The French Open
Roland Garros Women’s Day 5
Aryna Sabalenka mowed down Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 6-2 in barely an hour to reach the French Open third round as rain again interrupted play.
The second seed and double Australian Open winner was unaffected, though, with her match safely staged under the roof of the Chatrier showcourt.
But a third straight day of rain drove other matches off court more than once during the afternoon as officials played catch-up with the badly disrupted schedule..
Sabalenka broke four times and advanced with 27 winners and 18 unforced errors, saving a pair of break points as she schooled her 83rd-ranked opponent.
Uchijima has been on a tear at entry-level non-Tour events this spring, winning 20 matches until running into Sabalenka. ,
The seed said that being guaranteed a match on a covered court is a major perk.
“That’s the little advantage we get as top players because we play on the big stadiums with the roof; I knew that no matter the weather. I’m going to play my match.
“It helps to manage the energy because it’s really tough when the weather is like that and you play on the outside courts.
“It just feels like you’re wasting your energy during the day going on and off the court.”
Sabalenka – into the Paris third round for a fifth consecutive edition – will next face good friend and former WTA No.2 Paula Badosa, who has been trying to resurrect her career amid a months-long battle with back pain.
The Spaniard defeated Yulia Putintseva 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, winning a match in which she stood two points from defeat.
But Putintseva let her off the hook with a pair of double faults and a forehand error to lose the 11th game of the final set. Badosa then served out the win to love.
“Sharing the court with (Aryna) after all the results she’s doing is a pleasure for me, because this past year hasn’t been easy,” Badosa said.
“Playing these kinds of matches, it makes it all worth it,” added the Spaniard who stands 2-4 against her friend.
Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina had to work her way out of second-set trouble on the way to a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Arantza Rus.
The Kazakh fourth seed fought back from 4-2 down in the second set after winning the first to move on in the draw after her 67-minutes victory in which she swept the final four games.
“I had to push myself today, there were a lot of ups and downs,” she said.
“In a lot of games I trailed 0-40 and that’s not so usual for me.
“No one wants to play three sets, so when I was down I was trying to focus point-by-point.
“Energy-wise today I was not so happy with myself.”
There was also a win under the roof for 15th seed Elina Svitolina, who held off a late charge from Frenchwoman Diane Parry 6-4, 7-6 (3).
The Ukrainian held a comfortable 4-1 lead which the local erased, breaking Svitolina as she served for the win.
Instead, the seed with four quarter-finals here had to close out victory with a tiebreaker after nearly two hours.
“It was not easy to play against a French player and a French crowd,” Svitolina said. “I was happy that I could finish the match in two sets.
“More people began to arrive and I felt I had to really step up my game.”
Anastasia Potapova eliminated the last Swiss in the field with her 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of Viktorija Golubic while Croat Donna Vekic defeated 18th seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 7-5, 6-4.
Main photo:- Aryna Sabalenka winning second round match – by WTATennis.com
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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