World number one Jannik Sinner stormed into the last 16 of the French Open on Saturday, joined by last year’s finalist Alexander Zverev, while American Madison Keys saved three match points to advance alongside compatriots Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Hailey Baptiste.
Sinner breezed past world number 34 Jiri Lehecka in just 102 minutes, winning 6-0, 6-1, 6-2. He next faces Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who advanced after Arthur Fils withdrew injured. The Italian, who recently returned from a three-month doping ban, has now extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 17 matches.
Zverev, the third seed, defeated Hamburg champion Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 on Court Philippe Chatrier, saying he was relieved to finish in straight sets on a hot day in Paris. The German, still chasing a Roland Garros title, said, “It’s a love story that hasn’t reached its happy ending.”
Britain’s Jack Draper also advanced, beating Brazil’s Joao Fonseca 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to set up a fourth-round tie with Alexander Bublik.
In the women’s draw, seventh seed Madison Keys fought back from 3-0 down and saved three match points to defeat fellow American Sofia Kenin 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Keys will next face Hailey Baptiste, who earlier beat Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.
World number two Coco Gauff comfortably saw off Czech Marie Bouzkova 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), and will meet Ekaterina Alexandrova in the next round. Third seed Jessica Pegula overcame Marketa Vondrousova 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, and now faces local favourite Lois Boisson, ranked 361, who battled past Elsa Jacquemot 6-3, 0-6, 7-5.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva advanced with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 win over Yulia Putintseva. She now faces Daria Kasatkina, who beat Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-1, 7-5.