A rain filled day 1 saw a lot of matches postponed. The good news about that is it calls for a packed day of tennis on Sunday. Only the matches scheduled to play on one of the two stadium courts were played today, and the rest have been moved to tomorrow. In the matches that were played, the stars shined.

Men’s matches 

Alcaraz/Nadal (ESP) def. Gonzalez/Molteni (ARG): 7-6(4) 6-4

What makes this combo so fun is their similar in some ways but also just insanely different. Carlitos finesse and feel with Rafa’s grit. At one point Carlitos hits a sick lob and Rafa finishes it off with an overhead. Carlitos goes to celly with Rafa but Rafa in his own world fist pumping. Litos a bull but also pretty light spirited and enjoying it out there. Rafa is locked in 100% all the time and doesn’t know other way. But he did crack and we did get a Rafa smile midway in the first set. To start the match, if either of the two players came out nervy or not on their A game, I thought it would be Rafa, especially since Alcaraz played singles earlier today. But instead it was Rafa who came out sharp as a blade, and Carlitos feeling the pressure of playing with Rafa. Getting broken in his first service game, and again at 2-2 15-40, but Carlitos and Rafa got out of it. Rafa was ready to play, hitting down the line forehands on the line of the doubles alley, good reflexes and serving well to comfortable holds. He said his first priority this week is doubles and it was clear he was ready to play. His ball is still so heavy it’s tough for these guys to stay in rallies with him. Similar like it was with Jack Sock in a way, but lefty Rafa on clay. Gonzalez and Molteni only faced 1 break point in the first set and it was taken by the Spaniards, setting up for the old rebreak after Gonzales and Molteni broke Carlitos right away. The break, and break back, or the break chances, don’t get them, then get broken, are the two most obvious break times in tennis. After that it was as close as you could get, the first set going to a tiebreaker and an Alcaraz FH off the netcord giving them the mini break, and eventually closed out by a Rafa DTL backie winner.

 In the 2nd set, the spaniards once again got down an early break but realized they don’t need to spend extra time on court. After getting down 3-0 they won the next 3 games at love, and then continued the storm to win 64. Alcaraz hits a backhand return winner for the break 5-4 and to Rafa’s amusement gets a jump out of him like he was jumping with somebody on a dunk in the NBA.  Storm might be looking like a hurricane if they can keep building momentum.

Alcaraz (ESP) def Habib (LEB) 6-3 6-1

One day you’re in Bloomfield Hills playing Nishesh Basavareddy and the next you’re on Court Suzanne-Lenglen at the Olympics playing one of the best players ever. Alcaraz simply just another level here, rolls on in straights. Fia broke serve his first return game of each set, so shady never really got even feel like he was in the match. Hady was trying to press early in the 2nd, which he had to do or else Carlitos was gonna just toy with him, and Alcaraz was able to take advantage of a few unforced errors. The only way Hady would have a chance was to play the match of his life, so he had to take chances and go big when given the opportunity. Hady did have 3 break chances at 1-2 in the 2nd set but Alcaraz held serve and as classic as it gets Fia breaks the next game to go up 4-1.  That 1-2 game was about the only pressure Alcaraz had to deal with. Alcaraz moves on and plays again Monday.

Wawrinka (SUI) vs Kotov (RUS): Postponed

This match was postponed and is scheduled to be played on Sunday.

Tommy Paul (USA) vs Luciano Darderi (ITA): Postponed

This match was postponed and is scheduled to be played on Sunday.

Women’s Matches 

Kerber (GER) def Osaka (JPN): 7-5 6-2

Kerber hangs on to play another day. She’s putting retirement on hold for at least another 48 hours. The best match I’ve seen from Kerber was just in time. With the roof being closed I thought that would help Osaka be able to play a little more through the court. That seemed to be the case as Osaka jumped out to the early break 3-1 and it looked like we were in for what we expected. But Kerber had other plans. Break right back 3-2, and was able to hold rather comfortably, not facing any break points the rest of the set. Got her break of serve at 5-5 and boom. Kerber used her leftiness to her advantage, using angles to get Osaka in different positions she wasn’t comfortable with. Making her play the extra ball and forcing errors at timely moments, hanging in the first set and making Osaka feel pressure. Osaka sees the ball like a beach ball when she gets a lead but Kerber did good to hang in there and not let Osaka ever get that comfortability. For a player like Osaka who’s more of a ball striker than mover, it’ll take some time to get used to clay again. Kerber stepped up and found her form when she needed it. She’ll need to do the same Monday to keep retirement on hold again.

Iga Swiatek (POL) def Begu (ROM): 6-2 7-5

No trip to the bakery today but another day at the office for 1ga. In normal Iga fashion, she got an early break in the 1st set and rode that out. Having break chances in 3 of Begu’s 4 service games in the first set, it was all one way traffic for Iga. Then in the 2nd Begu settled in, started taking care of her serve a little more comfortably, and was able to eventually put a little scoreboard pressure on Iga. Iga had chances to break at 2-1, didn’t get them, and then it was actually Begu earning the first break of the set. However serving down a set, vs serving to win the set on Swiatek is a different story. Swiatek breaks back for 5-5, and wins 10 of the last 11 points to finish off the match. Although Iga has had more comfortable score lines at Roland Garros, I’m sure she’s happy to be into the rd of 32 in her second Olympic Games.

Haddad Maia (BRA)  vs Gracheva (FRA): Postponed

This match was postponed and is scheduled to be played on Sunday.

Fernandez (CAN) vs Muchova (CZE): Postponed

This match was postponed and is scheduled to be played on Sunday.