Italian flag flies high on damp French Open day
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 28, 2025 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning his second round match against Hungary's Fabian Marozsan REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 28, 2025 Italy's Lorenzo Musetti reacts during his second round match against Colombia's Daniel Elahi Galan REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 28, 2025 Italy's Jasmine Paolini celebrates after winning her second round match against Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
PARIS - Italians Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Musetti lit up a damp day at Roland Garros as they both surged into the third round of the French Open with commanding victories, while two-time runner-up Casper Ruud suffered a shock exit on Wednesday.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz then survived a minor scare as the Spaniard beat unseeded Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-1 4-6 6-1 6-2 to advance.
Fourth seed Paolini, a surprise runner-up last year, barely put a foot wrong on Court Philippe-Chatrier as she brushed aside Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3 6-3.
The diminutive Italian, who is trained by Rafael Nadal's former mentor Marc Lopez, even paid homage to the Spaniard's newly installed footprint on court before delivering a polished display in front of a sparse crowd.
"It's hard to play against Ajla, she's very aggressive but I tried to mix it up and play aggressively myself," said Paolini.
Musetti continued his claycourt resurgence with a clinical 6-4 6-0 6-4 dismantling of Colombian lucky loser Daniel Galan on court Simonne Mathieu.
The eighth seed, a finalist in Monte Carlo and semi-finalist in Madrid and Rome, overcame patchy weather to extend his recent successes on clay.
"It was a solid performance from the beginning until the end," said Musetti, whose confidence has soared since reaching the Monte Carlo final last month. "After that, I felt like another player. The results in Madrid and Rome confirmed this step forward."
Ruud, the seventh seed and runner-up in Paris the last two years, saw his campaign unravel in spectacular fashion as he fell 2-6 6-4 6-1 6-0 to Portugal's Nuno Borges.
The Norwegian appeared in control after claiming the opening set but faded as Borges took command, with Ruud requiring a medical timeout for a calf issue before being bagelled in the fourth.
Borges, 28, will next face Alexei Popyrin, who eased past Chile's Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets.
China's Zheng Qinwen, the Paris 2024 Olympic champion on these courts, powered past Emiliana Arango of Colombia 6-2 6-3. The eighth seed's big-hitting game proved too much for the world number 85, though Zheng had to overcome some mid-match turbulence.
"It was not easy to finish the points," Zheng admitted. She now faces Canadian 18-year-old qualifier Victoria Mboko, who continued her dream run with a 6-4 6-4 win over Germany's Eva Lys in her Grand Slam debut.
Earlier, former French Open semi-finalist and 16th seed Amanda Anisimova brushed aside Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic 6-0 6-2 in 55 minutes to march into the third round. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Mexico City mayor pledges warm welcome for all 2026 World Cup fans
Soccer Football - World Cup - Mexico holds event to mark one year to go until the World Cup - Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Mexico City, Mexico - June 11, 2025 General view of the countdown clock on Reforma Avenue REUTERS/Henry Romero Soccer Football - World Cup - Mexico holds event to mark one year to go until the World Cup - Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Mexico City, Mexico - June 11, 2025 A performer plays with footballs during the countdown clock presentation on Reforma Avenue REUTERS/Henry Romero Soccer Football - World Cup - Mexico holds event to mark one year to go until the World Cup - Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Mexico City, Mexico - June 11, 2025 Performers play with footballs during the countdown clock presentation on Reforma Avenue REUTERS/Henry Romero Soccer Football - World Cup - Mexico holds event to mark one year to go until the World Cup - General Prim, Mexico City, Mexico - June 11, 2025 Mexico City Host City Director Felix Aguirre, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, Mexico FIFA Director Jurgen Mainka, Italian former player Alessandro Del Piero and Mexico City's Secretary of Tourism Alejandra Frausto present the countdown clock during the event REUTERS/Raquel Cunha MEXICO CITY - Mexico City will embrace fans from all nations and cultures during the 2026 World Cup, Mayor Clara Brugada said on Wednesday as she unveiled the countdown clock marking one year to the tournament's return to the Mexican capital. As the city prepares to host the World Cup for the third time, Brugada stressed the importance of inclusion and openness, framing a contrast to anti-immigration