The French Open continues on Day 2 at Roland Garros with Emma Raducanu safely through to the second round after a testing battle with China’s Wang Xinyu.
Raducanu admitted later that she struggled throughout the match and, having clinched the opening set, her energy levels dropped significantly as Xinyu fought back in the second. The match went to a decisive third set but Raducanu powered her way to a 5-1 lead before eventually winn 7-5 4-6 6-3.
Carlos Alcaraz raced into the second round and Jannik Sinner, who fell to the Spaniard in the Italian Open final this month, defeated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets. Jacob Fearnley had too much for Stan Wawrinka, extending a fine season, with Katie Boulter fighting against Carole Monnet and a hostile French home crowd to reach the next round.
Elsewhere, Iga Swiatek, the three-time defending women’s champion, with four crowns overall here on the famous red clay, swept into the second and will face Raducanu next up where she hopes to snap a rotten run over the last year with victory at Roland Garros.
Follow all the latest updates, scores, results and analysis from Roland Garros below:
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French Open 2025 - Day 2
- GAME, SET and MATCH! Emma Raducanu comes through tight test to reach second round
- GAME, SET and MATCH! Carlos Alcaraz too good for Giulio Zeppieri in fine start to title defence
- GAME, SET and MATCH! Katie Boulter fights from a set down to win first match at Roland Garros
- GAME, SET and MATCH! Sinner overcomes hostile atmosphere to beat Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech
- Highlights: Raducanu eases past Wang to set up blockbuster Swiatek match
Jannik Sinner shows winning quality against surging Arthur Rinderknech at French Open
22:37
,
Mike Jones
Jannik Sinner navigated mild turbulence for a winning return to Grand Slam tennis as the world number one launched his hunt for a maiden French Open trophy with a 6-4 6-3 7-5 first-round victory over Arthur Rinderknech on Monday.
The Italian served a three-month doping ban shortly after defending his Australian Open title in January and looked close to his best in a run to the Rome final on his return this month but faced some stern questions from local hope Rinderknech.
Sinner on playing Gasquet
22:08
,
Mike Jones
Jannik Sinner will play another Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, in the next round and said:
"It doesn't get any better. I'm very happy to be in this position. I know where he is in his position.
“He gave so much to this sport. I am very happy to share a court with him. I know you are going to support him.
“It's OK. I know that, I'm just happy to share a court with him so let's see."
Reaction from Jannik Sinner on Court Philippe Chatrier
22:08
,
Mike Jones
"All good. I cannot speak French, I'm sorry guys.
"First-round matches are never easy. I'm very happy with how I handled the situation, especially in the third set. I want to thank everyone who came out and being so fair to me too. I know he's a French player but I felt very appreciated.
"I have some very special guys up there. Gian, [Gianluigi Donnarumma] thank you for coming. He's the best goalkeeper you have guys so thanks guys.
"I'm just trying to focus on my side. I missed a couple of my shots. I try to learn how he moves a little bit. But I tried to gain confidence again. He made a couple of mistakes when he was serving for the set so that gave me some help. But I just tried to have the right mindset and attitude. The next match will be very special."
Jannik Sinner 6-4 6-3 7-5 Arthur Rinderknech - GAME, SET & MATCH!
21:47
,
Mike Jones
Sinner is so good. He’s relentless and calm and composed.
Rinderknech in comparison was a combustive force of nature who is trying to power his way to winning a set.
A drop shot forces Sinner to a backtracking lob which goes long. 15-15.
Rinderknech then misses out on a return of serve.
Sinner powers a forehand winner past the Frenchman and he’s got a couple of match points. The crowd goes wild again to throw him off his game.
It doesn’t work! Sinner serves out wide and he has a straight set win in the first round.
*Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 6-5 Arthur Rinderknech
21:43
,
Mike Jones
Rinderknech is faltering. He argues with the referee over a potential ace which is called out.
The Frenchman then lands one on the chalk line in the next rally and draws level at 15-15.
Two more points traded. 30-30.
A body serve puts Rinderknech into the lead but a slightly overhit forehand makes it deuce.
This is tense. Rinderknech needs this you feel if he is to win the set.
A double fault gives Sinner a break point. He would win a fourth game in a row if he takes it...
