Roland Garros, day 1: solid victory for Podoroska on his return to Paris and debut for Facundo Díaz Acosta

semifinalist of Roland Garros in 2020, Argentina Nadia Podoroska103rd in the WTA rankings, he started the 2023 edition this Sunday with a resounding victory about the French Jessica Ponchet (123rd) to find himself in the best way with the brick dust of the second Grand Slam of the season.

It was 6-0 and 6-2 for Rosario on platform 14 of the Paris venue, to stomp his return to the place where he achieved his greatest successes, as in addition to that semifinal, he accepted the double in 2021.

The Argentine, wearing sunglasses and a cap on a sunny morning, closed her duel in one hour and two minutes, with five breaks of her seven chances against a rival who had two and squandered them.

“I was very focused, it was a flawless match from the start which always helps to open up a tournament like this. With every player a game plan, I knew that if I played with weight on this surface it would be good for me “explained Podoroska, in statements to ESPN, waiting to meet his next rival who will leave the Greek Maria Saccari (8th) and Russian Karolina Muchova (42nd).

The woman born in Rosario, 36th in the world in 2021, landed in Paris with a balance of 16 matches won and 13 lost in 2023 with the title at the WTA 125 in Cali as her best result.

Podoroska, who at the end of 2022 entrusted to clarion her formula for “starting from scratch” after collapsing with a nagging injury, she is the sole Argentine representative in the women’s team, unlike the 10 members of the Legion Albiceleste who will start the men’s team.

The first of them to take the field, and the only one this Sunday around 8:30 (Argentina time), is the porteño Facundo Diaz Acosta (137th). The southpaw entered the main draw as one of the ‘lucky losers’ of the last qualifying round and will face the Australian Jason Kubler (68).

The Argentine comes from two Challengers victories in Savannah, United States, and Oeiras, Portugal, and if he surpasses his Grand Slam debut, he will go against the winner of the top duel among the Italians Fabio Fognini (130°) and Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime (10th).

The rest of the Argentines had mixed fortunes in the main draw. Francis Cerundolo23rd and Albiceleste favorite, he will collide with the Spaniard Jaume Munar (77th) in the first round. Sebastian Baez (44th) will go against the French Gaël Monfils (386th). Thomas Etcheverry (46th) with the British Jack Drapper (60°); Pedro Cachin (63rd) against the Austrian Dominic Thiem (91st and finalist in 2018 and 2019); diego schwartzmann (93°), with Spanish Bernabe Zapata Miralles32nd seed; Frederick Coria (94th) will play with the Croatian Born Coric, 16th seed; AND Guido Pelle (421st, another entry with protected classification), with the French Quentin Halis (87th).

The other two who will make their Grand Slam debut will be from La Plata Thiago Tirante (153, which will debut against the Dutch Apothecary Van De Zandschulp (30) and the bragadian Genaro Olivieri (227) which will compete with the French Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (233).