Sinner obliterates Lehecka at French Open
Jannik Sinner reacts during his French Open third round match against Jiri Lehecka at Roland Garros, Paris. PHOTO: 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."
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 U.S. 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.
Andreeva's lucky charm helps her into French Open last 16
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. REUTERS
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