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.