We’ll soon be away on Chatrier; Lucia Bronzetti and Naomi Osaka are due in two minutes.

Huge first serves do the trick for Sonego, the game secured to 15 and with it the set, 6-4. He beat Humbert in three sets in last year’s round two, and he’s looking good again.

Sonego is out-thinking Humbert at the moment, every hold a mission for the local boy. But he ekes out another – on which point eek not eke is one of my favourite American spellings – so the Italian will now serve for set one at 5-4. Elsewhere, Bouzkova has taken the first off Kudermetova, finishing it off with a second break for 6-2.

Bouzkova leads Kudermetova 4-2, as Tomljanovic does to Yastremska; Rublev, meanwhile, has set point as Daniel serves then nets, and leads 6-2.

Sonego and Rublev both consolidate, so let’s have a think about the latter, who is so likeable and good, but not quite good enough to find a way when he really needs to – and doesn’t he know it. While losing to Francis Tiafoe – a player he’d expect to beat – in the quarters in New York, he broke down, and in the ATP Final whacked himself with his racket so hard he drew blood. He wants it so badly, but unlike other players less good than he, he doesn’t have a weapon so big it sometimes works against the best, nor a game that when it clicks can be unbeatable. I’d love for him to find a way, but I can’t see it.

Humbert nets a backhand and Sonego breaks for 3-2 in the first; Rublev does likewise to Daniel for 4-3.

Humbert is a hard-courter really, but lanky lefties are nasty on any surface and the clay is bouncing pretty high early doors. Sonego, though, is creative and brave – exactly what you don’t want in round one – and i’d not be surprised if this one goes long. So far, they’ve taken 13 minutes over three games, Humber leading 2-1.

We’re on serve in our two main matches, Hunbert leading Sonego – who’s just flipped low around the net for a cheeky winner – 1-0, while Rublev is 2-1 up on Daniel.

Also today, we’ve got Nicolas Jarry – keep an eye on him, he’s a threat – playing Corentin Moutet, a local boy with flair for weeks; second on 12, Jack Draper meets Jesper De Jong, a Dutch qualifier; and Richard Gasquet meets Borna Coric.

To begin with, I’m watching Andrey Rublev (6) v Taro Daniel – that’s a tricky start for the seed, who begins yet another quest to beat a higher-ranked player in a Slam. Otherwise, I’m on Ugo Humbert (17) v Lorenzo Sonego – that too should be fun – and Marie Bouzková v Veronika Kudermetova (29).

Preamble