French Open begins this afternoon

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In Tennis, the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the season and the only major played on clay, begins in Paris this afternoon.

Star players taking part in the tournament include top seeds Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka, defending champions Rafael Nadal and Simona Halep, Roger Federer, Karolina Pliskova, Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Serena Williams and her sister Venus.

World number three Federer, who is making a return to Roland Garros for the first time in four years, is among those who will play their first round matches today. He will take on Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.

Prajnesh Gunneswaran will be playing in his first Grand Slam and is the only Indian in the Singles. Gunneswaran, who qualified by the merit of his world rank of 86, will face Marco Dellien of Bolivia today.

Karolina Pliskova and Venus Williams will also be seen in action.

Indians figuring in the Doubles are, Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna, Divij Sharan and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, but they will be playing with separate partners.