French Open gets under way with Coldplay song on strings, heat on clay

The French Open started on Sunday under a blazing sun as panama-hatted fans streamed into Roland Garros, which felt more ‌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), play began at ⁠0900 GMT (1100 local time, 3pm Bangladesh time).

Russian Karen Khachanov, seeded 13, was taking on French hope Arthur Gea on Court Suzanne Lenglen an hour before 11th-seeded Swiss Belinda Bencic opens proceedings on Court Philippe Chatrier against 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 eight seed Mirra ⁠Andreeva will be the highest seeded woman in action when she takes on French wildcard Fiona Ferro.