... he does! Rinderknech misses an overhead smash and Sinner leads in the third set. He’s serving for the match.
Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 5-5 Arthur Rinderknech*
21:37
,
Mike Jones
That last game show how hard it is against the top, top players.
Sinner was out of the set at 5-2 down but now it is back on serve and he has a chance to draw level.
All is not lost for Rinderknech if he can break the Italian here.
No joy.
Sinner holds to love. He might have his mojo well and truly back.
*Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 4-5 Arthur Rinderknech - BREAK!
21:34
,
Mike Jones
Can Arthur Rinderknech take this match into a fourth set?
He starts off by finding the net with a mishit backhand. Sinner calmly celebrates the point.
A super serve-and-volley then get Rinderknech on the board.
An ace follows an error from the Frenchman to bring the game level at 30-30.
Rinderknech attempts the serve-and-volley again but goes wide this time and Sinner has a break point.
He takes it! Wow.
Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 3-5 Arthur Rinderknech*
21:30
,
Mike Jones
How does Sinner play it from here?
He needs to win five games in a row to take the match and Rinderknech is in top form.
Well first up is a solid hold of serve.
*Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 2-5 Arthur Rinderknech
21:25
,
Mike Jones
Big game this one. If Sinner wins the third set is back on serve.
Rinderknech begins with an ace to settle things down. Sinner then fails to return the next serve. 30-0.
An excellent body serve brings him another point and this is the type of game he needed.
Sinner goes long and Rinderknech holds.
Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 2-4 Arthur Rinderknech*
21:23
,
Mike Jones
There is a loud groan as Rinderknech, who takes the lead in the game, pushes a forehand long.
He then comes up to the net and volleys a backhand into the tape giving away a point he should have won.
More aggression from the Frenchman and more mistakes.
There’s a nervous pressure descending on the court and the crowd feel it.
Sinner holds serve.
*Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 1-4 Arthur Rinderknech - BREAK!
21:19
,
Mike Jones
Will the Arthur Rinderbech purple patch continue?
No! It looked like it would as the Frenchman celebrated a fine volley at the net but Sinner remains calm.
He keeps the ball in play, slowly chips away at his opponent and gets a break back.
Rinderbech may start to worry if Sinner holds serve in the next game.
Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 0-4 Arthur Rinderknech*
21:14
,
Mike Jones
The crowd are Mexican waving and celebrating the advantage Arthur Rinderknech has opening up over Jannik Sinner.
He’s made to wait as the crowd dies down and has a job on his hands of silencing them.
Oh wow. Rinderknech has the bit between his teeth. Sinner misses a shot to give his opponent a point before Rinderknech laces a forehand down the line.
Sinner responds with an ace then Rinderknech lands another powerful forehand out of play. 30-30.
Another error from Rinderknech helps Sinner before the Frenchman slices a drop shot over the net. Sinner sprints to it and backhand one wide.
Deuce.
Double break! Sinner’s head has gone and he’s making a load of errors. The crowd is onto him and Rinderknech is in full flow.
Incredible.
*Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 0-3 Arthur Rinderknech
21:07
,
Mike Jones
Rinderknech’s next challenge is to hold his own serve. He lets Sinner take a lead at 15-30 but lands a forehand on the baseline to draw level.
From there Sinner sends a back hand too long and gives the Frenchman a chance to hold.
Rinderknech takes it with a wide bouncing serve!
He’s three games to the good in the third set.
Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 0-2 Arthur Rinderknech* - BREAK!
21:04
,
Mike Jones
Oh lovely! Rinderknech storms up to the net to win a point on the volley.
These are moments of joy for the Frenchman who then loses the next point but wins a couple after mistakes from Sinner.
That leaves him with two break points. This could turn the match on its head.
Sinner serves to the middle and follows up with a forehand into the corner. Rinderknech hits the net. 30-40.
Next up the Italian sends his serve to the forehand, forces the Frenchman wide then lands the ball on the open side of court.
Deuce.
Then break!
Oh my, Sinner misses an overhead smash to drop the score back to deuce and Rinderknech makes him pay. He’s sprinting around the court, getting the ball in play and somehow forces Sinner into two errors to break his serve.
Game on.
*Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 0-1 Arthur Rinderknech
20:54
,
Mike Jones
Into the third set, Arthur Rinderknech needs to find something more.
