Roland Garros 2026 Women’s Day 5

Published

5 months ago

May 28, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff made it through to the French Open third round on Thursday after the shock elimination of men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

Sabalenka survived 7-5, 6-2 against France’s Elsa Jacquemot, contrasting to the loss by her fellow world No. 1 on the men’s side.

Gauff extended the defence of her 2025 title here, putting out Mayar Sherif of Egypt 6-3, 6-2, with the winner equally balanced between 23 winners and the same in unforced errors.

Sabalenka had to scrap in the opening against Jacquemot, requiring three set points for the early lead.

But the second set opened up for the top seed Sabalenka. But the runner-up a year ago to Gauff was broken, 5-2, as she served for the match.

Sabalenka drove a backhand winner down the line a game later for two match points. One was enough to send the favourite through to a match against Daria Kasatkia.

The top seed advanced with more than 40 winners and broke her opponent four times.

“It was a tricky match, tricky opponent,” the winner said. “She forced me to step up and play another level.

“I’m happyI was able to handle it and get the win.”

Sabalenka said that in the tight moments she had to remind herself of her strengths,

“I had to remind myself that I’m strong and I can handle the situation. I tried to work as fast as possible with my legs and accelerate the racquet head, stay aggressive and put pressure on her.”

Formerly top-ranked Naomi Osaka shrugged off any effects of a minor car crash she was involved in this week to earn a 7-6 (1), 6-4 win over Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic.

The pair last played seven years ago with Osaka now leading the series 3-0.

The former world No. 1 from Japan explained her Paris traffic incident:

“I wasn’t scared for my life, but I was just, like, whoa, this bus is really backing up into us, and you could hear the car crunching.

“That was a really interesting situation. So I hope it doesn’t happen again today.

“It was like it just couldn’t see us. It literally was crunching the car, and it just kept going. I was a little bit worried that it would turn the car, but I think eventually it saw us, so…”

Osaka returned to the Paris third round for the first time in seven years and now plays Iva Jovic.

Oleksandra Oliynykova, who has made a point this week of speaking out forcefully against the Russian invasion of her native Ukraine, defeated Australian Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (5).

She becomes the fourth Ukrainian woman into the third round along with Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk and Yulia Starodubtseva.

Osaka returned to the Paris third round for the first time in seven years

Austrian Julia Grabher had to quit against sixth seed Amanda Anisimova due to breathing troubles.

Grabher lost the opening set in 25 minutes as she was plagued by coughing and won only six points.

She eventually retired after her opponent returned from a bathroom break after winning the set 6-0.

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Roland Garros 2026 Women’s Day 6

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Zverev scratches 7-year itch with return to Shanghai SF

Published

23 hours ago

October 15, 2026

Bill Scott

Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.

The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.

After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.

“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.

“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.

“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”

Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.

Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.

“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].

Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.

ATP

Zverev to take over as world No. 1

Published

4 days ago

October 12, 2026

Bill Scott

Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the back of two Grand Slam titles and a final this season.,

The ATP confirmed the changing of the guard as current No. 1 Jannik Sinner ended his season early last week due to a knee injury which has kept him off court since winning Wimbledon three months ago.

Zverev won Roland Garros and US Open trophies and lost to Sinner in the All England Club final.

His reign at the top will begin after the ATP Final in Turin with the ranking period starting on November 23.

Zverev will be 29 years, 217 days old on the date, three days older than Andre Agassi in 1999 (29 years, 214 days).

Main photo:- Alexander Zverev by ISF Ltd

China Open

Zheng claims China Open title over Andreeva

Published

5 days ago

October 11, 2026

Bill Scott

Zheng Qinwen continued an injury comeback season on Sunday, defeating Roland Garros winner Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 to win the China Open.

Victory at the 1000-level event was the first trophy for the 54th-raked Chinese player who once reached fourth in the world before elbow surgery.

Zheng saved three set points in the opening set and claimed victory by winning the last 11 points of the set, breaking late in the second to conclude her success over her teenaged opponent.

The winner now owns six career trophies after winning her first 1000; she last claimed a title in Tokyo two years ago.

In an odd twist, the new winner was cajoled into singing a few bars of karaoke during the trophy ceremony.

She will now move back into the ranking top 25 while Andreeva advances to third in the world behind Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka after defeating her third top 10 opponent this season.

“The feeling was incredible, two weeks here in Beijing, in front of my home crowd is one of my dreams, especially playing against Mirra, such a great player,” the winner said.

“I’ve been through a very, very tough year.”

Andreeva broke new ground in her own career by reaching the final, becoming the third-youngest this century to reach the top 3 behind Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters.

“She’s a great server. I also think today I missed a lot of returns trying to go for it, trying to be more aggressive,” Andreeva said,

“I wanted to go for it but couldn’t really find I guess the margin, couldn’t really find the rhythm, as well. I will probably need to look at this match and just see why, try to improve and learn from that.

“Overall of course it was a good tournament,” she added. “A lot of positives to take from these two weeks. Of course, I felt like today just wasn’t meant to be.

“I think I will be able to look to this match maybe from a different perspective and see maybe some good things.”

Main photo:- Zheng Quinwen by ISF Ltd