Roger Federer returns to play at French Open after 4-year absence

FILE – Switzerland’s Roger Federer serves in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Colombia’s Alejandro Falla at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 24, 2015. Federer won in three sets 6-3, 6-3. 6-4. (AP Photo/David Vincent)

PARIS — Roger Federer is in action on the opening day of the French Open.

Returning to play at Roland Garros for the first time since 2015, Federer opens against 73rd-ranked Lorenzo Sonego in the third match on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Also Sunday, 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza faces 96th-ranked American Taylor Townsend in the first match at the tournament’s newest stadium, Court Simonne Mathieu.

Sixth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Federer at the Australian Open, plays Maximilian Marterer.

Others in action include: seventh-seeded Kei Nishikori; last year’s semifinalist Marc Cecchinato; last week’s Italian Open champion Karolina Pliskova, Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens.

The French Open is the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments to begin on a Sunday.