He must win the next three sets to get through but the focus is on this one first.
A strong start with the serve sees him take the opening two points.
A backhand lands in the net from the Frenchman and possibly opens the door for Sinner.
Nope.
Very solid finish to the game from Rinderknech to hold serve.
Jannik Sinner 6-4 6-3 Arthur Rinderknech* - SET!
20:49
,
Mike Jones
No he can’t!
Rinderknech wins the first point to keep Sinner honest but the Italian ups his own level again.
Two forehands hit the line and bring him a couple of points.
His next two come without trouble as well. Sinner is making things look easy right now.
Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-3 Arthur Rinderknech*
20:46
,
Mike Jones
Rinderknech emulates Sinner with a strong hold as well.
There’s a chance he can get back into this one but it means winning the next game.
That means breaking Sinner’s serve for the first time. Can he do it?
Jannik Sinner 6-4 5-2 Arthur Rinderknech*
20:44
,
Mike Jones
As quickly as it begins, Jannik Sinner’s next service game is over.
A hold to love, one game away from winning the second set.
*Jannik Sinner 6-4 4-2 Arthur Rinderknech
20:39
,
Mike Jones
Lovely! Rinderknech floats back a return from Sinner who plays a smash. He knocks the ball to the Frenchman’s right and Rinderknech sprints across before smoking a winner past Sinner.
The crowd goes nuts and their man has some confidence.
The sweeps the next two points to move within a hold of serve.
Sinner is relentless though. He brings Rinderknech to the net and lobs him to draw level at deuce.
Rinderknech holds his nerve though and gets through the next couple of points for a hold.
Jannik Sinner 6-4 4-1 Arthur Rinderknech*
20:33
,
Mike Jones
The previous game could be the turning point in this match.
Sinner breaks then follows up with a hold of serve to love.
Rinderknech’s resistance is waning and Sinner’s confidence is growing.
We could see a procession from the World No.1 to the end of this match now.
The crowd watching on hopes not though.
*Jannik Sinner 6-4 3-1 Arthur Rinderknech - BREAK!
20:30
,
Mike Jones
Rinderknech is in a battle now. He throws everything he has at Sinner but the Italian defends with gusto.
Both men work their way to deuce before a long forehand puts Sinner at advantage.
He goes after the next serve keeps the ball in play. Rinderknech decides to attack but blazes a forehand wide.
Sinner breaks serve!
Jannik Sinner 6-4 2-1 Arthur Rinderknech*
20:24
,
Mike Jones
Oh yes! Jannik Sinner errs after a couple of misplaced drop shots. Rinderknech gets up to the ball for the second one and flicks it back over.
That point gets the crowd going but doesn’t affect Sinner who forces his opponent wide with his serve then hooks the return to the opposite side of court with his forehand.
Another relatively simple hold.
*Jannik Sinner 6-4 1-1 Arthur Rinderknech
20:21
,
Mike Jones
The crowd have gone a bit flat after Sinner won the first set.
Rinderknech needs all the help he can get from them. A couple of points go the Frenchman’s way and the noise level starts to increase again.
More nice work from Rinderknech and he holds his own serve.
Jannik Sinner 6-4 1-0 Arthur Rinderknech*
20:17
,
Mike Jones
Sinner has the advantage in the match and Rinderknech needs to hold his nerve.
There’s been little resistance to the Italian’s serve, despite some decent play, but that just shows how good Sinner is.
He stretches to reach a cross court forehand from the Frenchman and drills one into the net to lead 30-15.
Oh wow. A backhand lands right on the line from Sinner to continue his dominance and he holds serve with an error from his opponent.
Jannik Sinner 6-4 Arthur Rinderknech* - SET!
20:13
,
Mike Jones
Sinner is dialled in now. A break of serve wins him the set.
He forces Rinderknech to hook a forehand wide then does the same thing himself. 15-15.
Rinderknech is forced back by Sinner and as a result rolls a forehand into the net.
Sinner then has the momentum from a return of serve, he strides into the court and backhands a winner down the line.
With two set points to play with, Sinner returns a backhand to Rinderknech’s left.
The Frenchman hits the net again and just like that the set has gone.
