Defending champion Iga Swiatek continued her quest to become the first woman to successfully defend her French Open title in 16 years when she reached the third round with a dominant victory over Claire Liu.
The world number one, who recently celebrated her 22nd birthday, will now face China’s Wang Zhenyu for a place in the second week. Swiatek’s top ranking is at stake, and he must win the tournament to keep it. The last woman to achieve back-to-back victories at Roland Garros was Justine Heenen in 2007.
Fourth seed Casper Rudd is in the third round at Swietek, aiming to make it back-to-back finals after losing to Rafael Nadal last year. Ruud showed solid form in his victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, acknowledging the rigors of the match. He now faces Chinese player Zhang Zizhen, the first Chinese player to reach the third round since 1937.
In the women’s draw, Elena Rybakina and Russian qualifier Mira Andreeva impressed with their victories. Rybakina showed her potential as a top contender for a Grand Slam title by defeating Czech teenager Linda Noskova. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Andreeva continued her dream run with a stunning win over Frenchwoman Diane Perry, becoming the youngest player to reach the third round at Roland Garros since 2005. She will face last year’s runner-up American Coco Goff. .
Kayla Day, an American with Czech roots, had a memorable win over compatriot Madison Keys, crediting her Czech heritage as a major factor in her tennis skills. However, Italian player Janek Sinner suffered a heartbreaking loss to Germany’s Daniel Altmaier, who squandered two match points in the five-hour battle.
German contender Alexander Zverev comfortably advanced to the third round with a straight-sets victory over Alex Molkin. Croatia’s 15th seed Borna Coric overcame Pedro Kitchin in a tight five-set contest. Unfortunately, Australia’s 18th seed Alex De Manor was defeated by Tomas Martin Echeverri.
In the women’s competition, Tunisia’s Ounes Jabeur triumphed over Ocean Dodin, ensuring no French player could make it to the third round for the third time in five years. Finally, Arthur Rinderkinch’s loss to American Taylor Fritz eliminated the Frenchmen from the singles draw.
As the French Open progresses, the stage is set for fierce battles and unexpected surprises. With established champions and rising stars showcasing their skills, tennis enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the thrilling matches ahead.
