The French Open
French Open 2025 Women’s Day 1
Aryna Sabalenka got away to a winning start at Roland Garros on Sunday’s opening day with a 6-1, 6-0 demolition of Kamilla Rakhimova to glide easily into the second round.
The win was the second here for Sabalenka against Rakhimova, whom she also defeated in the third round two years ago.
The top seed who has not passed the semi-finals in Paris, never let her opponent into the brief match which lasted 60 minutes.
The last time she lost just one game in a match, the 27-year-old won the 2024 Australian Open.
Sabalenka swept up the opening set in 30 minutes and was all but unchallenged on her way to victory with 30 winners and 17 unforced errors.
“It was amazing playing out there. I can’t wait to play another match on this beautiful stadium,” she said.
With Roland Garros the last of the Grand Slams still holding onto human linecalling, Sabalenka admits that her opinion of the decision is mixed.
“I guess (it is) old school, having the referees (linespeople) and calling the referee to check the mark.
“I think that’s something which brings like in old days, which is cool, probably. I don’t know. Honest.
“I had a situation with the referee in Stuttgart, and also there was tricky calls with the Hawk-Eye system in Rome.
“So I’m really confused (about) what I prefer, to be honest.”
With her 2024 tournament here ending in the quarter-finals while carrying a stomach illness, Sabalenka is keen for improvement.
“I’m just trying to live my life, work hard on court, and go out there every time and fight for every point…I really hope for a better result than last year.”
There was a similar lop-sided outcome for Elina Svitolina as the popular Ukrainian 13th seed crushed Turk Zeynep Sonmez 6-1, 6-1, taking 72 minutes to advance.
“I definitely had good tournaments leading up to Roland Garros,” the winner said. “Winning 250 in Rouen was a good tournament for me, then playing well in Madrid, Rome as well..
“I was finding my game in different conditions. That’s what brought me a lot of confidence. I’m trying to work on a few things and just try to bring my best game for the next round.”
Compatriot Dayana Yastremska put another Ukrainian into the second round,defeating Australian wild card Destanee Aiava 7-5, 6-1.
Eighth seed Zheng Qinwen returned to the Paris scene of her 2024 Olympic gold medal, scoring a move into the second round 6-4, 6-3 over veteran Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the 2021 finalist.
Due to early afternoon rain, the match was played under the closed roof of the Chatrier showcourt, which made little difference to the Chinese player.
“Actually, it was still a tennis court,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you play with roof or without roof.
“It’s the same conditions for me and my opponent. The court and the balls today were slower than outside.”
2020 semi-finalist Petra Kvitova went out in the Paris first round for the second time in as many appearances, losing 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 to Swiss Viktorija Golubic.
Kvitova, a double Australian Open champion, did not play last year during a pregnancy break but lost in the first round in 2023; she went down with 26 unforced errors.
The 32-year-old Golubic left it late this spring to finally score a win on clay after losing in her only WTA-level match on the dirt in Rome this month after qualifying.
The Swiss lived up to her French Open giant-killer reputation, beating Kvitova a year after eliminating 2021 tournament winner Barbora Krejcikova in a similar first-round upset a year ago.
Jill Teichman produced a second Swiss win, defeating Italian qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini 6-4, 6-4.
In other results, rising Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko put her qualifier status to best use, earning her first win in a main draw at a major – and 39th of the season – with a 6-1, 7-6 (4) defeat of New Zealand’s Lulu Sun.
ATP
Sinner stages fightback to win second Wimbledon
Jannik Sinner rallied after dropping a 65-minute opening set, with the Italian lifting his second straight Wimbledon title 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday over Alexander Zverev.
The result between the pair of elites will keep Sinner on world No. 1 while Zverev nudges injured Carlos Alcaraz aside to take the second ranking position as a result of his performance here.
Sinner collected a fifth trophy at a major after fading in the heat six weeks ago to exit the French Open second round but working with his team and taking medical advice to get back on top of the fitness situation.
Sinner’s recovery in his first-round match from two sets to one down took him all the way to the title a fortnight later.
Sinner crushed a forehand to the empty court on match point to clinch victory in three and three-quarter hours.
“It’s been an amazing final one again. Sasha and I gae it all we had,” Sinner said. “I’m happy about the win and the level that we both played.
“thanks to this crowd – there is no better place to play tennis.”

