Roland Garros French Open gets underway

Five things we learned from day one at Roland Garros.

Reuters/Francois Lenoir

Home crowds can elevate their own.

• Fifth seed Jo Wilfried Tsonga started so sluggishly against the unseeded Russian Andrey Kuznetsov that he lost the first set 6-1. The crowd did a few Mexican waves and an hour or so later, it was au revoir Andrey.

• It was also adieu Andy on court Suzanne Lenglen. Sunshine and partisan support boosted Nicolas Mahut to such an extent that the Frenchman dispatched the American 26th seed Andy Roddick in four sets.

• Another American former world number one is showing signs of decline. Venus Williams scraped past the unheralded Paula Ormaechea from Argentina in three sets. The older Williams sister won't be taking the cup home.
   
• Organisers should be wary of stunt lust. They had a fly past by La Patrouille de France just before the first game and have unleashed hawks to scare away the pigeons who have the impertinence to be flying around the site.
   
• That the mysteries of the universe are manifold. Complaints run freely about not being able to get hold of tickets. But sure enough on centre court there was a large expanse of empty seats - even when France's best player was on court.