Jannik Sinner continued his impressive run at the French Open, comfortably advancing to the fourth round with a commanding 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Jiri Lehecka. The top-seeded Italian demonstrated dominant form from the outset, racing to a 6-0, 5-0 lead before conceding his first game of the match. Despite facing a talented and aggressive opponent in Lehecka, Sinner maintained focus and control throughout the contest.
This tournament marks Sinner’s second event since returning from a three-month doping ban earlier this month. His recent performances have shown a player determined to reclaim his best level, having reached the Italian Open final in Rome just prior to Roland Garros, where he lost to reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz. Building on that momentum, Sinner’s performance in Paris has been marked by precision and intensity.
Reflecting on the match, Sinner highlighted the challenges posed by changing weather conditions. “This morning I felt that I was feeling the ball very good but, again, the conditions can change from one moment to the other,” he said. “There was rain a little bit at some point, and then after it was nearly sunny. This changed how the ball bounces and how fast it goes through the air. Things can change so quickly from one day to the other.” He added that maintaining concentration is crucial, especially after recalling a recent experience in Rome where he lost a set 6-1 shortly after a strong win, emphasizing the importance of not becoming complacent.
Joining Sinner in the fourth round was third seed Alexander Zverev, who overcame Flavio Cobolli in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-1. Meanwhile, French hope Arthur Fils, seeded 14th, was forced to withdraw before his third-round match against Andrey Rublev due to a stress fracture in his back. The young French player had shown tremendous grit with a five-set comeback victory in the previous round but revealed the injury had worsened during that match. Fils and his team decided on withdrawal to prevent a longer-term layoff, estimating a recovery time of four to six weeks if he stopped competing now.
In the women’s draw, Mirra Andreeva kept up her impressive form by advancing to the fourth round with a solid 6-3, 6-1 win over 32nd seed Yulia Putintseva. Andreeva, who made headlines by reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final at Roland Garros last year, has yet to drop a set in this year’s tournament. After a slow start in her opening rounds, the young Russian has found consistency and confidence on the clay courts.
Andreeva will face her friend and fellow Russian Daria Kasatkina next. Kasatkina secured her spot in the fourth round by defeating 10th seed Paula Badosa 6-1, 7-5. Off the court, Andreeva and Kasatkina share a close friendship, often appearing together on Kasatkina’s popular tennis vlog alongside Andreeva’s ice skater girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako.
Despite their friendship, Andreeva was candid about Kasatkina’s interviewing skills on the vlog. She joked that Kasatkina could improve her timing when conducting interviews, mentioning how some interviewees were caught off guard or distracted during filming. However, Andreeva praised Kasatkina and Zabiiako for their ability to keep the content engaging and entertaining, appreciating their effort in crafting interesting questions.
In another notable women’s match, third seed Jessica Pegula advanced to the fourth round after a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory against 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. Pegula had to rally after dropping the first set but displayed resilience to secure her place among the tournament’s remaining contenders.
As the French Open progresses, the men’s and women’s draws continue to tighten, with top seeds asserting themselves and promising young players making their mark. Sinner’s strong showing keeps him firmly on track in his quest for a maiden French Open title, while Andreeva’s steady performance signals her readiness to contend deep into the tournament.
