PARIS: World number one Jannik Sinner flattened Jiri Lehecka into the French Open clay to make the fourth round alongside last year’s runner-up Alexander Zverev on Saturday as American Jessica Pegula and Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva ensured their campaigns continue into week two.

As grey skies enveloped Roland Garros, Sinner gave Lehecka no respite to win the opening 11 games as fans checked their watches against the scoreboard in disbelief.

Lehecka drew loud cheers when he finally got on the board but Sinner continued his Roland Garros masterclass with brutal clarity to secure a 6-0 6-1 6-2 win.

“I think in early stages of Grand Slams it’s good that you don’t spend so much time, if you have the chance, on court. So I’m happy to do that,” Sinner said. “In the other way, matches like this can change quickly, because if you don’t start well in one set and the match can go long and then you cannot control it.”

Up next for Sinner is a clash with Andrey Rublev, who advanced after injured Frenchman Arthur Fils pulled out. “Andrey is an incredible player,” said Sinner. “I have to be focused. He’s rested. So let’s see what’s coming.”

German third seed Alexander Zverev sparkled as sunshine parted the clouds in the afternoon, the German downing Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 on Court Philippe Chatrier to reach the fourth round in Paris for an eighth consecutive year.

“This court is very special to me. I had some of the best memories of my life on this court, but I also had some of the worst memories on this court,” said Zverev, who picked up a bad ankle injury in the 2022 semi-finals against Rafael Nadal. “It’s a love story that hasn’t got to the happy end yet, but I hope someday it will.”

Zverev faces Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, who outlasted American Ethan Quinn 4-6, 6-1, 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-4.

Jack Draper’s campaign continued in style when the British fifth seed ended Brazilian poster boy Joao Fonseca’s run with a ruthless 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory to progress through to the fourth round, where he will meet Alexander Bublik.

In the women’s tournament, third seed Jessica Pegula battled into the last 16 with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Czech Marketa Vondrousova.

Pegula, last year’s US Open runner-up, next meets unheralded Lois Boisson, ranked 361, the last French player competing in Roland Garros.

Boisson fought through the pain to see off 138th-ranked countrywoman Elsa Jacquemot 6-3, 0-6, 7-5.

“Obviously.. going to have some crazy support,” said Pegula. “I think it will be fun. It will be cool to be a part of that.”

The 31-year-old, who missed the 2024 tournament due to injury, is hoping to better her previous best run in Paris which was a quarter-final appearance three years ago.

Russian 18-year-old Andreeva outclassed Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-1 at Court Suzanne Lenglen and the sixth seed attributed the comfortable win to a colourful drawing a young supporter left on her bench.

“Wherever that little girl is, I want to thank her, because it’s my lucky charm,” added sixth seed Andreeva, who became the youngest woman to complete 10 Roland Garros singles match wins since Swiss two-times runner-up Martina Hingis.

Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa would have wished for a bit of luck to force a third set against a dominant Daria Kasatkina but crashed 6-1, 7-5 to the Russian-born 17th seed who now represents Australia.

“I was ready for a difficult match,” said Kasatkina, who can expect another big test against Andreeva next. “I knew if she got a chance, she would take it straight away. But I’m really proud of myself and how I handled the situation.”

ALCARAZ SURVIVES

In Friday’s late action, Carlos Alcaraz made heavy weather of his clash with Damir Dzumhur but moved into the fourth round.

Alcaraz was expected to sizzle in the cool of the evening but the second seed found himself in hot water after his level dipped against Dzumhur before recovering to seal a 6-1, 6-3 ,4-6, 6-4 win.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz arrived as the favourite at Roland Garros after securing the Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open trophies in the build-up to the clay-court major.

But his fluctuating performances in the past two rounds have given his rivals reason to believe he is vulnerable.

“It was under control during the first two sets, and then I don’t know what happened,” Alcaraz said. “I think he started to play, but I let him get into the match, get into a good rhythm. I let him get into his game and I didn’t know what to do.

“I was a break down in the fourth, and I just tried to calm myself a little bit, think much clearer, and try to do the good things again. Just happy to take the chances he gave me in the fourth set and play great tennis at the end.

Today I honestly didn’t enjoy it that much. I suffered quite a lot. That’s why doing a really good result in a Grand Slam is really difficult because you have to maintain a really high level for three to four hours.”

The 22-year-old next meets American 13th seed Ben Shelton who eased past Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2025