French Open #Smashtalk: How big a shock is Ostapenko exit?

Day one is done and dusted at Roland Garros and we have already lost a defending champion, while two of the title favourites made progress and a host of lucky losers joined the draw. The #SmashTalk team digests day one.

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Ostapenko out – but is it a shock?

Reigning champion Jelena Ostapenko loses 7-5 6-3 to unseeded Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine.

Vivienne Christie: You never want to see a defending champion lose in the first round, but this exit isn’t as shocking as it seems.

Ostapenko lost to Kateryna Kozlova in their two previous matches and her go-for-everything style is as likely to produce a sudden loss as it is a stunning win.

Entering Roland Garros at world No.5, the Latvian has built her ranking on more than her 2017 French Open breakthrough.

Ostapenko’s comments that she played “maybe 20 per cent of what she can play” points to a young woman – and let’s not forget Ostapenko is still just 20 years old – who will wisely recognise this result more as a blip than a trend.

Wimbledon, where she’s defending a quarterfinal run, may be more telling.

Surprise à #RG18 : Jelena Ostapenko s'incline contre Kateryna Kozlova ! Plus de highlights sur notre chaine Youtube : https://t.co/909yA99E9X ! pic.twitter.com/uvKVR85Gfn

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2018

Piers Newbery: I agree that it didn’t come as a huge surprise to see Ostapenko lose, and the fact that she came into the tournament as the fifth seed was a real testament to how she backed up last year’s miraculous win over the following 12 months.

Whether she can push on and become a serial Slam winner, and threaten the top of the rankings, is open to question.

Ostapenko is an all-or-nothing player, and that means the error count isn’t always going to go in her favour. In last year’s final she hit a remarkable 54 winners and 54 errors, whereas on Sunday she made 48 errors and just 22 winners. Playing that way means the pressure is always on to hit line after line.

Her coach David Taylor recently told Tennismash that the Latvian is a surprisingly “astute” player – the time may come when she has to dial down the go-for-broke attitude at key moments, but she has time on her side.

Leigh Rogers: A first-round exit is a disappointing result for Ostapenko, but she is definitely not ‘on the slide’.

To the 20-year-old’s credit she has been admirably consistent over the past 12 months, which is reflected in the fact that her ranking should only be just outside the top 10 post-Roland Garros.

I expect her to bounce back stronger from this experience and be a Wimbledon contender.

Will Svitolina and Zverev step up?

Analysis from the Game Insight Group makes Elina Svitolina the favourite and Alexander Zverev the second favourite.

Piers: Another Slam, another chance for a major breakthrough.

We’ve been here before, of course, but that might just work in both players’ favour. There is pressure from previous failures but also a sense that both Svitolina and Zverev now know what to expect, have won enough big titles away from the Slams and that contending for majors is just a matter of time.

Svitolina has changed her training routine and looked to be packing a little extra punch as she swatted Halep aside in Rome, something which might just give her the edge in Paris if she can make short work of the early rounds.

Zverev simply looks more mature, more at home with all that is required at a Slam and capable of serving his way through matches that might have become prolonged battles 12 months ago.

See you in the second round Sascha!

The No.2 seed makes quick work of Berankis, ousting the Lithuanian 6-1 6-1 6-2 in just 69 minutes. #RG18 pic.twitter.com/vvnmDUQbip

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2018

Leigh: Form suggests Svitolina can win Roland Garros. So do the stats. But I’m not convinced she’ll be able to handle the expectations this fortnight.

The early eliminations of Ostapenko and Venus in her section might prove to be a disadvantage too, as this only adds to already building pressure on her title chances.

Like Svitolina, Zverev has much to prove in Paris. However, some of his pressure is alleviated by Nadal’s red-hot favouritism and Thiem looming in his section.

Zverev is more likely to be focused on firstly reaching the second week, rather than eyeing the title just yet. A convincing first-round win was an important first step for the No.2 seed.

Vivienne: It’s been fascinating, in recent Slams, to see how the lead-in form that points to a major breakthrough can mean nothing when the pressure is on.

Svitolina and Zverev have of course been the two most obvious examples over recent years, so both would be pleased to have booked their place in round two.

That Svitolina’s required a recovery from a 1-5 first set deficit suggests an improved mentality at the Slams. So too does her first quarterfinal at the Australian Open, where injury was a factor in her loss.

I’m reluctant to read too much into all the pre-tournament analysis but at the same time, I can’t help thinking that this French Open could show how mentality is catching up to talent for these young stars.

Bad news for Kyrgios, good news for Tomic?

The much-anticipated first meeting between Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic is off after Kyrgios withdraws because of injury.

Leigh: Regardless of who Tomic drew or plays in the first round, qualifying for the tournament is an extremely positive result.

A few months ago he was lost, disinterested in the sport and seeking fulfilment in a reality television show.

To qualify without dropping a set, Tomic’s resurgence on his least preferred surface deserves credit. I hope Kyrgios’ injury withdrawal doesn’t overshadow this.

Bernard Tomic d. Gonçalo Oliveira 7-6(5), 7-5, into the main draw at Roland Garros, passing the qualifying without losing a single set. Playing very well and looking motivated. pic.twitter.com/40CGkhHp8Z

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 25, 2018

Vivienne: Well, it’s clearly not bad news for Bernie to probably face a world No.181 lucky loser in Marco Trungeletti rather than the No.21 seed in Nick Kyrgios.

That said, I’m not sure Tomic needed to be too nervous against his countryman.

After reaching a Challenger final and securing three straightforward wins in qualifying, Tomic arguably carried more positive momentum than Kyrgios on his return from an elbow injury.

The biggest let-down is for fans as their wait to see a first career meeting between the two enigmatic Aussies goes on.

Piers: There is no doubt that the withdrawal of Kyrgios came with added disappointment because of his first-round draw.

Two of the most talked and written about players in the game in recent years, a first meeting between the Aussies would have captured attention well beyond their home country.

As it is, Kyrgios has seemingly done the sensible thing with a shot at Wimbledon around the corner, especially as an in-form Tomic could have provided a lengthy test of his elbow.

For Tomic, the opportunity is there to make some real progress through the main draw, something few would have predicted even this time last week.

Strip away the injuries and the headlines that often surround him and Tomic remains a hugely talented player – when he can just spend some prolonged time on court.