Dominic Thiem started his final French Open journey with a thrilling comeback victory against Franco Agamenone in the first round of qualifying. The former US Open champion overcame Italy’s Agamenone 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in front of an enthusiastic crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Despite his plans to retire later this year, Thiem was not granted a wildcard for Roland Garros, where he had previously been a runner-up in 2018 and 2019.
The 30-year-old Austrian needs to secure two more victories to reach the main draw of the Grand Slam, which commences on Sunday. Thiem has struggled with a wrist injury since his 2020 triumph in New York, causing him to drop to 131st in the world rankings. His performance in this tournament will be crucial in determining how he concludes his illustrious career.
In other qualifying action, Britain’s Billy Harris began his campaign with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 win over American Emilio Nava. However, Lily Miyazaki suffered a 6-1, 6-1 defeat to China’s Wei Sijia, and Jan Choinski was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Denis Kudla of the United States. Meanwhile, notable British players Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, Dan Evans, and Andy Murray are all listed for the men’s singles, with Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, and Jodie Burrage set to compete in the women’s singles.
Adding to the anticipation, record 14-time champion Rafael Nadal practiced on Monday, fueling speculation about his final French Open appearance. The 37-year-old Spaniard has hinted that 2024 might be his last season before retirement. Nadal has stated that he will only participate in his beloved tournament if he feels “capable enough to compete,” leaving fans eagerly awaiting his decision.
