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Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Sabalenka, Zheng sizzle as temperatures soar at French Open
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng in action during her third round match against Canada's Victoria Mboko REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 Canada's Victoria Mboko in action during her third round match against China's Qinwen Zheng REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng in action during her third round match against Canada's Victoria Mboko REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her third round match against Serbia's Olga Danilovic REUTERS/Lisi Niesner PARIS - World number one Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen eased into the fourth round of the French Open while Lorenzo Musetti blew hot and cold on a scorching day at Roland Garros on Friday. Defending champion Iga Swiatek continued her bid for a fifth Roland Garros trophy when the fifth seed stayed calm on a steamy afternoon to beat Romania's Jaqueline Cristian while Holger Rune edged a brutal five-setter with France's Quentin Halys. Holder Carlos Alcaraz resumes his title defence against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur in the cool of the evening session. Sabalenka avoided the worst conditions but had to stave off a plucky Olga Danilovic to win 6-2 6-3 and continue her bid for a maiden Roland Garros title following major triumphs at the Australian and U.S. Opens. The three-time Grand Slam champion looked in ruthless form while racing ahead 5-0 but Danilovic avoided the bagel by taking the sixth game on serve and pulled a break back to give herself a small chance to come back. The resurgence did not last, however, as Sabalenka closed out the opening set with another break of serve and withstood another stern test in the second set to beat her 34th-ranked opponent from Serbia. "Olga's a fighter and I knew it was going to be a fight," Sabalenka said. "I enjoyed playing against her, she played like a top 10 player and I'm sure soon she'll be in the top 10. I enjoyed our battle and I'm super happy to be through this difficult match." Zheng, who won her biggest title at last year's Paris Olympics, continued her good form on the Roland Garros clay as the Chinese eighth seed moved into the second week by beating Grand Slam debutant Victoria Mboko 6-3 6-4 at Court Simonne Mathieu. That match was halted briefly when the 18-year-old Mboko was down 5-3 in the second set as a fan needed medical attention but Zheng ensured her momentum was not affected when play resumed and quickly dispatched the Canadian. Former semi-finalist Amanda Anisimova required treatment for a blister on her right hand before the American secured a 7-6(4) 6-4 victory over Denmark's Clara Tauson to reach the last 16 of the major where she announced herself in 2019. Anisimova, seeded 16th, takes on Sabalenka in the next round aiming to improve her 5-2 win-loss record against the Belarusian top seed. 'BIG HITTERS' "We're both big hitters, so I'm sure we're going to be going at it back and forth," Anisimova said. "Obviously she's one of the best right now. She's number one. I feel it's always a good matchup. I really enjoy the fight and the challenge she brings on. "I'm just looking forward to it. Hopefully I can bring my 'A' game. Hopefully it'll be a good match." Liudmila Samsonova will also expect to be fully tested when she meets Zheng after seeing off Dayana Yastremska 6-2 6-3. Swiatek extended her spectacular French Open winning streak to 24 matches after seeing off a spirited Jaqueline Cristian of Romania 6-2 7-5 as the temperature soared. "It was 20 degrees Celsius when I played my first match but today it was 30 degrees," Swiatek said. "It's not easy to adjust but I've played in every condition. Last year at the Olympics it was super hot, so I was ready." Up next for Swiatek is fellow Grand Slam champion Elena Rybakina, who ousted 2017 Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-2. Last year's runner-up Jasmine Paolini of Italy eased past Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-4 6-1 and could face another Ukrainian if Elina Svitolina can beat American Bernarda Pera. On the men's side, eighth seed Musetti dropped the opening set against Mariano Navone of Argentina before prevailing 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2 while Rune emerged from a see-sawing battle against Halys with a 4-6 6-2 5-7 7-5 6-2 win. "It was a brutal match. He played really well. Massive respect to him," Rune said. "I tried to change things. The first set didn't go how I wanted it to. I had to put more spin on the ball because of the conditions. "The player who took the opportunities to be aggressive was the player who won today." Tommy Paul also won in five sets, the American 12th seed beating Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3 3-6 7-6(7) 3-6 6-3 while Australia's Alexei Popyrin got past Nuno Borges 6-4 7-6(11) 7-6(5). REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Toronto Sun
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Toronto teen Victoria Mboko falls to Olympic champ Zheng Qinwen at French Open
It was a major step forward for Mboko in her Grand Slam main-draw debut. Published May 30, 2025 • Last updated 0 minutes ago • 1 minute read Canada's Victoria Mboko serves against New Zealand's Lulu Sun during their first round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. Photo by Christophe Ena / AP PARIS — Canadian teen Victoria Mboko's breakthrough Grand Slam run came to an end Friday at the French Open. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The 18-year-old from Toronto was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by No. 8 seed Zheng Qinwen of China in third-round action at Roland Garros. Mboko, ranked No. 333 at the start of the year, had surged into the spotlight with three straight wins in qualifying and two more in the main draw — all in straight sets — before running into Zheng, an Australian Open finalist who won Olympic gold in singles last summer on these same Paris clay courts. Zheng won 70 per cent of her first-serve points and saved six of eight break points. Mboko was broken four times and won only 38 per cent of her second-serve points. Still, it was a major step forward for Mboko in her Grand Slam main-draw debut. She'll officially enter the WTA's top 100 when the tournament wraps. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Later Friday, Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., and Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva fell 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 to Slovakia's Tereza Mihalikova and Great Britain's Olivia Nicholls. Fernandez and Putintseva converted six of nine break chances but managed to save just one of six against them in the second-round women's doubles match. Montreal's Gabriel Diallo and Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley lost in second-round men's doubles action. The pair fell 6-2, 6-3 to second-seeded Henry Patten of Great Britain and Harri Heliovaara of Finland. Patten and Heliovaara committed just six unforced errors to Diallo and Fearnley's 16, converted four of six break-point chances and saved both of their opponents'. Crime World Olympics Sunshine Girls Toronto Raptors