Jannik Sinner 6-4 Arthur Rinderknech*
20:08
,
Mike Jones
As the first set heads quickly to its conclusion Jannik Sinner wastes no time in rattling off another hold.
He thunders a backhand past Rinderknech to stop him coming forward for the volley and moves to 40-0.
A drop shot with back spin puts him within one game of winning the first set.
*Jannik Sinner 4-4 Arthur Rinderknech
20:06
,
Mike Jones
Ace! Arthur Rinderknech is playing superbly and not letting Sinner have any joy.
He serves out wide and comes forward before flicking his volley over the net.
A bit of energy flows through him in the next rally and he drives a forehand too long. The Frenchman is enjoying himself.
So too is Sinner, he’ll be pleased about getting a run out. The Italian is gifted another point from an unforced error but another stellar serve-and-volley put Rinderknech ahead again.
At 40-30, the Frenchman serves down the line to hold.
Jannik Sinner 4-3 Arthur Rinderknech*
20:01
,
Mike Jones
Lovely! Rinderknech smokes a return of serve past Sinner and takes the first point of the next game.
Each point he wins is being met with a loud cheer from the crowd.
Sinner takes the next point but pushes a forehand too wide. You wouldn’t be able to tell by his body language but maybe the World No.1 is slightly rattled by this start from Rinderknech.
The Frenchman hangs on in a long rally before getting the opportunity to drive a forehand down the line. He goes for it but sends the ball too long.
Sinner holds serve again.
*Jannik Sinner 3-3 Arthur Rinderknech
19:57
,
Mike Jones
Rinderknech can only hold his own serve and keep troubling Sinner with his aggression.
A forehand slice catches Sinner off guard and earns the Frenchman a point.
He takes the next one too as Sinner whips a backhand out of play.
Rinderknech holds to love as well.
Anything Sinner can do...
Jannik Sinner 3-2 Arthur Rinderknech*
19:53
,
Mike Jones
Sinner sends a passing winner by Rinderknech who is being toyed with.
The Frenchman is dancing from side-to-side chasing the ball as Sinner seems to have found his mojo.
A hold of serve to love takes him ahead once more.
*Jannik Sinner 2-2 Arthur Rinderknech
19:51
,
Mike Jones
Rinderknech pulls out the fist pump after serving to the backhand of Sinner and getting a point.
The Frenchman then serves and volleys. He comes up to the net but Sinner manages to get to his return.
Sinner whips one down the line but pushes it too long!
Another hold for Rinderknech who is playing very well.
Jannik Sinner 2-1 Arthur Rinderknech*
19:47
,
Mike Jones
Oh hello.
Rinderknech is being really aggressive here and is causing issues for Sinner. The ball is keeping a little low and the Frenchman has a couple of break points.
The first is pushed into the net from a backhand and the second is sent too long when returning the serve.
Sinner seems as calm as ever.
Rinderknech is fired up. He moves to advantage and tries to force the issue. A couple of mishits take the ball too long and Sinner is back to deuce.
Calm is the only word to describe Sinner. Barely a twitch of the eyebrows during Rinderknech’s pressure and the Italian turns the tables to hold his own serve.
Impressive.
*Jannik Sinner 1-1 Arthur Rinderknech
19:38
,
Mike Jones
‘Come on!’ cries Rinderknech as he manages to cling on to a hold of serve despite constant pressure from Sinner.
The Frenchman hold good control of his serve but Sinner is so good at keeping rallies going that it’ll be a tough outing tonight.
Great start though.
Jannik Sinner 1-0 Arthur Rinderknech*
19:33
,
Mike Jones
Sinner has the opening serve of the match and is met with an equally enthusiastic return from Arthur Rinderknech.
The Italian loses that point but takes the next two as he feels his way into the game and the court.
An inside-out forehand earns him another point and he holds serve in this first game by coming up to the net and volleying over a winner.
Jannik Sinner vs Arthur Rinderknech
19:31
,
Mike Jones
Welcome back to our coverage from Roland Garros.
Jannik Sinnner and Arthur Rinderknech have made their way out onto Court Philippe Chatrier.
Sinner is the big favourite to win here but how will he go in five sets?
Let’s find out.
