French Open: Dominic Thiem ‘months away from his best’, Jabeur, Muguruza also out in day of shocks at Roland Garros
- Women’s sixth seed Jabeur, who was seen as a potential champion, crashes out in three sets to 56th-ranked Magda Linette
- Two-time runner-up Thiem also goes out in first round in Paris to Hugo Dellien of Bolivia
Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur crashed out of the French Open in the first round on Sunday, while two-time men’s runner-up Dominic Thiem was bundled out by little known Hugo Dellien.
Hours after Jabeur was dispatched, two-time grand slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza followed, losing in the first round for the second year in a row.
Muguruza won the title at Roland Garros in 2016 and was seeded 10th this year, but was beaten 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 by Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.
Kanepi turns 37 next month and is the oldest player in the women’s draw in Paris. She is ranked 46th and is participating in her 15th French Open. Her best showings were quarterfinal appearances in 2008 and 2012; she has appeared in seven Grand Slam quarterfinals but never won one.
The match ended under a drizzle and Muguruza missed a service return on match point, then cracked her racket against the ground.
She beat Serena Williams in the final at Roland Garros six years ago, then defeated Venus Williams in the final at Wimbledon in 2017.
Jabeur, who was seen as a potential champion in Paris despite never having got past the fourth round, lost to Poland’s 56th-ranked Magda Linette 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.
The 27-year-old sixth seed came into the event with a season-leading 17 wins on clay in 2022 and with the prestigious Madrid title under her belt.