UPDATE 1-Tennis-Zverev in cruise control as French Open starts under blazing sun

French Open ​dark horse Alexander Zverev started his ​Roland Garros campaign with a ‌meticulous 6-3 ​6-4 6-2 first-round demolition of France's Benjamin Bonzi in searing heat on Sunday. The 2024 runner-up and three-time semi-finalist, who is ‌chasing his maiden Grand Slam title, never allowed the world number 95 into the contest on court Philippe Chatrier as he set up a second-round meeting with Tomas Machac of Czech ‌Republic.

"Very good start to the tournament, it's always good to start with a win in ‌straight sets especially against Benjamin who can be a tricky opponent," the German second seed said. The two-week tournament started under blazing sun as fans in Panama hats streamed into Roland Garros, which felt more ⁠like the ​Riviera than claycourt grind ⁠as alleys echoed with a violin rendition of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" and other soft-rock staples. With temperatures expected ⁠to exceed 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), Russian Karen Khachanov, seeded 13, dispatched French hope Arthur Gea ​on Court Suzanne Lenglen before 11th-seeded Swiss Belinda Bencic downed Sinja Kraus of Austria. The ⁠claycourt Grand Slam suffered two major withdrawals as twice champion Carlos Alcaraz pulled out last month with a ⁠wrist ​injury and much-hyped local favourite Arthur Fils also withdrew injured on Saturday.

Italian Jannik Sinner, the world number one, is the heavy favourite in the men's draw, while the women's ⁠draw seems wide open. Serbian Novak Djokovic, chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, opens his ⁠campaign against big-serving ⁠Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard later on Sunday.

Russian eighth seed Mirra Andreeva will be the highest seeded woman in action when she takes on ‌French wildcard ‌Fiona Ferro.

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