Emma Raducanu sets up clash with Iga Swiatek as Katie Boulter digs deep for first Roland Garros win
18:47
,
Mike Jones
Emma Raducanu needed a lengthy medical time-out as she came through a three-set marathon to book a blockbuster second-round meeting with defending champion Iga Swiatek at the French Open.
The 22-year-old was leading China’s Wang Xinyu 6-5 in the first set when she called for the doctor, rubbing ice on her cheeks and round her eyes as she had her blood pressure checked.
There were fears that Raducanu, who has had a history of injury and illness issues throughout her career, would have to retire from the match.
See you shortly!
18:15
,
Mike Jones
Were taking a break now but we’ll be back later this evening with coverage of Jannik Sinner's match against Arthur Rinderknech.
That should be a cracker. Catch you soon...
More from Boulter who said:
18:12
,
Mike Jones
“Last week was great for me [winning the WTA 125k, Paris] which means I have officially have now got one win on every surface which means a lot to me.
“I think it makes it even more special that it was here in Paris because coming out here today I had familiar, good feelings.
“Also last year, getting to play the Olympics here. That was something very special to me.”
Post match reaction from Katie Boulter.
18:09
,
Mike Jones
“My first victory here at Roland Garros. Honestly I’m really pleased with myself.
“Sometimes I find it really difficult on this surface. I persevered and tried my hardest to bring some good tennis and obviously my first Roland Garros win, you never forget those ones.
“This one is going to be special for me. I’m really, really happy with today.”
*Katie Boulter 6-7 6-1 6-1 Carole Monnet - GAME, SET & MATCH
17:56
,
Mike Jones
That’s it!
Carole Monnet’s resistance is done and Katie Boulter is into the second round.
She wins it with an error from the French favourite. Boulter secures her first victory at Roland Garros.
It wasn’t the best performance but she got over the line when needed.
Katie Boulter 6-7 6-1 5-1 Carole Monnet*
17:54
,
Mike Jones
Hold from Boutler.
Monnet threatened her a couple of times with some wild and heavy forehands but the Birt remained composed and secured her hold.
One more game to go.
*Katie Boulter 6-7 6-1 4-1 Carole Monnet
17:48
,
Mike Jones
Nice from Monnet. After that first set fightback she would have thought something special might be on the cards.
Katie Boulter has blown her away since then but the French woman has had some moments of joy.
Monnet gets a hold of serve and is hanging in there.
Katie Boulter 6-7 6-1 4-0 Carole Monnet*
17:46
,
Mike Jones
Katie Boulter is beginning to assert some composed dominance.
She’s scoring a lot of forehand winners, up to 21 now for the match, as Monnet is forced deep behind the baseline.
The double break is complete with a hold to 15. Boulter has won 10 of the last 11 games.
*Katie Boulter 6-7 6-1 3-0 Carole Monnet - BREAK!
17:42
,
Mike Jones
Katie Boulter is skipping around the court now. She’s confident about getting the job done now.
Monnet puts up a good fight but Boulter is into her stride, working the French player across the court and forcing the errors.
Boulter pulls out the fist pump as she sets up a break point then cheers when Monnet goes long.
Halfway there now.
Katie Boulter 6-7 6-1 2-0 Carole Monnet*
17:38
,
Mike Jones
Boulter does well from 0-30 down. The French crowd were starting to get at her again but she silences them with a could of decent serves to draw level.
Boutler then goes ahead with a dainty drop shot volley and manages to hold serve with a backhand down the line.
Big hold and Boulter has the advantage in the set.
*Katie Boulter 6-7 6-1 0-0 Carole Monnet
17:33
,
Mike Jones
Here we go.
Monnet starts well in this set by taking the first point but Boulter is after here immediately. A backhand winner brings the Brit a point and the pair trade points to reach 30-30.
Boulter hooks a return of serve wide but Monnet double faults to put the game level at deuce.
Boutler has three attempts to break Monnet and kick off the third set well. On the third, Monnet sends down a second serve and gets battered by forehands. She manages to defend, and defend so more before Boutler hooks a backhand wide.
Back to deuce.
Finally! A cross court forehand from Boutler is too strong and powerful for Monnet. The Brit breaks after a 10 minute game.