measures in co-host nation the United States under President Donald Trump "All football fans are welcome here. In this city, no one is a foreigner," Brugada said at the FIFA event. "We will joyfully welcome those who come from all corners of the globe, with their music, their colours, their languages and their passion. We think diversity is our greatest treasure." "Today is a very special day for Mexico City. We are exactly 365 days away from opening our doors to the world and hosting, for the third time, the opening of a World Cup, something that no other city on the planet has ever achieved." Addressing concerns from residents near the Azteca Stadium, Mayor Brugada assured them that they would benefit from over six billion pesos in investments aimed at upgrading public services and infrastructure. "We will strengthen the rights of residents with more water, better public spaces and more services," she said. "We are therefore building a legacy, and that is something that fills us with pride. That is why we have made a historic investment in works, infrastructure, water, security and mobility." In addition, as part of the festivities leading up to the 2026 World Cup, more than 40 buildings and landmarks in Mexico City will be illuminated in green on Wednesday night. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Jack Grealish left out of Manchester City squad for Club World Cup
Jack Grealish remains City's record signing, but, has fallen down the pecking order over the past two seasons. PHOTO: REUTERS MANCHESTER, United Kingdom - Jack Grealish's future at Manchester City was plunged into further doubt on June 11 after the England international was left out of Pep Guardiola's squad for the Club World Cup. Despite City naming just 27 players from a possible 35 for the tournament beginning in the United States on June 14, Grealish was omitted alongside former captain Kyle Walker. All four of the club's new signings this week - Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijani Reijnders and Marcus Bettinelli - are included. Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is also selected after making his comeback from a long-term knee injury just before the end of the Premier League season. Grealish, who remains City's record signing after a £100 million move from Aston Villa in 2021, has fallen down the pecking order over the past two seasons. He made just seven Premier League starts in the 2024/25 campaign and was notably not summoned from the bench as City went down to a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final last month. The 29-year-old still has two years left to run on his City contract and his reported £300,000-a-week (S$500,000) wages are a barrier to finding a potential suitor. Guardiola threatened in May he could leave the club if the size of his squad is not cut before the new season begins. Grealish is just one of a number of expected exits, along with Walker. The 35-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, but the Italian giants have not taken up an option to buy. City begin their Club World Cup campaign against Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia on June 19 before facing further group games against Al Ain of Abu Dhabi and Juventus. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘No faking' about Oakmont says injured Tiger Woods ahead of US Open
Tiger Woods warned US Open golfers in a social media video on June 11 about the formidable Oakmont course.. PHOTO: REUTERS 'No faking' about Oakmont says injured Tiger Woods ahead of US Open OAKMONT, United States - Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner sidelined after rupturing his left Achilles tendon in March, warned US Open golfers in a social media video on June 11 there's 'no faking' about Oakmont. The 49-year-old American, a three-time US Open champion, underwent surgery to repair the injury but has no timetable for his return to competitive golf as he misses the US Open for the fourth time in five years. In an Instagram post, Woods gave this week's US Open field some advice about coping with the deep rough, tricky bunkers and fast greens of Oakmont, as well as a warning. 'You just have to hit the golf ball better,' Woods said. 'There is no faking about Oakmont. 'The golf course is big, yes, but it's just – there's no way around it. You just have to hit the golf ball well and it favors longer hitters, just because of the degrees, the complexes.' Being in the fairway to properly approach the greens is crucial as well, Woods said. 'It just helps so much to be coming with a shorter iron, to be able to sock the ball,' he said. 'It's about missing the ball on correct spots... because if you don't, it's horrible.' Woods shared second at the 2007 US Open at Oakmont but missed the 2016 edition of the event on the same course following back surgery the year before. Woods has not made the cut at the US Open since he shared 21st in 2019, the same year he won his most recent major title at the Masters. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
