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
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Nadal's 2017 Title-Winning Racket Fetches $157K at Auction
A Babolat racket used by Rafael Nadal in the 2017 French Open final has sold for a record-breaking $157,333.20 (Rs 49.12 lakh) at a Prestige Memorabilia auction, including the buyer's premium. This is now the most ever paid for a tennis racket. The previous record belonged to another Nadal racket — one he used during the 2022 Australian Open, where he secured his final Grand Slam title by beating Daniil Medvedev in a five-set classic. That racket sold for $139,700 at Sotheby's in 2023. In 2017, Nadal defeated Stan Wawrinka in straight sets — 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 — to win his record-extending 10th French Open title. He didn't drop a single set throughout the tournament and would go on to win four more titles at Roland Garros, taking his total to 14 — no other man has won more than eight. The 2017 French Open racket has been photomatched by Resolution Photomatching to 24 matches from Nadal's 2017 season. This includes the Madrid Open final, the Miami Open final, and likely the Australian Open final, where Nadal lost to Roger Federer. 'To find a Grand Slam Final-used racket from Rafael Nadal is rare,' reads the Prestige Memorabilia lot description. 'To find one photomatched across an entire clay season (and more) — capped by a French Open title — is unprecedented.' The custom-made racket carries Nadal's 'Rafa' emblem on the throat and a stringing sticker from the 2017 French Open that reads: 'RG 2017 Nadal.'
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Are Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz cut from the same cloth?
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafa Nadal (Photo byfor Laureus) Unlike his idol, Alcaraz at 22 has won Majors on grass, hard and clay. Nadal's first 4 Slam wins came in Paris There was talk from Day 1, but Sunday night was the perfect catalyst for the tennis world to go into a tizzy. At 22, Rafael Nadal had won five Grand Slam titles and when Carlos Alcaraz did the same by outlasting Jannik Sinner at Rafa's 'home' Roland Garros, the comparison calls became louder. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "It is a stat that I am going to keep for me forever, winning the fifth Grand Slam at the same time as Rafa – my idol, my inspiration. It's a huge honour," Alcaraz said after the five-and-a-half-hour epic. Both are Spaniards, both share a never-say-die attitude, both are die-hard Real Madrid fans. The surface similarities between the two are many. So much so that the Rafa loyalist over a decade and a half feels Alcaraz is a natural heir to his throne of the heart. Poll Which player's style do you prefer? Nadal's relentless defense Alcaraz's aggressive play I enjoy both styles equally Neither, I prefer a different style But is it that simple? Are Nadal and Alcaraz cut out of the same cloth? The answer is probably 'no'. Nadal came at a time when the world was in awe of the jaw-dropping beauty of Roger Federer . The victories were becoming routine when this Spanish matador rocked the citadel of tennis with incredible ability to endure. Federer, who had grown up on Swiss clay and believed till 2005 that it was a matter of time before he won the French, suddenly didn't know how to get past his young nemesis on the red clay of Paris. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play Chess on Your PC, Free Play Classic Chess Install Now Undo It was a riddle that Federer never solved — he beat Rafa on other surfaces, but never at Roland Garros. Who's that IPL player? Nadal won 14 French Open titles — a record that is unlikely to be broken — and it had a lot to do with the different facets of his game that he went on adding to his basic repertoire of being an unbelievable retriever. But to start off, the myth of Rafa began as a counterpoint to the elegance of Federer. That's a fundamental difference between Alcaraz and Nadal. The Murica boy appeared on the big stage almost as a saviour in early 2022 when Federer was all but gone, Nadal was in a decline and Novak Djokovic was the untouchable master. Tennis was getting slightly unidimensional, and it needed the gold dust of artistry to keep it enticing for the consumer pampered by the Swiss-Spanish royalty for close to two decades. "The basic difference between Nadal and Alcaraz is that the latter is as good on any surface as he is on clay. His first Slam came on the hard courts of the US Open. He conquered grass when nobody expected him to do so, and now he is a two-time French Open champion. On the other hand, Rafa's first four Grand Slam titles were all at Roland Garros, till the 2008 Wimbledon final happened," Indian legend Ramesh Krishnan told TOI. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments While Nadal became an extremely reliable volleyer and kept on adding new shots and facets to his game, the 22-Slam winner's core strength was his ability to defend on slightly slower surfaces. Alcaraz, on the other hand, even as a teenager, was a combination of attack and defence – his ability to play outrageous winners has been the cornerstone of some of his best moments so far. Be it his drop shot down 0-30 serving for the match against Novak Djokovic in 2023 Wimbledon final or his ability to pull winners out of his bag in the final set tiebreak on Sunday, Alcaraz was more Federer than Nadal for the tennis tragic. The biggest compliment for Alcaraz probably came from the other master Djokovic, who feels that he hasn't "played a player like him" after the 2023 Wimbledon final loss. "Roger and Rafa had their own strengths and weaknesses, but Carlos is an amazing player. I would say his game has the best of all three of us." That probably sums up Alcaraz's game. And when John McEnroe said on Sunday that "these guys (Alcaraz and Sinner) would beat Roger and Rafa in their prime", you're left with the dilemma: "Who would you pay to watch? Nadal or Alcaraz? Krishnan smiled at the query. "I will probably pay to watch both."
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Feeling low in life? Anand Mahindra wants you to look at this poster of French Open winner Carlos Alcaraz for inspiration
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 itself. For 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. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo 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) Alcaraz's epic comeback 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 it. The 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 finals. This 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 revealed. What netizens said Across social media, netizens echoed Mahindra's sentiment. One user called it 'the best ever comeback in the history of the game,' while another remarked, 'Pressure doesn't break champions — it reveals them.' Others spoke of how the match gave them motivation in their own lives, saying it reminded them to keep pushing forward, no matter the odds. 'Never giving up isn't just a mindset, it's a lifestyle,' wrote one user. 'Thank you for sharing this, Sir. Needed this reminder today.' 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.
