Arthur Fils pulled off one of the most dramatic wins in Roland Garros, battling through a back injury to defeat Jaume Munar in five gruelling sets.
The packed French crowd on Court Suzanne-Lenglen roared as Fils fought his way to a thrilling 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 2-6, 0-6, 6-4 victory, ripping off his shirt in celebration after four hours and 25 minutes on court.
Meanwhile, third seed Alexander Zverev continued his strong run, overcoming Jesper de Jong 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 with 43 winners and seven service breaks. Zverev, who fell short in last year’s final, now looks determined to claim his first Grand Slam title.
The tournament also saw a massive upset as Alexander Bublik staged a remarkable comeback against ninth seed Alex de Minaur. After losing the first two sets, Bublik turned the match around, winning 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, marking a historic achievement for Kazakhstan.
Henrique Rocha added to the day’s surprises by rallying from two sets down against Jakub Mensik, making history alongside Nuno Borges as two Portuguese men advanced to the third round of Roland Garros for the first time.
With the next rounds promising more intense clashes, tennis fans worldwide eagerly await what’s next at this exhilarating Grand Slam.
Sinner Shines as Gasquet Bows Out in Roland Garros Farewell
Jannik Sinner brought the curtain down on Richard Gasquet’s illustrious tennis career on Thursday, defeating the French veteran 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 in the second round at Roland Garros.
Gasquet, competing in his 22nd French Open, struggled to handle Sinner’s relentless power and precision during their one-hour, 58-minute clash on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The 38-year-old, who holds the Open Era record for 610 career wins by a Frenchman, officially bows out after decades of competing at the highest level.
Sinner, the world No. 1, extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 16 matches, making history as the first Italian male player born in 1990 or later to achieve this feat.
“It’s your moment,” Sinner said in an emotional tribute to Gasquet after the match. “You played in such an incredible era of tennis, and everyone will recognise you, even after your retirement.”
Gasquet showed flashes of brilliance, especially his signature one-handed backhand, thrilling French fans by generating three break points late in the first set. However, Sinner saved all three and maintained his dominance throughout.
With this victory, Sinner moves on to face Jiri Lehecka in the third round, a player he leads 2-0 in their head-to-head series. The Italian star continues his quest to become his country’s first men’s singles champion at Roland Garros since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