Katie Boulter 6-7 6-1 0-0 Carole Monnet*
17:21
,
Mike Jones
Carole Monnet has just stepped off court for a comfort break ahead of what will be a fascinating finale to this first round match.
Can Katie Boulter get through or will Monnet pull off a shock win?
Katie Boulter 6-7 6-1 Carole Monnet - SET!
17:16
,
Mike Jones
Wonderful from Katie Boutler. She battles through a tough game against the serve and secures a break before storming through to claim the second set.
A perfect response having lost the opening set. One more to go.
*Katie Boulter 6-7 4-1 Carole Monnet
17:06
,
Mike Jones
Boutler gets her hold of serve after forcing Monnet to go long. It was decent work from deuce to get over the line.
The Brit is close to forcing a deciding set. Two games away.
*Katie Boulter 6-7 1-4 Carole Monnet
17:04
,
Mike Jones
Carole Monnet holds serve for the first time in the second set and delights the crowd in doing so.
Boulter shrugs it off and is back in the zone. She latches on to a forehand volley and drives it home to move 30-0 up in the next game.
A barrage from Boulter nudges her closer to a hold but Monnet isn’t going away. Some strong defence from the French player forces the game to deuce.
What can she do from this position?
Katie Boulter 6-7 (4-7) 3-0 Carole Monnet*
16:58
,
Mike Jones
Not the start Carole Monnet wanted in the second set as Katie Boulter has raced into a three game lead.
The Brit seemed rattled towards the end of the first set, especially with the partisan crowd on her back but she’s settled down again here.
Boulter sets up a double break point to move further ahead.
SET! Katie Boulter 6-7 (4-7) Carole Monnet
16:43
,
Jack Rathborn
DOUBLE FAULT!
Boulter has blown this, down two set points, a gripping rally ensues...
But long! Boulter sprays a forehand wide and she’s coughed up the first stand in bizarre fashion.
Time for a rethink, the French crowd go wild, the world No. 227 is up here and can sense a monumental upset...
Katie Boulter 6-6 (3-4) Carole Monnet*
16:39
,
Jack Rathborn
Wow! A perfect start and the momentum switches... just like that Monnet rallies from 0-3 to 3-3.
Boulter then plants a forehand into the net and my goodness, she’s down a break!
HOLD! Katie Boulter 6-6 Carole Monnet*
16:34
,
Jack Rathborn
Impressive from Boulter, who came under massive pressure there!
Monnet grabbed a first lead of the match, but Boulter holds firm, forces the tie-break.
*Katie Boulter 5-4 Carole Monnet
16:26
,
Jack Rathborn
Now at a vital moment in the set for Boulter, who is coming under pressure from the hostile home crowd.
Monnet getting a lot of support here and the drop shot causing Katie issues.
A big forehand gets her out of a small hole at 15-30. But that’s wayward! Fist pump from Monnet... Break point!
Katie Boulter 5-3 Carole Monnet*
16:19
,
Jack Rathborn
It’s still on serve here, Boulter now edging towards that first set, and she leads 5-3!
That was vital and she’s remained calm throughout this first half an hour or so.
Katie Boulter on top early against Carole Monnet
16:02
,
Jack Rathborn
It's a hot start from Boulter, who grabs a quick break over Monnet. She leads 2-1 and is on serve.
Katie Boulter ready to begin French Open campaign
15:41
,
Jack Rathborn
Katie Boulter, or Claytie Boulter, as the British No. 1 has joked after recent joy on the red stuff with victory last week at the 125k Paris, begins her French Open campaign shortly.
She faces home favourite Carole Monnet in a game the Briton will fancy, with Monnet losing a qualifier to Eleejah Inisan in the same tournament Boulter won.
It’s a first meeting between the pair, there will be an unknown factor for Boulter to deal with.
Highlights: Raducanu eases past Wang to set up blockbuster Swiatek match
15:28
,
Jack Rathborn
Boulter and Sinner to come
15:08
,
Mike Jones
Still to come from our coverage of the French Open today is Katie Boulter’s first round match against Carole Monnet and Jannik Sinner’s campaign opener versus Arthur Rinderknech.
Teenager Victoria Mboko continues rapid rise at French Open as Aryna Sabalenka makes supreme start
15:00
,
Mike Jones
Teenager Victoria Mboko is the first breakout star at this year’s French Open after reaching round two on her grand slam debut.
