Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the second round of the French Open on Tuesday with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Court Philippe-Chatrier, moving with ease despite wearing two thick diamond necklaces. Sabalenka, the tournament runner-up last year to Coco Gauff, said the jewellery did not affect her performance. "Diamonds, I don't really feel the heaviness, but I can imagine how it looks from the outside," Sabalenka told reporters, according to the Associated Press. "So I feel pretty comfortable. For me, it's important to look good."
The four-time major winner considered wearing three necklaces but decided against it. She explained that her confidence in her appearance translates to better play on court. "It probably sounds a bit crazy, but when I feel good about what I'm wearing, how I look on court, I tend to perform much better," she said. "I like to bring a little bit of a fashion on the tennis court."
Other first-round results
Defending champion Coco Gauff began her title defence with a dominant 6-4, 6-0 victory over fellow American Taylor Townsend. Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka beat Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6(3) on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, wearing a sequined gold playing dress. Frenchwoman Lois Boisson, who reached the semifinals last year while ranked 361st, lost 6-2, 6-2 to 22nd-seeded Anna Kalinskaya.
Extreme heat affects play
Paris experienced a third consecutive day of above-normal temperatures, reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit), which made the courts faster than usual. Gauff kept her spare rackets in a court-side cooler during her match.
Sources
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Sabalenka's necklaces sparkle in the sun during French Open win. Gauff, Osaka, Sinner advance. Jerome Pugmire and Andrew Dampf, 2026-05-01.
- Butler Eagle: French Open 2026 Sabalenka's necklaces sparkle in the sun during win. Gauff, Osaka, Sinner advance. 2026-05-26.
- KIRO 7 News Seattle: Sabalenka's necklaces sparkle in the sun during French Open win. Gauff, Osaka, Sinner advance. 2026-05-26.
- Fox Sports: Sabalenka's necklaces sparkle as top-ranked star wins in French Open sunshine, Medvedev loses. 2026-05-26.
Reported from public sources.