The match began as a slow-moving affair, with each of the first two sets taking an hour as the pair tested each other throughout. Zverev came to Centre Court one month off his breakthrough Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.
Italy’s Sinner won his first Wimbledon trophy a year ago over Alcaraz, who has been off court since April with a wrist injury and has no return date as of yet.
The victory was his 44th of the season against a mere three defeats and his fifth title of 2026.
Zverev accepted defeat and joked during the trophy ceremony: “Jannik, I’m not sure I like you any more. You’ve beaten me 10 times in a row
“But congratulations, Jannik showed why he’s the best player in the world. It was great to share Centre Court with you.
“Unfortunately it did not go my way, but me and my team have had a pretty good two months even if I lost this final.
“I came here never reaching the quarter-finals. At age 29 I actually feel that I can win this trophy.”

The German, who went through a serious knee injury drama several seasons ago, suffered a scare in the third set as he slipped while chasing a Sinner dropshot.
“The 29-year-old sat on the grass favouring his right knee as Sinner came around the net to help him to his feet. Zverev played on after the incident without any medical intervention.
Zverev drew first blood by winning the opening set to end a 14-set losing streak against Sinner.
But the Italian top seed slowly turned the momentum as his game kicked in.
After winning the second and third sets, Sinner moved towards domination of his German opponent in the fourth set
The holder came from 0-30 down to square at two games apiece and broke on his third opportunity of the seventh game to take 4-3 command, backing that up with a love game, 5-3.
Sinner claimed the trophy three games later, firing 15 aces among more than 50 winners.
Main photo:- Jannik Sinner falls to the ground to celebrate as he wins Men’s Singles – by Roger Parker/ISF LTD
ATP
Zverev brings the curtain down on Fery-tale run
Alexander Zverev dominated from the start to end the unexpected victory run of Arthur Fery at Wimbledon, with the British wild card going down 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4 in the Friday semi-final.
The 23-year-old Paris-born Brit dubbed “Cross-Channel Fery” by tabloid media, lost his bid to become the first local to reach the Wimbledon final since Andy Murray and only the fourth Briton overall to get that far here.
With his dominating victory in two and a quarter hours, German’s Zverev became the 13th man to reach the final at all four Grand Slams; he won his only title at a major a month ago at Roland Garros over Flavio Cobolli.
Zverev will be playing in his fifth Grand Slam final.
The mis-match ended on the second seed’s first match point, which he earned with a winning stab volley at the net.
The German took victory a point later as Wimbledon local Fery’s return landed long over the baseline.
Zverev will now face the winner from top seeded holder Jannik Sinner and seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic for the title.
“It’s amazing, this is the Grand Slam where I’ve struggled the most and all of a sudden I’m in the final,” the 29-year-old winner said.
“I’m incredibly happy and proud. But we have one more match to go and that’s what the focus is on.”
Zverev paid credit to Fery, calling his run to semi-final glory “amazing.”
“Credit to Arthur, he’s just beginning his career and I’m sure he will do great things on the court.”
Zverev said he does not care whom he plays in the Sunday final. “No matter who it is, it won’t be easy. I have to trust myself and believe that I can win. That’s what I’m gonna do.”
Zverev has won his last nine matches against British opponents dating to 2023.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev celebrates straight sets win – by Roger Parker/ISF Ltd
ATP
Player media “strike” suspended after Wimbledon peace talks
Peace talks behind tightly closed doors at Wimbledon have resulted in a suspension of a top player media strike during the Championships.
A consulting firm representing players who are seeking a rise in prize money to at least 20 percent of tournament takings at the four Grand Slams, broke the news on Monday as opening day play got underway.
It cited “constructive meetings” with Wimbledon bosses over the weekend.
Leading players including world No. 1’s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka limited their time during pre-event media to just 15 minutes – the same protest they staged five weeks ago at Roland Garros.
Wimbledon increased prize money by 20 percent for this edition, but the total is still less than what players are seeking.
Wimbledon officials were quick to spin the truce as a win-win.
“I think it’s great news that we and they can now just concentrate on the championships and on the tennis,” All England Club boss Sally Bolton said.
“We’ve had some really fruitful conversations over the weekend. They’ve been really positive.”
While the pause will last over the Wimbledon fortnight, the prize money issue still remains, with the player side saying “the underlying matters remain unresolved.”
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