Arantxa Rus defeated Angelique Kerber 6–4, 6–3 in the first round of Roland Garros on clay on 28 May 2024, an upset victory over the pre-match favourite. Kerber, seeded or ranked higher according to the odds, entered as the stronger favourite at 1.63, but Rus capitalised on the clay-court conditions to secure a decisive two-set victory. The Dutch player's composed performance across both sets suggests she handled the Roland Garros surface effectively against an opponent with considerable Grand Slam experience. Rus's first-round win positions her to face a second-round opponent and maintains her momentum in a major tournament where clay has historically suited her game.