Tennis - May 28, 2021

2021 Roland-Garros: Team Yonex has arrived in Paris

PARIS – Just seven months after the 2020 event concluded, Roland-Garros returns to its seasonal slot in May. The 2021 fortnight begins on Sunday in Paris.

First Round Fun
One of the most interesting matches in the opening round is Alexander Bublik (KAZ) vs. [2] Daniil Medvedev. Bublik is at his career-high ranking of 37 after defeating a handful of top-20 players in 2021. Although seeded second, Medvedev is 0-4 at Roland-Garros in his career.

Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert will be looking to upset one of the youngest seeds in the draw in [18] Jannik Sinner.

For the first time since the 2018 US Open, Donna Vekic (CRO) is not seeded at a major after undergoing minor knee surgery earlier this year. She will be looking to upset [9] Karolina Pliskova in the first round.

18-year-old Marta Kostyuk (UKR) is on the rise in 2021 and has a first-round meeting with 2016 Champion [12] Garbiñe Muguruza. She will be looking for her first win in her third appearance at Roland-Garros against the former champion.

Comfortable on Clay
[15] Casper Ruud has won a tour-best 32 clay court matches since 2020. He is coming off his second Tour victory after winning the Geneva Open last week and enters this year’s tournament with a 15-4 record during the 2021 clay season.

2019 Roland-Garros finalist [20] Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) had her best result at a major two years ago. The 21-year-old is looking to regain her form in Paris on Sunday.

Flying Under the Radar
Four-time Grand Slam Champion Naomi Osaka (JPN) is typically an underdog on clay having never made the second week in Paris. Osaka went 1-2 in warm up tournaments leading up to this year’s event.

One of Osaka’s losses was to American Jessica Pegula. Pegula catapulted up the rankings in the past couple months after a semifinal appearance at this year’s Australian Open. She faces Lin Zhu (CHN) in the first round.

The Paris Collection
In Lavender and Mist Blue, the 2021 Paris Collection showcases classic polos with a modern twist. Inspired by a French fabric innovation, the collection features a jacquard-style print on breathable mesh, keeping players cool on the court.

Recovering for Second Half
2015 Roland-Garros Champion Stan Wawrinka (SUI) and Denis Shapovalov (CAN) announced that they would be skipping the French Open to rest and focus on the upcoming grass court season.

Team Yonex
Men
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) | VCORE PRO / POLYTOUR STRIKE / Paris Collection / ECLIPSION
Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) | VCORE / POLYTOUR SPIN / Paris Collection / FUSIONREV
Lloyd Harris (RSA) | EZONE/ POLYTOUR PRO
Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) |VCORE PRO
[15] Casper Ruud (NOR) | EZONE / POLYTOUR SPIN, PRO / Paris Collection / ECLIPSION
Kamil Majchrzak (POL) | VCORE / POLYTOUR PRO
[19] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) | VCORE PRO/ Paris Collection / ECLIPSION
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) | EZONE / POLYTOUR PRO
Radu Albot (MDA) | VCORE / Paris Collection / ECLIPSION
Steve Johnson (USA) | EZONE / POLYTOUR PRO / Paris Collection / ECLIPSION
France Tiafoe (USA) | VCORE PRO / POLYTOUR PRO
Marcos Giron (USA) | VCORE
Jaume Munar (ESP) | EZONE/ POLYTOUR PRO
Alexander Bublik (KAZ) | EZONE / POLYTOUR PRO