French Open 2025: Zheng Qinwen, Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Musetti advance to third round
Lorenzo Musetti, Zheng Qinwen, and Jasmine Paolini all delivered assured performances on a rain-affected Wednesday at Roland Garros to book their places in the third round of the French Open.MUSETTI EASES PAST GALANItalian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti cruised through his second-round clash, dispatching Colombian lucky loser Daniel Galan 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 on Court Simonne Mathieu. The only real interruption for Musetti came from the skies, as intermittent rain delayed play but did little to shake his composure on court.advertisementA Galan double fault gifted Musetti the first break of the match in the third game, and the Italian quickly opened up a 5-2 lead with confident, aggressive play. Although Galan managed to claw back one break, Musetti responded with a commanding smash to seal the opening set.
The second set was one-way traffic, with Musetti dropping just five points as he shifted into a higher gear. Galan offered more resistance in the third, but the Italian maintained control to close out the match on serve.FRENCH OPEN DAY 4 LIVE"It has been a tremendous clay season so far, but I want to go higher. I've never made it past the fourth round here," said Musetti, who has surged into the top 10 after reaching the Monte Carlo final and making semifinal runs in both Rome and Madrid. He will next face either Argentina's Mariano Navone or American Reilly Opelka.ZHENG CONTINUES PARISIAN CHARGEadvertisementOn nearby Court Suzanne Lenglen, China's Zheng Qinwen stormed into the women's singles third round with an easy 6-2, 6-3 win over Colombia's Emiliana Arango. The eighth seed, who captured Olympic gold on these very courts last August, once again demonstrated her comfort on clay.Zheng was broken in the opening game and twice more early in the second set, as Arango tested her patience with longer rallies. But the Chinese star quickly regained her rhythm, breaking at will and dictating play with her trademark firepower from the baseline.While it wasn't flawless, the 22-year-old stayed composed to wrap up the match in just over an hour, advancing to the third round in Paris for the third time in four appearances.PAOLINI DEFEATS TOMLJANOVICJasmine Paolini advanced to the third round of the French Open on Wednesday with a routine 6-3, 6-3 win over Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic on Court Philippe-Chatrier.Before the match, the Italian fourth seed paused to acknowledge the legacy of Rafael Nadal, briefly touching the newly installed footprint of the 14-time Roland-Garros champion near the net. The tribute was unveiled on Sunday in a ceremony honoring Nadal. Paolini is coached by Marc Lopez, a former member of Nadal's team.So far, it's a 2/2 for Italy #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/e83kh1lVRr— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2025In overcast conditions, Paolini dominated from the outset, rarely allowing Tomljanovic a foothold in the match. She moves on to face either Ukrainian lucky loser Yuliia Starodubtseva or Russia's Anastasia Potapova in the next round."It's hard to play against Ajla, she's very aggressive but I tried to mix it up and play aggressively myself," Paolini said. "Last year, I played two matches here and a bit at the Olympics, now I'm a bit more used to it (Court Philippe Chatrier).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
7 hours ago
- Economic Times
Feeling low in life? Anand Mahindra wants you to look at this poster and scoreboard of French Open winner Carlos Alcaraz for inspiration
French Open 2025 winner Carlos Alcaraz made a epic comeback to win the title. (Photo: Carlos Alcaraz's astonishing comeback victory at the 2025 French Open final wasn't just a celebration of athletic excellence—it became a global metaphor for resilience. Among the millions who were inspired by his unyielding grit, Indian business icon Anand Mahindra was one of the first to express what many felt: this was more than sport. Mahindra, known for using social media to spotlight determination and leadership, hailed a defining moment of perseverance as Alcaraz saved three championship points at 0–40 in the fourth set and went on to win the title. To Mahindra, the image of Alcaraz under pressure wasn't just tennis—it was a visual pep talk for life Anand Mahindra, and many others who witnessed the moment, Alcaraz's fightback had symbolic value. In a world quick to abandon effort at the first sign of failure, his revival at the brink of defeat stood as a loud rebuttal. Mahindra's call to 'make a poster of this picture' was not just a nod to the athlete's triumph—it was an endorsement of the never-give-up spirit that drives not just players, but entrepreneurs, creators, and dreamers worldwide. "It isn't over till it's over. NEVER give up," he emphasized, turning a sporting moment into a universal credo. The epic five-hour, 29-minute match against Jannik Sinner in Paris—now the longest final in Roland Garros history—was an ode to human willpower. Alcaraz's ability to claw his way back from two sets down, under the weight of history, fatigue, and a formidable opponent, resonated well beyond the stadium. It wasn't just the fans or tennis legends who took notice; leaders from other fields like Mahindra saw the deeper message: resilience is not theoretical, it is forged in the heat of adversity. Alcaraz demonstrated that true champions are revealed, not made, by pressure. — anandmahindra (@anandmahindra) The final was a masterclass in stamina, mental grit, and sheer belief. With every rally, the two young titans—Alcaraz, 22, and Sinner, 23—pushed the limits of what was once considered peak performance. The scoreline, 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(10-2), told only part of the story. Carlos Alcaraz's journey to the Roland Garros title this year was also a dramatic passing of the torch. For over two decades, the tennis world had been dominated by the Big Three—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. With Federer and Nadal retired, and Djokovic now 38, the final between Alcaraz and Sinner signaled the start of a new golden age. The intensity, quality, and athleticism displayed by both men didn't just match the past—it arguably surpassed stats themselves were staggering. The players combined for 123 winners. The match ended with Sinner having scored 193 points to Alcaraz's 192, showing just how tightly contested it was. Yet it was Alcaraz who had the composure and mental edge in the final set tiebreaker, dominating 10-2, and sealing his fifth Grand Slam title—maintaining a perfect record in showdown was not just a clash of skill; it was a psychological war. Alcaraz had to wrestle with near defeat, not once but thrice, with three match points against him in the fourth set. Most players at that point would have collapsed under the pressure. Instead, Alcaraz dialed up his level, channelled composure and belief, and defied the moment. It was the kind of performance that legends are built on—not for the titles alone, but for the character social media, netizens echoed Mahindra's awe and admiration. 'The comeback writes a better story than the win itself,' said one user, summing up the emotional narrative that unfolded on the clay courts of Paris. Another chimed in, 'Champions get up even when they can't!'—a tribute to Alcaraz's tenacity in saving three match points. Many found the moment personally inspiring. 'Never giving up isn't just a mindset, it's a lifestyle,' wrote a viewer. 'Thank you for sharing this, Sir. Needed this reminder today.' For others, the display of heart under pressure felt almost cinematic: 'Real life better than fiction. Awesome stuff!' one post read. Another captured the spirit of the night perfectly: 'When your back is against the wall, greatness doesn't just play… it fights.'Even seasoned tennis veterans were in awe. Mats Wilander, former champion and analyst, said he never thought he'd see tennis played at a higher level than during the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era, but the Paris final proved him wrong. The quality, pace, and athleticism on display exceeded all expectations. Andre Agassi, who presented the trophy, said Alcaraz may be even more dangerous on grass courts, praising the young Spaniard for combining the defensive speed of Djokovic, the feel of Federer, and the topspin firepower of Nadal. ( Originally published on Jun 10, 2025 )
NDTV
8 hours ago
- NDTV
Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker Left Out Of Manchester City Squad For Club World Cup
Jack Grealish's future at Manchester City was plunged into further doubt on Wednesday 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 ($135 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 ($405,000) wages are a barrier to finding a potential suitor. Guardiola threatened last month 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 next Wednesday before facing further group games against Al Ain of Abu Dhabi and Juventus. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
News18
9 hours ago
- News18
Jack Grealish's Manchester City Future Uncertain After Club World Cup Snub
Last Updated: Jack Grealish's future at Manchester City is uncertain after being left out of Pep Guardiola's Club World Cup squad. Jack Grealish's future at Manchester City was cast into further doubt on Wednesday after the England international was omitted from Pep Guardiola's Club World Cup squad. Despite City naming only 27 players out of a possible 35 for the tournament commencing in the United States on 14 June, Grealish, along with former captain Kyle Walker, was left out. All four of the club's recent signings – Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijani Reijnders, and Marcus Bettinelli – are included in the squad. Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is also selected, having returned from a long-term knee injury shortly before the end of the Premier League season. Grealish, who remains City's record signing following a £100 million move from Aston Villa in 2021, has seen his playing time decrease over the past two seasons. He made only seven Premier League starts in the 2024/25 campaign and was notably left unused on the bench as City lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final last month. The 29-year-old still has two years remaining on his City contract, and his reported £300,000-a-week wages present a significant obstacle to any potential transfer. Guardiola cautioned last month that departures might be necessary if the squad size is not reduced before the new season begins. Grealish is among several players expected to depart, along with Walker. The 35-year-old spent the latter half of last season on loan at AC Milan, but the Italian club has not exercised their option to buy him. City will begin their Club World Cup campaign against Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia next Wednesday, followed by group matches against Al Ain of Abu Dhabi and Juventus. First Published: June 11, 2025, 23:36 IST
