Ram/Salisbury Make Winning Start At Roland Garros

Fresh off their first title of the season in Lyon, Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury overcame a slow start Wednesday in their opening-round match at Roland Garros.

The second seeds defeated Hugo Dellien and Guido Pella 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 after winning 29 of 40 first-serve points. Ram and Salisbury are aiming for their fourth major team title this fortnight. In 2022, the American-British duo triumphed in Monte-Carlo, Cincinnati, at the US Open, and at the Nitto ATP Finals. They will next play Lloyd Harris and Raven Klaasen or Roberto Carballes Baena and Jaume Munar.

It was a historic day for Marcelo Melo, who earned his 600th tour-level victory when he partnered John Peers past William Blumberg and Miomir Kecmanovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. The Brazilian Melo is the ATP Tour’s active doubles wins leader.

Fourth seeds and last year’s Roland Garros finalists Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek also advanced after they escaped Sebastian Baez and Guillermo Duran 7-6(3), 3-6, 7-6(10-4). The Argentine Baez was returning to court after a three-hour, 47-minute singles marathon Wednesday night, when home favourite Gael Monfils defeated the 22-year-old in a five-setter that went until 12:18 a.m.