Brilliant Bianca Andreescu marks tennis return with Sorribes Tormo win as Elina Svitolina battles back to defeat Karolina Pliskova

In her first match since August 2023, it is a triumphant return to the sport for Bianca Andreescu as she saw off Sara Sorribes Tormo in the first round of the 2024 French Open and will now face her good friend, Anna Kalinskaya in the second round.

Andreescu, the former US Open champion is a popular figure on the WTA Tour but as was set to be the case on her return to the sport, it is one that was done without the spotlight this time. She last played in Washington last August against Marta Kostyuk, but injury hell soon followed.

A stress fracture in her back played havoc and she had to discern multiple attempts to return including at the Australian Open before she finally set her stall out for Roland Garros. She was set to play Rabat last week but had fans fearing when she withdrew.

But in a tough contest on paper, she only had issue in the opening set which lasted an hour and was edged 7-5 as she made a tentative return. The second set though was completed in almost half the time as she sealed it 6-1 in 35 minutes. Against a player ranked inside the world's top 50 and after nearly a year away, it isn't a bad return from the 23-year-old.

Speaking of Kalinskaya, she sealed the win earlier this evening against Clara Burel. A tricky tie especially given that the Russian hasn't been in great form since she reached the final of Dubai. Injuries have returned and given the nature of the tour, she hasn't really had time to regain form. But she got a confidence booster albeit a gruelling one as she won 7-6, 7-5.

On a day though where she courted headlines after her relationship with Jannik Sinner was confirmed, he was sighted in her box with his hood up. But was that the luck she needed. She could face a really familiar foe in Jasmine Paolini again if she beats Andreescu. When the Canadian posted a video of herself at the Monaco Grand Prix, Kalinskaya responded saying she couldn't wait to see her again. But they will meet on court straight away later this week.

Elina Svitolina perhaps hasn't had the best year since her comeback of the year run including a Quarter-Final at Roland Garros in 2023. But it is almost similar to second album syndrome and backing up a stellar 2023.

She is defending Quarter-Final points though so this tournament is very much pivotal and had a tough opener to navigate against former World No.1, Karolina Pliskova. But she showed true fight and bottle in order to seal it 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Coming from a set down, never count out Svitolina as she moves through to the second round. Step one done for Svitolina, she will now return to Roland Garros tonight. Albeit to watch her husband, Gael Monfils take centre stage against Thiago Seyboth Wild.

She quipped jokingly to Alex Corretja that she needs to hurry up tapping her wrist. He begins at around 20:15 local time. So certainly she will. Her compatriot, Anhelina Kalinina didn't fare as well with a retirement as she decided to call it a day in the final set 4-1 down to Camila Osorio. A tie that holds weight with the winner now facing Ons Jabeur. They sit in the section also housing Leylah Fernandez. So very much mixed results for the Ukrainians.