Paris: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner delivered a brutal statement of intent at the French Open, dispatching Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in just 94 minutes to storm into the fourth round at Stade Roland-Garros on Saturday. The top seed remained flawless in Paris, having yet to drop a set, and extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 17 matches.
Under grey skies on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Sinner was clinical from the start, showcasing his signature blend of precise baseline control, early ball-striking, and ruthless returning.
The Italian dropped just nine points on serve all match, according to Infosys Stats, and punished Lehecka’s inconsistent deliveries with return winners that left the Czech with no answers.
“I was playing really, really well,” Sinner said after the match. “Especially for two and a half sets. Then he served well and tried to come in with some brave points, serve and volley. But I’m happy with my performance.”
Sinner dedicated the win to his coach, Simone Vagnozzi, who celebrated his birthday on Friday. “Usually, when it’s his birthday, I don’t play well. So this win is for him,” Sinner smiled.
The numbers underlined Sinner’s dominance: 30 winners to just nine unforced errors, and a continuation of his staggering run of 64 consecutive wins against players ranked outside the Top 20. It was a masterclass in discipline, power, and consistency—qualities that have underpinned Sinner’s meteoric rise over the past 18 months.
The victory also lifted Sinner to 15-1 for the 2025 season and marked his 14th fourth-round appearance in his last 15 Grand Slam outings. With a 19-5 record at Roland Garros, including a semifinal finish last year where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set classic, Sinner is once again staking his claim as a serious title contender on the Parisian clay.
Awaiting him in the Round of 16 is 17th seed Andrey Rublev, who progressed via a walkover after Frenchman Arthur Fils withdrew due to injury. Sinner leads their ATP head-to-head 6-3 and will enter the matchup with momentum and confidence.
Thirdeed Alexander Zverev beat Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 to reach the fourth round.
Jack Draper's French Open campaign continued in style on Saturday as the Briton ended Brazilian poster boy Joao Fonseca's run with a ruthless 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory to reach the fourth round.
The British fifth seed, who made it to the semi-finals at last year's US Open, was facing a potentially tricky test against the flashy Fonseca, who at 18 already has his army of fans and whose brilliant play has caught the eye at Roland Garros.
Holding a 25-6 record in the season, Draper will continue the quest for his first major against Alexander Bublik, who beat Portuguese qualifier Henrique Rocha 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.
In another third round match, Tallon Griekspoor beat Ethan Quinn 4-6, 6-1, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4.
Third seed Jessica Pegula took a longer route with a battling victory over 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova in the third round.
Vondrousova is also no stranger to injuries, her latest being a shoulder problem after her Wimbledon title defence ended in the first round last year, and the Czech looked to be finding her best form again on Parisian clay.
She won the opening set of her match on Court Philippe Chatrier but American Pegula proved too good when it mattered to close out a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win and will face Lois Boisson who beat Elsa Jacquemot 6-3, 0-6, 7-5.
Second seed Coco Gauff beat Marie Bouzkova 6-1, 7-6 while 7th seed Madison Keys beat Sofia Kenin 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the fourth round.
Mirra Andreeva had her lucky charm on her bench for her third-round clash against Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva, but left her opponent no chance in a 6-3, 6-1 victory. The sixth seed, who won the Indian Wells and Dubai top-tier tournaments this year, set up a meeting with Australia's Daria Kasatkina.
Despite her trademark resilience and emotional firepower, Paula Badosa’s Roland Garros 2025 campaign came to a heartbreaking end in the third round, as she fell 6-1, 7-5 to a tactically astute and unflinching Daria Kasatkina.
The one-hour-and-34-minute contest on Court Simonne-Mathieu was a test of physical limits, mental resolve, and strategic depth, and Kasatkina emerged as the player with just enough clarity in all three departments.
The first set ended in just over half an hour, with Badosa committing 17 unforced errors — a testament to both her compromised physical state and Kasatkina’s unrelenting game plan.
The second set, however, witnessed a flicker of the fighting spirit that has long defined Badosa’s career. With little left to protect and everything to fight for, the Spaniard unleashed her forehand with more authority and began stepping inside the baseline.
The turning point seemed near when she finally converted her seventh break point in a mammoth eighth game that lasted over 10 minutes. Her primal roar after that game wasn’t just a celebration — it was defiance, a raw reminder of the grit buried under the fatigue.
But Kasatkina, ranked World No. 17, didn’t blink. A brief rain delay added another layer of suspense, but the Russian returned just as composed, her counter-punching and court coverage stifling every Badosa attempt to swing the momentum further.
Serving to stay in the match at 5-6, Badosa faltered. A mistimed drop shot, a double fault, and a second serve that sat up for Kasatkina sealed her fate.
Moreover, Hailey Baptiste beat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 7-6, 6-1 while Ekaterina Alexandrova beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 6-2 to reach the fourth round.
Carlos Alcaraz survived a late challenge on Friday at Roland Garros to keep his title defense alive. After a commanding start, the Spaniard had to reset his game to overcome Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Friday.
The 22-year-old found himself down a break early in the fourth set but regrouped to finish the match after a rollercoaster three hours and 14 minutes. Although Alcaraz was broken while serving for the match at 5-4, he immediately responded with a break of his own to seal the win and move into the fourth round. Agencies.
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