PARIS — In a dazzling display of talent, Jannik Sinner left the Court Suzanne-Lenglen audience in awe as he swept his opponent in the third round of the French Open. The crowd erupted into applause when Sinner’s rival finally secured a single game on Saturday, highlighting just how dominant Sinner was, extending his Grand Slam winning streak to a remarkable 17 matches and embodying the prowess of the top-ranked player in the world.
With an impressive score of 6-0, 6-1, 6-2, Sinner dispatched Jiri Lehecka in a lightning-fast 1 hour and 34 minutes, marking not only the swiftest men’s match at Roland-Garros this year but also the most one-sided victory of Sinner’s career at a major tournament, based on games lost.
“We strive for improvement,” Sinner remarked. “But honestly, today, it’s hard to pinpoint areas for enhancement.”
Witness the stats: Sinner unleashed 31 winners while committing just nine unforced errors. He seized 18 break points, converting seven of them, and faced only one—successfully saving it.
The first 11 games unfolded in Sinner’s favor. When he missed a return, making it 6-0, 5-1 after 55 minutes, Lehecka humorously celebrated with a fist pump, prompting a wave of cheers from the fans, who rose to their feet, their enthusiasm contagious, even bringing a smile to Lehecka’s face.
However, it’s important to note that Lehecka is no mere footnote in the tournament. The 23-year-old from the Czech Republic holds a ranking of 34th and has previously reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam.
Yet, on this day, he found himself outclassed by Sinner, who not only clinched the last two major championships—the U.S. Open in September and the Australian Open in January—but has now embarked on an unbeaten streak at the sport’s elite events, surpassed this century only by legends Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal.
Sinner will aim for his first title at the French Open and a remarkable fourth Grand Slam trophy overall when he faces No. 17 Andrey Rublev on Monday for a shot at the quarterfinals. Rublev secured his spot after No. 14 Arthur Fils withdrew due to a stress fracture in his lower back.
What else unfolded at the French Open on Saturday?
No. 3-seeded American Jessica Pegula, the U.S. Open runner-up, bounced back to eliminate 2019 finalist and 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, advancing to the fourth round. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva, the No. 6 seed who reached the semifinals last year, progressed to a fourth-round clash against No. 17 Daria Kasatkina. In a grueling battle, American qualifier Ethan Quinn, the 2023 NCAA champion from the University of Georgia, fell to Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in another five-set marathon, ending with a score of 4-6, 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-4. Griekspoor was seeking his first victory in third-round matches at major tournaments.
What’s on tap for Sunday at Roland-Garros?
The spotlight will shine on No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, along with the defending champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz, as they take to the court for the fourth round. This marks a significant moment with three American men reaching Week 2 in Paris for the first time since 1995. They are all set to compete: No. 12 Tommy Paul faces No. 25 Alexei Popyrin, No. 13 Ben Shelton takes on Alcaraz, and No. 15 Frances Tiafoe meets Daniel Altmaier.
