French Open PIX: Sinner, Draper storm into 4th round

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Last updated on: May 31, 2025 21:30 IST

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Images from Day 7 of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on Saturday.

Indomitable Sinner obliterates Lehecka

Jannik Sinner

IMAGE: Jannik Sinner in action during his third round match against Jiri Lehecka at the French Open on Saturday. Photograph: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images/Reuters

World number one Jannik Sinner delivered a flawless performance to pulverise Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in little more than 90 minutes on Saturday, to burst into the French Open fourth round and issue a ominous warning to other title contenders.

The 23-year-old Italian, who returned to tennis in May after a three-month-doping ban, won the first 11 games in a row, and has so far found no resistance en route to the last 16.

He has yet to drop a set in his second tournament back, after reaching the final in Rome earlier in the month.

"Today I was playing really, really well," Sinner said. "He was serving very well and brave. But I am very happy.

"My coach had (his) birthday yesterday and usually when he has birthday I don't play good. Luckily I was not playing yesterday."

"This morning I said to my team I feel well," he added. "I warmed up feeling really well, trying to go on court with a good focus. My team gave me the right tactics. It is a combination also being happy on court."

Jannik Sinner

IMAGE: Jannik Sinner, who returned to tennis in May after a three-month-doping ban, has so far found no resistance en route to the last 16. Photograph: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images/Reuters

Sinner exploded into action, racing through the first set with a bagel in 25 minutes.

The Czech was left stunned, wondering how to counter such power and precision, but before he came up with any answer he was already trailing 3-0 in the second set.

Pinned to the back, Lehecka could only watch how Sinner's shots flew past him, including a sensational baseline forehand winner that earned the Italian a 4-0 advantage.

The 23-year-old world number 34 earned a big cheer when he finally got onto the scoreboard at 5-1 but his ordeal was far from over.

Sinner served out the second set before proceeding to break shell-shocked Lehecka at the very start of the third.

Running his panting opponent ragged, Sinner earned another break and put him out of his misery with his first match point.

The top seed has now stretched his winning streak at Grand Slam events to 17 matches, after winning the titles at the 2024 US Open and the Australian Open in January prior to his doping ban.

He will next face 17th-seed Andrey Rublev, who advanced after his opponent Arthur Fils of France withdrew with a back injury.

Draper ends Fonseca's run

Jack Draper

IMAGE: Jack Draper celebrates after winning his third round match against Brazil's Joao Fonsecan. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Jack Draper's French Open campaign continued in style on Saturday as the Briton ended Brazilian poster boy Joao Fonseca's run with a ruthless 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory to reach the fourth round.

The British fifth seed, who made it to the semi-finals at last year's US Open, was facing a potentially tricky test against the flashy Fonseca, who at 18 already has his army of fans and whose brilliant play has caught the eye at Roland Garros.

The left-handed Draper, however, was not impressed, letting his opponent shine at times but keeping things under control as dark clouds made way for the sun on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

"I knew it was going to be a tight match, Joao caught the attention of everyone, the fans, so much to come from him; today a bit of experience made the difference, he's got an unbelievably bright future," said Draper.

"I played good, the conditions were tough out here. The first set was really key, I used my forehand well, mentally it was a good performance today. Happy to be in the second week here and hopefully more to come."

Jack Draper

IMAGE: Jack Draper in action. Photograph: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images/Reuters

In an another test of his claycourt credentials, Draper, who made it to the final at the Madrid Masters, will take on Portugal's Henrique Rocha or Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan.

Draper snatched Fonseca's serve in the third game of what promised to be a battle of heavy hitters.

Despite a poor first-serve percentage early on, Draper held on to win the opening set after stealing his opponent's serve a second time.

Fonseca whipped several beautiful forehand winners, but his game was marred by unforced errors while Draper stayed solid and precise, himself punishing the Brazilian with a few superb, Rafa Nadal-like forehands.

Reading Fonseca's serve with an eagle eye, Draper forced more and more errors from his overwhelmed opponent, ending it with an unreturnable serve on the first match point.

Pegula battles past Vondrousova

Jessica Pegula

IMAGE: Jessica Pegula in action during her third round match against Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova. Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

Third seed Jessica Pegula took a longer route with a battling victory over 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova in the third round on Saturday.

Vondrousova is also no stranger to injuries, her latest being a shoulder problem after her Wimbledon title defence ended in the first round last year, and the Czech looked to be finding her best form again on Parisian clay.

She won the opening set of her match on Court Philippe Chatrier but American Pegula proved too good when it mattered to close out a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win and will face the winner of the all-French clash between Elsa Jacquemot and Lois Boisson.

Andreeva's lucky charm helps her into last 16

Mirra Andreeva

IMAGE: Mirra Andreeva serves the ball during her third round match against Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan. Photograph: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images/Reuters

Mirra Andreeva had her lucky charm on her bench for her third-round clash against Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva, but left her opponent no chance in a 6-3, 6-1 victory on Saturday.

The sixth seed, who won the Indian Wells and Dubai top-tier tournaments this year, set up a meeting with Australia's Daria Kasatkina.

"I knew Yulia is a very tricky player, she has an interesting game and it's uncomfortable for me. She likes to cut the rhythm a lot, I knew it would be tough," the 18-year-old said on Court Suzanne Lenglen as umbrellas popped open in the stands on a grey Parisian morning.

"I kind of knew what to expect I knew I had to play at 100% and fight for every ball and get those drop shots. I'm happy with the way I play today."

 

Andreeva, who reached the semi-finals here last year, also attributed her win to a present she received.

"When I was walking on court a little girl put a drawing on my bench, I kept it. It's my lucky charm," she said.

"Wherever that little girl is, I want to thank her because it is my lucky charm."

Despite an inconsistent serve with four double faults, Andreeva bagged the opening set with a blistering forehand winner for her third break of serve.

Putintseva tried to mix it up with drop shots but Andreeva's baseline power proved too much to handle and the Russian broke for 2-1 after a brief rain interruption.

It was game over effectively as she went on to win the remaining four games.

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