French Open: Jannik Sinner drops just 3 games to extend Grand Slam unbeaten run
PARIS — When Jannik Sinner's opponent in the French Open's third round finally won a single game Saturday, the Court Suzanne-Lenglen crowd responded with a standing ovation. Sinner was simply too good on this day, extending his Grand Slam winning streak to 17 matches and looking very much like the No. 1-ranked man.
Article content
Sinner dominated Jiri Lehecka 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in just 1 hour, 34 minutes, the quickest men's match at Roland-Garros this year and, measured by games lost, the most lopsided victory at a major tournament of Sinner's career.
Article content
'We try to improve,' Sinner said. 'Today, I don't think there are many things I can improve.'
Article content
Can say that again.
Article content
Check out some of the numbers: Sinner delivered 31 winners and made only nine unforced errors. He accumulated 18 break points, converting seven, and faced just one, which he saved.
Article content
The first 11 games went Sinner's way. When Sinner missed a return wide, making the score 6-0, 5-1 after 55 minutes of action, Lehecka raised his arm and pumped his fist in a bit of sarcastic celebration. The fans went wild, rising out of their seats and clapping and shouting, eliciting a smile from Lehecka.
Article content
Make no mistake, though. Lehecka is no also-ran. The 23-year-old from the Czech Republic is ranked 34th and has been a Grand Slam quarterfinalist.
Article content
But he was completely overmatched by Sinner, who has won the past two major championships — at the U.S. Open in September and the Australian Open in January — and is now the owner of an unbeaten run at the sport's most important tournaments that's been surpassed this century only by a trio of guys by the names of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Article content
Sinner's bid for a first French Open title, and fourth Slam trophy overall, will continue Monday, when he'll face No. 17 Andrey Rublev for a quarterfinal berth. Rublev advanced when his opponent, No. 14 Arthur Fils, withdrew from the tournament because a stress fracture in his lower back.
Article content
Novak Djokovic returns to the fourth round in Paris
Article content
Novak Djokovic got back to the fourth round at Roland-Garros for the 16th year in a row with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over qualifier Filip Misolic on Saturday night. A year ago, Djokovic tore the meniscus in his right knee during his fourth-round win and pulled out of the tournament before the quarterfinals. Djokovic's match Saturday was played at the same time as French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain — whose stadium is a few blocks from Roland-Garros _ was beating Inter Milan 5-0 to win the Champions League final in Munich, Germany.
Article content
What else happened at the French Open on Saturday?
Article content
Jessica Pegula, the No. 3-seeded American who was the runner-up at the U.S. Open, came back to eliminate 2019 French Open finalist and 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 and reach the fourth round. Another American, 70th-ranked Hailey Baptiste, made it into Week 2 at a major for the first time by beating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 7-6 (4), 6-1 and will play Madison Keys or Sofia Kenin next. No. 6 Mirra Andreeva, an 18-year-old Russian who reached the semifinals a year ago, advanced to a fourth-round showdown against No. 17 Daria Kasatkina. American qualifier Ethan Quinn, the 2023 NCAA champion for the University of Georgia, played his second consecutive five-setter and was beaten by Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands 4-6, 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-4. Griekspoor came into the day 0-4 in third-round matches at majors. Griekspoor next meets 2024 runner-up Alexander Zverev, while No. 5 Jack Draper takes on Alexander Bublik. Draper defeated 18-year-old Brazilian João Fonseca 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.
Article content
No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and the two defending champions, Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz, are all scheduled to appear in the fourth round Sunday. There are three American men in Week 2 in Paris for the first time since 1995, and all are in action: No. 12 Tommy Paul, No. 13 Ben Shelton and No. 15 Frances Tiafoe. Shelton faces Alcaraz, Paul goes up against No. 25 Alexei Popyrin and Tiafoe meets Daniel Altmaier.