The 18-year-old from Canada, whose parents emigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo due to political conflict before she was born, came through qualifying without dropping a set. Ranked 333 at the start of the year, Mboko took to the court at 11am on the opening Sunday at Roland Garros and showed no sign of nerves in a 6-1 7-6 (4) win over New Zealander Lulu Sun, the world No 45 who beat Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon last July.
It was Mboko’s 38th win of the season and she has lost just five matches, two of which were three-set battles with top-10 players Paula Badosa and Coco Gauff. Now ranked 120, Mboko’s rapid upward trajectory means she is well in with a chance of qualifying directly into the Wimbledon main draw later this summer.
“I didn’t expect the whole thing, honestly,” she said. “I mean, even to be here and playing even the quallies, I was so excited to be in a grand slam for the first ever time. I remember coming here as a junior, watching the older girls play. It was such a great experience. I’m happy I experienced it in the juniors so that it kind of prepared me for the professional level.
“The whole thing is honestly kind of a surprise. I mean, now I’m here, I feel like I can do something with it and make the most of it.”
Fearnley wins first set against Wawrinka
14:46
,
Mike Jones
Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley is currently in action at Roland Garros and is facing Stan Wawrinka in the opening round.
A close first set went to a tie break with Fearnley securing the first set 7-6 (8-6).
It’ll be an interesting match if things continue in this way.
Boris Becker ‘lost for words’ Novak Djokovic has not kept Andy Murray as his coach for Wimbledon
14:39
,
Mike Jones
Kudos for trying. After last year’s no-change procession, the kingmakers at Formula One had to change something at the sport’s traditional blue-riband event. A mandatory two pit-stops had never been written into the rulebook before; the aroma of mystique was palpable ahead of raceday in Monte-Carlo.
As it turned out, the brains and boffins in the garages made a mockery of the regulation. Racing Bulls showed their hand first, with Liam Lawson driving purposefully slowly to hold up the pack behind him, allowing teammate Isack Hadjar to pit again without losing position. Then, Williams followed suit – with Carlos Sainz and then Alex Albon lapping nearly six seconds a lap slower than the frontrunners.
For both teams, double points-finishes. A tactic reeking of gamesmanship worked to perfection. It was all fair game – but it was master manipulation. As 2009 world champion Jenson Button put it afterwards: “It was all just a bit silly.”
Even for the drivers who benefited from the strategy, there was little solace in the leaderboard. Their racing instinct was curtailed here, at one of the sport’s most glorious circuits to drive. That is not right.
Recovery key for Raducanu?
14:25
,
Mike Jones
Though Emma Raducanu struggled in her match with Wang Xinyu today she has a day to recover before facing Iga Swiatek.
Laura Robson said that will help her. The TNT Sports pundit explained: “One of the best parts about these tournaments is that you do get the day off, so she's gonna have some space to recover.
“She's gonna probably spend a bit of time with the physio over the next 24 hours and have hopefully a fresh start.”
Sinner braced for hostile atmosphere against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech after returning from doping ban
14:19
,
Mike Jones
Jannik Sinner is braced for a “different” reception from the crowd at the French Open.
The Italian world number one returned from his three-month doping ban to a hero’s welcome on home soil in Rome last week. But Sinner does not expect the Roland Garros crowd to be quite so cordial when he takes on Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in round one.
“It’s definitely going to be different. I know that,” he said. “But I don’t think they have something against me, no? It’s right that they support the players who are from here, who are local here. It’s the same when I play against an American player in the US Open.
“So it’s normal. You know, I got an amazing atmosphere in Rome because I’m Italian. It’s right that the player who plays in this city or country, that they got more support. Last year I played against some French players here. So I know a little bit what to expect. It’s a different moment because whatever happened happened. So let’s see.”
Henman on Raducanu:
14:08
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Mike Jones
“She obviously isn't feeling her best, felt a little bit low on energy, but when you do find a way to, you know, get those solutions, then you give yourself an opportunity in the next round.
“As you say, against Swiatek, ther is less pressure on her, and hopefully she can play with that freedom.”
The promising signs Emma Raducanu is bridging the gap on clay ahead of French Open
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