The French Open
Roland Garros 2026 Women’s Day 5
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.
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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