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
French court tries ex-bosses of Ubisoft over sex harassment
This Nov.3 2017 file photo shows the logo Ubisoft on a computer screen at the Paris Games Week in Paris. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Kamil Zihnioglu, File Paris, France — Three former top executives from French video game giant Ubisoft, the maker of 'Assassin's Creed' and 'Far Cry', went on trial on Monday accused of psychologically and sexually harassing employees for years. The trial, to last until Friday, was supposed to be held in March but was adjourned after lawyers complained they received some documents too late. The industry has been scrutinised for years over its treatment of women and minorities in the workplace -- and the way they are depicted in games. Ubisoft launched an internal inquiry in 2020 after anonymous testimonies emerged on social media accusing the company of a toxic work culture. Several senior executives later left the firm. The executive shake-up at Ubisoft was hailed by some as a #Metoo moment in the male-dominated video game publishing industry, which has faced criticism for misogynistic imagery often found in games. One of the accused, Serge Hascoet, resigned from his post as chief creative officer. The other two -- Thomas 'Tommy' Francois, vice-president of editorial and creative services, and game director Guillaume Patrux -- were dismissed for serious misconduct. All three men deny the claims. Hascoet and Francois arrived at the Bobigny court outside Paris on Monday morning. Employees had complained of regular public humiliation and hazing. Francois is the focus of the most damning claims of systematic psychological and sexual harassment at the company's offices in the eastern Paris suburb of Montreuil. Between January 2012 and July 2020, Francois is alleged to have often watched pornographic films in the open-plan office and commented on the appearance of female employees. Headstand in a skirt Francois was also accused of forcing a young employee he had just hired to do a headstand in the open-plan office while wearing a skirt. He is also accused of tying the same woman to a chair and putting her in an elevator, sending her to another floor. He also allegedly forced her to attend a work meeting after he painted her face with a felt-tip pen. In addition to the accusations of sexual and psychological harassment, Francois is being prosecuted for an attempted sexual assault when he tried to forcibly kiss a young employee during a Christmas party as she was held by other colleagues. According to an investigative report seen by AFP, Francois encouraged 'his subordinates to act in the same way'. Hascoet is accused of lewd behaviour and posing intrusive questions of a sexual nature, as well as racist comments and behaviour. Following deadly jihadist attacks in Paris in 2015, he allegedly asked a Muslim employee if she agreed with the ideas of the Islamic State group. The woman had her computer desktop background changed to images of bacon sandwiches and food was placed on her desk during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. The third defendant, former game director Patrux, 39, has been accused of psychological harassment. Investigators spoke to dozens of witnesses during the probe, but 'many refused to file a complaint for fear of reactions from the video game community,' according to the report seen by AFP. Written by Amelie Baron
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Jonathan Anderson named Dior's first men's and women's designer
Jonathan Anderson poses for photographers upon arrival for the premiere of the film 'Queer' during the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP) Paris, France — French fashion house Dior named Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson on Monday as the first-ever creative director for both its women's and men's collections. Anderson was appointed after last week's departure of Italian Maria Grazia Chiuri, who had presided over its women's collections for the last nine years. Anderson had already been named as artistic director of the men's collection in April, and will now become the first person to run both collections at Dior, which is owned by French luxury giant LVMH. 'Jonathan Anderson is one of the greatest creative talents of his generation,' said Bernard Arnault, LVMH's billionaire chief executive. 'His incomparable artistic signature will be a crucial asset in writing the next chapter of the history of the House of Dior,' Arnault said. Anderson, 40, quit Loewe in March after more than a decade in which he turned around the fortunes of the heritage Spanish brand, which is also owned by LVMH. An influential tastemaker with many A-list fans, Anderson made the previously rather sleepy label, best known for its handbags, hot. 'It is a great honour to join the House of Dior as Creative Director of both women's and men's collections,' Anderson said in the company statement. 'I have always been inspired by the rich history of this house, its depth, and empathy. I look forward to working alongside its legendary ateliers to craft the next chapter of this incredible story,' he said. Anderson will present his first collection, Dior Men Summer 2026, at the Paris Fashion Week on June 27. 'Creative and modern vision' There had been much speculation that Anderson, renowned for his creative flights of fancy, might take over both Dior's men's and women's collections, which some observers had seen as needing fresh impetus. Anderson, the son of former Irish rugby international Willie Anderson, is known as a low-key figure, who often appears dressed casually at the end of his shows. He trained at the London College of Fashion and began his career in Prada's marketing department before launching his own brand, JW Anderson, in 2008. At Loewe, he built a reputation for sharp tailoring and generous use of luxurious materials such as leather and metal. He launched a new modern classic bag -- the Puzzle -- and dressed celebrities from Beyonce to Rihanna. Dior boomed after Chiuri took over the women's collection in 2016, with the Italian designer praised for her modernity and feminist activism. Some observers, however, had suggested the classic French house was growing stale. Its growth is of crucial financial and dynastic importance to Arnault, who placed his daughter Delphine in charge of Dior in February 2023. 'I am delighted to welcome Jonathan Anderson to lead the women's and men's creations of the House,' Delphine Arnault said. 'I have followed his career with great interest since he joined the LVMH group over 10 years ago. I am convinced that he will bring a creative and modern vision to our House,' she said. By Marine DO-VALE
Toronto Star
7 hours ago
- Toronto Star
AP PHOTOS: Light and shadows add an extra dimension at the French Open tennis tournament
PARIS (AP) — The striking interplay of light and shadows on the red clay courts moves with the players at Roland Garros, while the dramatic light in the stadium adds depth and intensity to every swing of the racket during the French Open. This gallery, curated by AP photo editors, showcases some of the visual highlights so far from the French Open tennis tournament. Read more on the French Open at
