Andrey Olkhovsky, a tennis veteran who has claimed two Grand Slam titles in mixed doubles, offered his perspective on how Russian players fared at Roland Garros in 2023, focusing on Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov as they began their campaigns at the French Open. The scene was set by TASS reports and reflections from the broader Russian tennis community.
Olkhovsky noted that victories in Paris often carry a heavy weight, especially when they come in a grueling five-set match. The takeaway, he suggested, is not merely the win itself but the ability to navigate the psychological pressures and physical demands of long contests. In his view, Rublev and Khachanov entered their matches as clear favorites and demonstrated the kind of steady class that separates a surprise victory from a confident performance. Their approach showed strong preparation and impressive mental resilience, enabling them to endure a couple of set losses and still press forward to seize the match in the later stages, a sign that they can maintain composure and focus under high-stakes conditions.
In the opening round, Rublev, the second-ranked Russian and ranked seventh in the world, faced Laszlo Djere of Serbia, who sits at number 57 in the ATP standings. Rublev secured a four-set victory with scores of 6:1, 3:6, 6:3, 6:4, signaling that he could adapt mid-match and find a path to the win even after conceding a set. The Russian showcased power and precision, translating early dominance into a durable performance that carried him through the fourth set to close out the match.
Khachanov, the 11th seed in the world, confronted French challenger Constant Letien, who is ranked 69th. The match extended to five sets, with Khachanov initially facing a rough stretch and dropping the first two sets. Yet he recovered with a composed adjustment in strategy and rhythm, turning the tide to win 3:6, 1:6, 6:2, 6:1, 6:3. This comeback illustrated Khachanov’s ability to recalibrate and press for a favorable result, a hallmark of his experience and competitive resolve on the Paris clay.
Meanwhile, another prominent Russian, Daria Kasatkina, advanced to the second round of Roland Garros. In the first round, she took on German player Jule Niemeyer. The match progressed over a tight 1 hour and 34 minutes, and Kasatkina emerged triumphant with a straight-sets victory, 6:3, 6:4, signaling effective rhythm and control from the baseline. Kasatkina’s early progress at Roland Garros reflected her consistent form and the ability to translate hard work on the clay into successful showings on one of tennis’s most demanding stages.
These results underscore a broader pattern observed by analysts and coaches: the ability to maintain steady execution across long matches, the capacity to adapt after losing sets, and the mental fortitude to finish strongly. For Rublev and Khachanov, the experience gained through disciplined preparation and disciplined match management has been a continuing theme in their rise within the sport. For Kasatkina, the performance reinforced her status as a reliable competitor who can translate preparation into confident play on the grand stage. The French Open, with its unique blend of strategic variety, heavy topspin exchanges, and tactical endurance, continues to be a proving ground for Russian players seeking to translate potential into consistent results on the clay courts of Paris, with observers noting the importance of maintaining focus through the middle stages of matches and keeping energy reserves in reserve for the closing sets when the pressure peaks.