French Open Day 2: How it happened
PARIS – A day after a pair of mini controversies cast a dark cloud over the start of the French Open, it was (mostly) back to tennis on Day 2 at Roland Garros.
Sloane ranger: Sloane Stephens of the U.S. was the winner of an all-American battle with Venus Williams, the 22-year-old downing the No. 15 seed 7-6(5), 6-1. Stephens emerges as the only American to win on Monday, as Sam Querrey, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Alison Riske, Madison Brengle, Donald Young, Nicole Gibbs and Frances Tiafoe all lost. It was 17-year-old Tiafoe's Grand Slam debut. (More on him in a minute.)
Venus skips news conference: A beaten Venus opted to skip her post-match news conference, and could be slapped with a fine should Grand Slam supervisors deem it necessary when they meet on the topic on Tuesday. Williams provided quotes via a statement from the tournament.
Maria booed, but not bothered: Maria Sharapova battled her opponent and a cold, emerging the victor over at least the former with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Kaia Kanepi. With her voice on the fritz, the defending champion skipped the usual post-match interview on court, sending Court Philippe Chatrier into a hiss of boos as she exited. "I totally understand that, you know, everyone usually does post-(match) interviews and answers a few questions to the crowd," Sharapova said to reporters after the match. "It's absolutely normal. I don't – I'm not making any excuses – but I've got to do what I have to do."
Welcome to the big leagues, Frances: Seventeen-year-old Tiafoe, a Maryland native, got his Grand Slam start on Monday, a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 loser to world No. 36 Martin Klizan. Tiafoe, billed as the next big star in American men's tennis and represented by Jay Z's Roc Nation Sports agency, took the loss in stride – and with plenty of nervous smiling in press. "It was great. I had a blast," he told reporters. "I need to get a lot better. There are some things I need to work on … to be playing at his level or higher."
Seed survival: No fuss, no muss for Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych, Gael Monfils, Carla Suarez Navarro, Angelique Kerber and Nick Kyrgios, who all scored wins on Day 2. The highest-ranked player to fall? No. 11 Feliciano Lopez, a three-set loser to Teymuraz Gabashvili.
At your service: French player Virginie Razzano brought back shades of Michael Chang (and Martina Hingis!) in her first round win, employing a couple of underhand serves. She's lose both the points she tried the serve on, but prevailed in three sets over Veronica Cepede Royg.