Did Jannik Sinner Make a Statement at the French Open?

Paris, May 31 (NationPress) World No. 1 Jannik Sinner made a resounding statement at the French Open, defeating Czech Jiri Lehecka with a score of 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in a swift 94 minutes, propelling him into the fourth round at Stade Roland-Garros on Saturday. The top seed has remained flawless in Paris, having yet to lose a set, and has extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 17 matches. Notably, top-seeded players in both the women’s and men’s draws, including Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen, also advanced to the last 16.

On the other hand, Jack Draper from Great Britain continued his impressive season, eliminating young Brazilian João Fonseca 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, marking his first appearance in the fourth round in Paris.

In the women's competition, despite her renowned resilience, Paula Badosa faced a disappointing exit in the third round, succumbing 6-1, 7-5 to the clever and determined Daria Kasatkina.

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen of China moved into the women’s singles Round of 16 at the French Open for the second time, as top seeds continued to perform brilliantly at Roland Garros. The eighth seed spent less than 90 minutes defeating 18-year-old Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko 6-3, 6-4 in their first encounter, making her second appearance in the last 16 at Roland Garros after her impressive run in 2022.

"I was born in China in a really hot place, called Wuhan. So I handled the hot weather quite well," Zheng shared in her post-match interview. "Last year, during the Olympic Games, it was hotter than this. So I actually enjoy this condition, but I want to express my gratitude to all the fans who endured the sun with me today."

Zheng also acknowledged her youthful opponent. "I want to congratulate my opponent because she played excellently, and I think we both pushed each other to deliver our best tennis. Some points were truly remarkable. It was not an easy match."

The top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus continued her strong performance with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Serbia's Olga Danilovic, advancing to the tournament's fourth round for the third consecutive year, reports Xinhua.

Four-time champion Iga Swiatek of Poland overcame a spirited challenge from Romania's Jaqueline Cristian in straight sets, extending her tournament winning streak to 24 matches.

"I'm just happy that I was very solid in the last game and didn’t give away any free points," Swiatek remarked. "It was a thrilling match, and I believe both of us played well. I'm delighted to have progressed and satisfied with my performance."

Last year's finalist Jasmine Paolini of Italy triumphed 6-4, 6-1 over Ukrainian lucky loser Yuliia Starodubtseva, marking her ninth consecutive win on clay.

"The initial games were challenging," Paolini noted. "I had to adapt to the conditions, but afterward, I felt more comfortable on court. I'm thrilled to reach the fourth round here at Roland Garros."

On the men's side, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain faced a tough match against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, ultimately sealing a 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory. The Spaniard is through to the second week in Paris and will contend with American Ben Shelton for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, 10th seed Holger Rune staged a comeback to defeat local favorite Quentin Halys 4-6, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2. The Dane has now reached the Round of 16 at Roland Garros for the fourth consecutive year, setting up a clash with eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti in the next round.