National Post
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- National Post
Toronto teen Victoria Mboko falls to Olympic champ Zheng Qinwen at French Open
PARIS — Canadian teen Victoria Mboko's breakthrough Grand Slam run came to an end Friday at the French Open. Article content Article content The 18-year-old from Toronto was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by No. 8 seed Zheng Qinwen of China in third-round action at Roland Garros. Article content Mboko, ranked No. 333 at the start of the year, had surged into the spotlight with three straight wins in qualifying and two more in the main draw — all in straight sets — before running into Zheng, an Australian Open finalist who won Olympic gold in singles last summer on these same Paris clay courts. Article content Article content Zheng won 70 per cent of her first-serve points and saved six of eight break points. Article content Mboko was broken four times and won only 38 per cent of her second-serve points. Article content Still, it was a major step forward for Mboko in her Grand Slam main-draw debut. She'll officially enter the WTA's top 100 when the tournament wraps. Article content Later Friday, Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., and Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva fell 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 to Slovakia's Tereza Mihalikova and Great Britain's Olivia Nicholls. Article content Fernandez and Putintseva converted six of nine break chances but managed to save just one of six against them in the second-round women's doubles match. Article content Montreal's Gabriel Diallo and Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley lost in second-round men's doubles action. Article content
Globe and Mail
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Toronto teen Victoria Mboko falls to Olympic champ Zheng Qinwen at French Open
Canadian teen Victoria Mboko's breakthrough Grand Slam run came to an end Friday at the French Open. The 18-year-old from Toronto was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by No. 8 seed Zheng Qinwen of China in third-round action at Roland Garros. Mboko, ranked No. 333 at the start of the year, had surged into the spotlight with three straight wins in qualifying and two more in the main draw — all in straight sets — before running into Zheng, an Australian Open finalist who won Olympic gold in singles last summer on these same Paris clay courts. Canadian teen Victoria Mboko wins first Grand Slam match and looks for more at French Open Zheng won 70 per cent of her first-serve points and saved six of eight break points. Mboko was broken four times and won only 38 per cent of her second-serve points. Still, it was a major step forward for Mboko in her Grand Slam main-draw debut. She'll officially enter the WTA's top 100 when the tournament wraps.
Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Sabalenka, Zheng sizzle on sunny day at French Open
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng in action during her third round match against Canada's Victoria Mboko REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 Canada's Victoria Mboko in action during her third round match against China's Qinwen Zheng REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng in action during her third round match against Canada's Victoria Mboko REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her third round match against Serbia's Olga Danilovic REUTERS/Lisi Niesner PARIS - World number one Aryna Sabalenka and Paris Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen charged into the fourth round of the French Open but Italian Lorenzo Musetti was made to work a little harder to progress in glorious sunshine on Friday. Sabalenka experienced late resistance in her meeting with unseeded Olga Danilovic but won 6-2 6-3 and kept alive her hopes of winning a maiden Roland Garros trophy after major successes on the hardcourts of the Australian Open and U.S. Open. The three-time Grand Slam champion looked in ruthless form while racing ahead 5-0 but Danilovic avoided the bagel by taking the sixth game on serve and pulled a break back to give herself a small chance to come back. The resurgence did not last, however, as Sabalenka closed out the opening set with another break of serve and withstood another stern test in the second set to beat her 34th-ranked opponent from Serbia. "I'm super happy with the win," Sabalenka said. "Olga's a fighter and I knew it was going to be a fight. I enjoyed playing against her, she played like a top 10 player and I'm sure soon she will be in the top 10. "I enjoyed our battle and I'm super happy to be through this difficult match." Zheng, who won her biggest title at last year's Olympics, continued her good form on Parisian clay as the Chinese eighth seed moved into the second week by beating Grand Slam debutant Victoria Mboko 6-3 6-4 at a sunbathed Court Simonne Mathieu. That match was halted briefly when the 18-year-old Mboko was down 5-3 in the second set as a fan needed medical attention but Zheng ensured her momentum was not affected when play resumed and quickly completed the victory over the Canadian. Former semi-finalist Amanda Anisimova required treatment for a blister on her right hand before the American secured a 7-6(4) 6-4 victory over Denmark's Clara Tauson to reach the last 16 of the major where she announced herself in 2019. Anisimova, seeded 16th, takes on Sabalenka in the next round aiming to improve her 5-2 win-loss record against the Belarusian top seed. "We're both big hitters, so I'm sure we're going to be going at it back and forth," Anisimova said. "Obviously she's one of the best right now. She's number one. I feel it's always a good matchup. I really enjoy the fight and the challenge she brings on. "I'm just looking forward to it. Hopefully I can bring my 'A' game. Hopefully it'll be a good match." Liudmila Samsonova will also expect to be fully tested when she meets Zheng after seeing off Dayana Yastremska 6-2 6-3. Reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek resumes her bid for a fifth title in Paris when the fifth seed plays Jaqueline Cristian on Court Suzanne Lenglen while men's champion Carlos Alcaraz plays unseeded Damir Dzumhur in the evening. On the men's side, eighth seed Musetti dropped the opening set against Mariano Navone of Argentina before he prevailed 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
