifiers in Henri Laaksonen, Mackenzie McDonald and Roman Safiullin, and wildcard Frenchman Enzo Couacaud. The remaining winners of the day included former top five talent Kei Nishikori and Argentinian Guido Pella, while both Laslo Djere and Marton Fucsovics took care of Frenchman to head into the second round.

ROLAND GARROS ROUND OF 128 RESULTS:

Pablo Andujar (ESP) defeated [4] Dominic Thiem (AUT) 4-6 5-7 6-3 6-4 6-4
[5] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) defeated Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 7-6 6-3 6-1
[6] Alexander Zverev (GER) defeated [Q] Oscar Otte (GER) 3-6 3-6 6-2 6-3 6-0
[11] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) defeated [Q] Mario Vilella Martinez (ESP) 6-4 6-4 6-2
[12] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) defeated Norbert Gombos (SVK) 6-3 6-4 6-3
Marcos Giron (USA) defeated [16] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 2-6 4-6 7-5 3-0 RET
[Q] Botic Van de Zandschulp (NED) defeated [19] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-7 6-7 6-2 6-2 6-4
[22] Cristian Garin (CHI) defeated Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) 3-6 6-4 7-6 6-2
[23] Karen Khachanov (RUS) defeated Jiri Vesely (CZE) 6-1 6-2 6-3
Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) defeated [25] Daniel Evans (GBR) 1-6 6-3 6-3 6-4
[27] Fabio Fognini (ITA) defeated [WC] Gregoire Barrere (FRA) 6-4 6-1 6-4
[WC] Enzo Couacaud (FRA) defeated Egor Gerasimov (BLR) 7-6 6-4 6-3
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) defeated Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-4 6-4 6-3
Laslo Djere (SRB) defeated Corentin Moutet (FRA) 6-3 6-7 7-6 7-5
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) defeated Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-4 6-1 7-6
[Q] Henri Laaksonen (SUI) defeated Yannick Hanfmann (GER) 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-2
[Q] Mackenzie McDonald (USA) defeated Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 4-6 6-3 7-6 6-3
Kei Nishikori (JPN) defeated [Q] Alessandro Giannessi (ITA) 6-4 6-7 6-3 4-6 6-4
Guido Pella (ARG) defeated [Q] Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) 6-3 7-6 7-5
[Q] Roman Safiullin (RUS) defeated [Q] Carlos Taberner (ESP) 7-6 1-6 6-0 6-2

Picture credit: Getty Images