Etcheverry goes from less to more at its premiere in Paris | ATP Tour

Roland Garros

Etcheverry goes from less to more at its premiere in Paris

The Argentine achieved his tenth victory in a Grand Slam in 1R at Roland Garros

May 28, 2024

Although the clouds continue to descend with fury on the city of Paris, tennis did not stop on the two main courts of Roland Garros. And, specifically, the Suzanne-Lenglen stadium witnessed Tomás Martín Etcheverry’s tenth victory in a Grand Slam.

The Argentine had to fight against a cold start, the covered conditions of the track (indoors) and the dedicated local public, who did not stop supporting the Frenchman Arthur Cazaux. Of course, the No. 28 seed resolved his debut in the first round 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.

In three hours and 26 minutes, the recent finalist at the ATP 250 in Lyon raised his Grand Slam match record to 10-9. Half of them have been achieved at Roland Garros, where last year he reached the quarterfinals.

“It was a tough game,” acknowledged the Argentine in the interview at the foot of the court. “Arthur has played incredible, I know he had a serious injury a few weeks ago. I’m glad to see him healthy again on the track. Roland Garros is my favorite tournament. Since I was a child I want to play this tournament. 10 years ago, when I had my first dog, I named him Roland Garros, it is very special for me to play here.”

It was difficult for Etcheverry to get the pulse of the match, in the first match that the Lexus ATP Head2Head recorded between the two. Of course, the Argentine had won the only head-to-head duel – although on the ATP Challenger Tour – last year in Bordeaux in two sets.

It was Cazaux, who was chasing his first victory in a Grand Slam (0-3), who was more aggressive in the opening set. So much so that in the fourth game he opened a gap on the scoreboard enough to (1-3) to end up closing the sleeve for his side, thanks to his ability to save the four break options he conceded.

But the world No. 29 reacted and, little by little, he got closer to the version that has allowed him to play a final in Lyon or the semifinals at the ATP 500 in Barcelona and the ATP 250 in Houston on this dirt tour.

Etcheverry linked four consecutive games (from 2-2) in the second set to tie the match. Shortly before imposing a similar streak in the third, with five games in a row (from 1-1).

With 78% of points won with the first serve, a balanced balance between winning shots (40) and unforced errors (37), in addition to seven breaks converted in 21 opportunities, he certified his presence in the second round of Roland Garros.

His next opponent will be the winner of the match between the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech and the Australian guest Adam Walton.

Meanwhile, Etcehverry was joined this Tuesday by Mariano Navone, who is making his debut in the Grand Slam main draw in Paris and signed his first victory in a Major tournament after coming back against Pablo Carreño Justa 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 and 6-0, after two hours and 53 minutes of play.

For the Argentine, seeded No. 31, it was a very special match, honoring being the first player in the Open Era to start as a seed in his first appearance in the main draw of a Major. Navone stood firm in a match with ups and downs and against a Carreño who alternated errors and successes equally, in his return to the courts after several months, in a match that was interrupted multiple times due to intermittent rain.

The 23-year-old player, finalist this season at the ATP 500 in Rio and the ATP 250 in Bucharest, will now face the Czech Tomas Machac, who won in three sets against the Portuguese Borges and arrives in form after winning the final in Geneva, where he beat Novak Djokovic and lost in the final to Casper Ruud.

For his part, Federico Coria had a good start but ended up falling e2-6, 6-1, 6-2 and 6-1 against Taylor Fritz, 12th seeded in the tournament, who will go against Lajovic in R2.

Did you know…?

Tomás Etcheverry is just 60 points away from his career-high position in the PIF ATP Rankings (No. 27). The Argentine is at No. 28 in the PIF Live ATP Rankings with 1,510 points, after his victory this Tuesday, behind No. 27 Sebastian Korda, who has 1,570.