Garcia maintains its rank as leader, it also goes for Rinderknech, Moutet and Grenier

Caroline Garcia, their leader, kicked off the Habs’ US Open well with a logical but solid victory against the 90th in the world on Monday for the first day of the New York Major. Eleven French were to start on Monday, but Hugo Grenier was drafted at the last moment and added to the 17 Tricolores registered in the main draw. They are now 11 for men and 7 for women.

It passes (4): Garcia, Rinderknech, Moutet, Grenier

The French N.1 Caroline Garcia, 17th in the world, qualified quietly by dismissing the Russian Kamilla Rakhimova (90th and drafted from the qualifications), 6-2, 6-4. “I was solid, but there were points where it could have been better. Tomorrow I will try to work on that, also in relation to my next opponent and focus on my second round“commented the Habs who were full of confidence by winning the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati.

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For her 10th US Open at 28, she will face another Russian, Anna Kalinskaya (60th). She never made it past the 3rd round at Flushing Meadows. The New York Major is the least successful for her since she reached the round of 16 in the other three (Australian Open, Roland-Garros and Wimbledon) and reached the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros in 2017 Faced with Rakhimova, the former world No.4 (33 winning strokes, 18 unforced errors) imposed his power and speed, especially in service (6 aces) and in return of service, to stifle his opponent.

For his part, Arthur Rinderknech (58th) won the first Franco-French duel of this first round, dominating Quentin Halys (76th) 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2. But he will have a lot to do in the next match, since will stand in front of him the world No.1 and defending champion, the Russian Daniil Medvedev. Rinderknech took two sets to take the measure of his opponent, who had beaten him in their first confrontation in 2019 in Glasgow, and took advantage of Halys’ 65 unforced errors to finally win.

Hugo Grenier (119th), drafted a few hours before the start of the tournament, seized his chance and eliminated the Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry (86th) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. But the next round promises to be much tougher with the formidable Italian Matteo Berrettini (14th) on the other side of the net. For his part, Corentin Moutet (112th) took advantage of the abandonment of Stan Wawrinka (295th) after the second set. The Frenchman was leading 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) when the 37-year-old Swiss, 2016 winner, threw in the towel.

It breaks (3): Tan, Jeanjean, Halys

After creating the feat in the 1st round of Wimbledon by beating Serena Williams, Harmony Tan (112th) took a set from 2019 winner Bianca Andreescu (48th), but lost 6-0, 3-6, 6-1. Léolia Jeanjean (149th), who had risen to the 3rd round at Roland-Garros, fought on the impressive Arthur-Ashe court but could not do anything against the equally impressive Coco Gauff (12th) who s is imposed 6-2, 6-3.

Pending (5): Dodin, Parry, Bonzi, Humbert, Gaston

Océane Dodin (98th) must face last year’s finalist Leylah Fernandez (14th), Diane Parry (74th) will be opposed to Xiyu Wang (75th). Among the men, Benjamin Bonzi (50th) and Ugo Humbert (138th and guest) will face each other in the second tricolor duel of this first round, Hugo Gaston (72nd) being opposed to Alexander Bublik (47th).