Tsitsipas Faces Tough Opener Against Etcheverry at French Open 2025

PARIS, France – Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2021 French Open runner-up, begins his 2025 campaign on Monday against Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Both players look to make a mark on the clay courts of Roland Garros.

Tsitsipas, currently ranked No. 20 in the world, aims to recapture his form at a tournament where he has historically excelled, boasting a 122-40 career record on clay. This season, however, he has struggled, with his best result being a quarterfinal appearance at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

Etcheverry, ranked 53rd, comes into this matchup with renewed confidence after reaching the semifinals in Hamburg, where he lost to eventual champion Flavio Cobolli. Despite showing promise, he could be fatigued as this match marks his fifth in quick succession. In their last encounter in the 2024 Monte-Carlo tournament, Tsitsipas easily defeated Etcheverry.

Experts believe Tsitsipas has the edge in this match-up, despite his recent challenges. “Even if he is struggling to find his form right now, I still give the edge to Tsitsipas,” a commentator stated.

In another first-round match, Sebastian Korda faces Luciano Darderi. Korda has had a mixed clay season, with early exits during events affecting his ranking. Darderi, ranked 45th, has fared better, claiming a title in Marrakech earlier this year. Korda’s limited success on clay raises concerns as he prepares for Darderi.

Both matches are set to highlight a competitive first round as players struggle to secure their footing in this esteemed tournament.