Alexander Zverev maintained his near-perfect first-round success rate at Roland Garros as the second seed produced a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Benjamin Bonzi to advance on Sunday’s opening day.

The German who played the final here in 2024 against Carlos Alcaraz, has passed the Paris first round for the tenth time in 11 appearances.

He won in sweltering 33 Celsius conditions, which are expected to last for through the coming Week 1

The 29-year-old who has been bothered by recent back issues due to a busy match schedule, nevertheless has compiled an impressive spring clay record, reaching the Madrid final along with semi-finals in Monte Carlo and Munich.

He stumbled in the Rome Masters run-up, going out in the fourth round to Luciano Darderi as his back worry played up, causing him to withdraw from Geneva.

Zverev made his move into the second round in around two hours over the No 98.

“It was a good start, it’s sometimes as simple as that,” Zverev said, “I won in three sets. 

“It was an opening match against an opponent who can make it difficult against good players. He’s shown that in the past, and I handled it well.

“That’s what I’m the most happy about.”

Zverev advanced to the semi-finals at three of four clay events played this season, highlighted by a run to the Madrid final.

Australian James Duckworth booked the first second-round spot of the fortnight after winning an abbreviated opening match, defeating injured Canadian Gabriel Diallo 6-3, 4-1 in barely an hour.

Karen Khachanov dished out the first French loss of the tournament as he defeated Arthur Gea 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-0,with the 140th-ranked wild card forced to rush off court at one point for a bathroom emergency.

Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina needed more than four hours to complete a 6-7 (3), 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 defeat of Damir Dzumhur.

“Today was a very tough match, I didn’t expect that it was going to be that hot today,” the winner said.

“I suffered a lot with this heat. At the beginning, I was not feeling very good, so I needed to change a little bit my plans.

“Physically I was struggling a little bit. At the end, I was a little bit lucky
playing two, three shots. I made a lot of winners.”

He said the win needed extra effort after playing last week in the cool 10 Celsius of Hamburg,

Jannik Sinner began his quest for an unprecedented fifth straight title at a Masters 1000 tournament with a runaway 6-3, 6-4 start over Stefan Ofner on Saturday in Rome.

The second-round clash between the German-speaking Italian world No. 1 from  the former Austrian territory of Alto Adige and an actual Austrian was played in front of a packed-out Campo Centrale with local fans in full voice.

The final three games of the march were twice interrupted by medical emergencies in the stands, resulting in around 20 or more cumulative minutes of delay. 

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Sinner said. “In the first matches, the most important thing is trying not to lose.

“The level changes day by day. This has always been a special tournament for me.

“Being Italian, you reflect on the year a little bit. I’m happy to be here. Every situation, every week is different I’m trying to get a good match rhythm again.”

Sinner has lifted four straight Masters titles – Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo – and could become the first man to ever win five on the trot. His current Masters win streak was extended to 29 straight.

A title next weekend at the Foro Italico would also complete his career matched set of all nine Masters 1000 titles.

Ofner began with a love game and gave Sinner a challenge but eventually took the loss after his initial flurry of form.

Sinner claimed the opener in 36 minutes and began the second with a break of the 82nd-ranked player who turns 30 on Tuesday.

The Italian, who lost the Rome final 2 months ago to Carlos Alcaraz, finished off the crowd-pleasing win as Ofner could not handle a forehand winner deep into the corner after 91 minutes.   

The Italian top seed won his 24th straight ATP match of the season as he advanced while denying Ofner a first win over a top 10 player after a dozen previous losses to the elite.

Main photo:- Jannik sinner won Miami Open in April – by ISF Ltd

Jannik Sinner wrapped up a spot in his first final in Madrid on Friday and extended his Masters 1000 win streak to 27 matches.

The world No. 1 was on fire in an 86-minute defeat of Frenchman Arthur Fils, with the 6-2, 6-4 scoreline moving him to one more match win of claiming titles at an unprecedented five Masters events in a row.

The Italian’s streak in the elite ATP series began with an indoor trophy last November in Paris and has continued this season with more of the same at Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo a month ago.

Sinner dispatched Fils on his first match point after breaking in the previous game with an explosive backhand winner down the line to cap a 24-shot rally.

“In the first set I tried to play very aggressive,” Sinner said. “I was feeling very comfortable in the returns.”In the second set he served better and it was more difficult for me. But I’m happy in general with the performance today, I’m trying to play the best tennis that I can.”

The Italian called his showing “a good day at the office.”

I’m happy that I played him, winning means a lot to me. I tried to play in the best possible way

Sinner will face off in Sunday’s final in the Spanish capital against either two-time champion Alexander Zverev, seeded third, or Belgian outsider Alexander Blockx.