Swiss tennis star Roger Federer made a triumphant return to French Open after a three-year absence, easing past Italy's Lorenzo Sonego in straight sets in the men's singles first round, while fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber was shocked by Russian teenager Anastasia Potapova in the women's singles here. Federer enjoyed one-sided ovation from the crowds in a redecorated Court Philippe Chatrier on Sunday, while competing at the clay major for the first time after 2015, Xinhua reported.
"The reception I got today was crazy. It was really nice to see a full stadium for the first round like this. It was a beauty. So I'm very, very happy," Federer told a news conference. The Swiss third seed used one hour and 41 minutes to overcome Sonego 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 through 36 winners, setting up a second-round encounter with Germany's Oscar Otte.
The 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded No. 6, lived up to high expectation on him by conquering Germany's Maximilian Marterer 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4). Seventh-seeded Kei Nishikori and No. 11 seed Marin Cilic also secured men's singles second round berths in straight sets.
In her Roland Garros debut, the 81st-ranked Potapova, 18, produced the biggest upset of the opening day action by seeing off three-time Grand Slam winner Kerber 6-4, 6-2.
Potapova won 82% on the first serve and led winners 28-16, registering her first career top 10 victory. The Russian continued her momentum following a 6-4 opening set victory to take four games in a row into the second set.
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Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal highlight Monday's action in the men's singles opening round, while China's Zhang Shuai is scheduled to put on her Roland Garros opener in 2019 against Varvara Lepchenko of the US.
