Britain’s Jacob Fearnley was a month short of his fourth birthday when Stan Wawrinka made his French Open debut in 2005.
Fast forward 20 years and Fearnley will now make his Roland Garros bow against the 40-year-old former champion.
Despite the gulf in experience on clay, world number 55 Fearnley has the ability and youthful vigour to beat 2015 winner Wawrinka.
The Swiss veteran, who has dropped to 138th in the rankings, was given a wildcard to play in the second major of the season and has only won two matches in Paris since 2020.
“I think you have to give your opponents a certain amount of respect, especially when they’ve won a lot on such big stages and been successful for so long,” Fearnley said.
“But I think the challenge is maybe not giving them too much respect so that then you go into the match thinking you’re going to lose.
“Obviously Wawrinka has done incredible things, but I have to remember that I’m here to win and here to play a match.
“I will always go in with respect, but with confidence that I can win.”
Fearnley meets Wawrinka on court 14 at about 14:00 BST, with three other Britons also playing on the second day of action.
Emma Raducanu makes her first French Open appearance since 2022 when she plays China’s Wang Xinyu at 10:00 BST, with Jodie Burrage facing American former world number seven Danielle Collins straight after.
British women’s number one Katie Boulter aims for a maiden Roland Garros win against French qualifier Carole Monnet at about 15:00 BST.
