At 22, Adolfo Daniel Vallejo arrives in the Roland Garros main draw for the first time, a rapid ascent from not even being in qualifying a year ago to direct entry this season. Widely known as “Dani,” the Asunción native has compiled most of his recent success on clay, winning four of his five ATP Challenger Tour titles since last October.

He opens the tournament against No. 20 seed Cameron Norrie on Tuesday, a tough first assignment after a strong run of results that included reaching the third round in Madrid as a qualifier in April, where he defeated Grigor Dimitrov and Learner Tien.

VALLEJO: I’m very excited. I have a first round that’s tough and it’s gonna be a battle. I’m well prepared. I had a good last week, where I made the final in the Valenica Challenger. So I’m with a lot of confidence, getting good sessions with practice. I’m ready.

Vallejo said consistent match play has been the key to his climb, a point he reiterated in conversation about his game and mindset.

VALLEJO: I’m competing really well, all the matches. That’s the most important, always, to compete every match. I think I’m doing my best in that. I’m really solid from the baseline right now. Winning a lot matches gives you confidence. I’m happy with that.

On-court preparation has included hitting with Juan Manuel and his brother Francisco, and an upcoming practice with Sinner.

VALLEJO: I practice with Juan Manuel and then his brother Francisco. On Sunday, I play with Sinner. I’m so excited. I’m just enjoying all the days.

He also recalled a previous session with that top player in Madrid.

VALLEJO: I worked him out in Madrid. And he won, so hopefully he gives me the good luck.

Vallejo is conscious of the history Paraguay has at this event and the expectations that come with representing his country.

VALLEJO: Yes, Paraguay has a good history in Roland Garros. Victor Pecci made the final and semifinals. Ramon Delgado beat Pete Sampras. Hopefully I can do something similar within the years.

He summed up how he views himself and his roots.

VALLEJO: I’m very South American! I think that’s the best thing to know about me. Paraguay is what you think about with South Americans. Very linked to the family, the food, similar to Spain here in Europe.

Gael Monfils closed his Roland Garros career in a match that fit the pattern of his long relationship with the tournament: dramatic, physical and played out over five sets. The left-hander stretched a battle of wild cards to the limit before falling to Hugo Gaston, 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0.

From his second appearance 20 years ago, when he won a trio of five-setters, to late Monday on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the man they called “La Monf” reached a deciding set at his home major 17 times, compiling a 12-5 record in those matches. His final performance included a determined comeback attempt that ultimately fell short.

“Honestly, I’d say it was not a regular match, so I step on the court feeling completely different,” Monfils said in the English portion of his post-match press conference. “Hugo was playing great. So I had to retake control of my mind, of my body, try to reconnect with myself, and then I think I start to hit a little bit better, strike better, be a bit more patient, have a better vision also of what I wanted to do, and push him a little bit through a tougher match.”

Monfils had announced last October that 2026 would serve as his farewell season, but he said the emotions of playing a final match on the Chatrier stage were hard to prepare for. “You go out on the court, the feeling is different, you feel good but you don’t feel good both at the same time,” he told French-speaking press.

Afterward he acknowledged friends, family and supporters and received a sendoff from fellow Musketeers Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet. “My wish is to be an athlete that plays until 40 years old,” stated Monfils, who reaches his milestone birthday on Sept. 1. He and his team have not finalized a retirement schedule, though Wimbledon, Montreal and the US Open were mentioned as tournaments where he might seek wild cards.

Casper Ruud survived a punishing physical test in his Roland Garros opening match, battling dizziness and a rising body temperature to edge Roman Safiullin in five sets. The two-time finalist reached match point only to see the momentum shift as cramps and breathlessness took hold.

“It started kind of sneaking up on me towards the middle of the third set,” he said. “I think when I broke him to 3-1, I started feeling a tiny bit of tendency of cramp in my calves, and I was thinking, ‘Oh, shoot, here we go.’” Up two sets and 5-2, Ruud then dropped 11 straight games and was barely moving.

“Physically, I’m proud because I never really gave in. I didn’t give up.”

At 5-3, 40-15 on Safiullin’s serve, Ruud thought the match was all but done. A sequence of five first serves in a row followed by five strong points from Safiullin left Ruud missing a forehand winner at a crucial break point. Later in the fourth set Safiullin took a medical timeout for treatment to his lower abdomen, a stoppage that, together with the break before the fifth set, gave Ruud time to recover enough to fight back.

Ruud ultimately prevailed 6-2, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 0-6, 6-2, holding on to claim a hard-earned victory. The 28-year-old Oslo native, seeded 15th, noted he drew encouragement from earlier matches this season at Australia: “I also thought of Jannik and Carlos this year at Australia when Jannik, in particular, was struggling in the heat. Then it cooled off with the roof closing, and he was able to regain energy,” recalled Ruud. “A little bit the same with Carlos’ semifinal with Sascha. He looked pretty dead for a while and then lost third and fourth, and then somehow regained and came back in the fifth.”

Recovery will be vital as temperatures are expected to stay above 90 throughout the first week. In the second round the 15th seed meets Hamad Medjedovic.