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French Open 2025 Women’s Day 2

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Iga Swiatek shook off the emotion from Rafael Nadal’s retirement ceremony 24 hours earlier to post a 6-3, 6-3 win to open her account at the French Open on Monday.

The four-time Paris champion turned in a solid start as defending champion as she dismissed Slovak Rebecca Sramkova.

Swiatek, seeded fifth after a patchy clay run-up season, was in the stands for the Roland Garros goodbye to 14-time men’s winner Nadal on Sunday.

The Pole admitted she shed some tears during the more emotional moments at the Chatrier showcourt ceremony.

“I wouldn’t call it a serious crying, but for sure there were tears… I think twice during the ceremony,” she said.

“But I really tried to hold it together so I don’t look that bad. It was an amazing ceremony, and I’m happy that Roland Garros did this for Rafa. 

“I’m happy that also the whole tennis world had the opportunity to come together and just thank him. We all should be grateful for everything that he has done.

“He’s a GOAT so I’m happy that I was there.”

The five-time titleholder at the majors polished her first-round record at Grand Slams to 24-1 with her opening victory.

She has won her last 22 matches here and is seeking to become the first woman to win four successive Roland Garros titles in the Open Era. She comes to Paris without a run-up clay title for the first time in five years.

Swiatek set up a high-profile second rounder against 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu after the weakened Brit battled past Wang Xinyu 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

Swiatek has beaten Raducanu in all four of their WTA matches as well as in Wimbledon juniors. The pair last met in January’s Australian Open third round.

“Melbourne and Roland Garros, (are) like, totally different surfaces, different stories. I’ll prepare tactically as I should before a clay court match, and that’s it,” Swiatek said.

Raducanu needed a medical timeout in her victory over her Chinese opponent after suffering recent back spasms. She also had her blood pressure taken during the first-set MTO,

The Briton led 4-2 in the first set but only edged it out 7-5 before dropping the second. She gained a double break in the deciding set and advanced on a third match point into the Swiatek clash.

Roland Garros 2025 26/05/2025 Day 2 Emma Raducanu (GBR) wins first round match Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos

The gruelling win in two and three-quarter hours was the longest-ever clay match for the London-based player.

“I’m actually really proud of today’s match because I woke up and I felt really sick, to be honest. I felt bad from the morning,” she said.

“I was just trying and fighting through that, it was really difficult. I felt it 
straightaway in the first set and it didn’t really go away.

“To have come through that and overcome how I was feeling, I’m really happy. It would have been easy to let it drag me down.”

The Briton said that she is keen to face Swiatek again.

“This is her preferred surface, she’s won it four times. This is a match where I can really test myself and go for my shots.

“If I just push the ball, I’m probably going to get eaten. I need to hit the ball. I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

Two-time quarter-finalist Elena Rybakina started her campaign with a struggle, overcoming Argentina’s 202nd-ranked qualifier Julia Riera 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 after an hour and three-quarters.  

The 11th-seeded Kazakh who won Wimbledon three years ago, came to Paris after a title 48 hours ago in Strasbourg; Monday’s Paris victory was her 24th of the season.

“Winning Strasbourg definitely gives some confidence,” she said. “I was looking to play some more matches in a row. 

“I’m happy that it happened right before the French Open. (it was) most important that I felt physically well after all these matches. It was good preparation (for) here.”

Strasbourg semi-finalist Danielle Collins beat Brit Jodie Burrage 7-6 91), 6-4 while one-time WTA No. 2 Paula Badosa defeated former No. 1 Naomi Osaka with a 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4 comeback.

Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro showed no mercy to Emma Navarro, crushing the ninth seed with the loss of just one game in 55 minutes.

Benarda Pera accounted for Caroline Garcia, the Frenchwoman who said she had played for much of her career with back pain. The American advanced 6-4, 6-4.

Aljla Tomljanovic won an all-Aussie match-up as she stopped Maya Joint 6-1, 6-3. 

ATP

Sinner stages fightback to win second Wimbledon

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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 Championships Wimbledon 2026 Day Gentlemen’s singles final Jannik Sinner kisses the Winners Trophy after he wins in four sets by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

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 Championships Wimbledon 2026 Gentlemen’s singles winner Jannik Sinner (ITA) with Winners Trophy shows off the trophy from the members balcony after four set -Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

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

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Zverev brings the curtain down on Fery-tale run

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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

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Player media “strike” suspended after Wimbledon peace talks

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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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