Don’t cry over spilled juice – Gauff’s eventful start to title defence

Coco Gauff overcame an “eventful” start to her French Open title defence – dealing with a “mini car accident” and a dress malfunction before securing a first-round win.

The American fourth seed opened her campaign with a routine 6-4 6-0 victory over compatriot Taylor Townsend.

But it was the drama off the court that left Gauff with the more memorable story.

“We got in a mini car accident on our way to the site today,” she told TNT Sports.

“There was this pole thing and it was supposed to go down and the police told him [the driver] to go and we ran into it.

“You felt an impact, I spilled my juice all over the car.”

Gauff said the car was “not driveable” afterwards and her team had to make alternative travel arrangements to get to the Roland Garros site.

The 22-year-old, who came from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final, said the accident – along with other incidents – felt like a “good omen”.

Gauff and Townsend were on Court Philippe Chatrier earlier than planned, with the men’s match before coming to an abrupt end when Alexandre Muller retired injured after 50 minutes against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

“The retirement happened and right before the match my dress got stuck so my physio was in the bathroom trying to help me take it off,” Gauff said.

“It was an eventful day, but whenever that happens it lets you not think about the match.”

• French Open Daily: British men exit in opening round

Sabalenka ignoring pressure with top ranking on line

Sabalenka’s world number one status is potentially on the line at the French Open – but the four-time Grand Slam singles champion says she is ignoring the pressure that comes with the top ranking.

The 28-year-old has been world number one for the past 84 weeks, having replaced Iga Swiatek in October 2024.

The Belarusian holds a 1,255-point lead over second-placed Elena Rybakina, who beat her in January’s Australian Open final.

Rybakina must reach the semi-finals to have a chance of becoming the 30th woman in WTA history to achieve the coveted number one spot.

Sabalenka, last year’s runner-up, began her Paris campaign with a 6-4 6-2 win over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

“I think we all feel pressure – that is just part of our lives, so I have learned to ignore it,” Sabalenka told the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.

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Victory over Spain’s 50th-ranked Bouzas Maneiro, in which she fired in 29 winners but saw her streaks of dominance punctuated by 25 unforced errors, was the 25th straight-set win Sabalenka has recorded in 28 matches this season.

Sabalenka would push the world number one spot further out of Rybakina’s reach if she reaches the fourth round.

Rybakina would need to reach the final should Sabalenka make it that far – and win the title if Sabalenka reaches the semi-finals.

In attempt to add another dimension to her game, big-hitting Sabalenka has made a concerted effort to become more comfortable away from the baseline.

“That’s the most enjoyable part of the game right now, that I’m able to come to the net and play points there,” said Sabalenka, who faces French player Elsa Jacquemot next.

“I’m so glad I have improved that part of the game and I can bring it on court.”

Later on Tuesday, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka played in a golden sequin dress as she won her opening match 6-3 7-6 (7-3) against Laura Siegemund.

But American fifth seed Jessica Pegula is out – she lost her first-round match in three sets to Australian Kimberly Birrell.