PARIS: Top-seeded Jannik Sinner put an end to Richard Gasquet’s professional career with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 victory in the second round of the French Open on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Italian dispatched the 38-year-old Frenchman in one hour, 58 minutes at Roland Garros. Sinner also bounced Gasquet from the French Open last year.

“It’s obviously a very special place for me to play and against Richard,” Sinner said. “We played last year too. It’s very tough but I’m happy to be in the third round.”

Sinner’s victory was his 16th in a row in a Grand Slam, making him the first man born in 1990 or later to accomplish the feat.

“We have a good relationship off the court. We are different generations, but it’s your moment,” Sinner said to Gasquet. “Congrats to your family, to your team. Without great people around each player, it’s impossible to make such an incredible career. You played in such an incredible era of tennis and everyone will recognize you, even after your retirement.”

Gasquet, a 16-time winner on the ATP Tour, told the L’Equipe newspaper in October that he will bid adieu in front of his home fans at Roland Garros.

Known for his sensational, one-handed backhand, Gasquet reached a career-high ranking of number seven.

Gasquet never won a Grand Slam singles title, however, going as far as the semi-finals twice at Wimbledon (2007, 2015) and once at the US Open (2013). His best showing at the French Open was a quarter-final appearance in 2016.

While Gasquet’s 23-year career comes to a close, Sinner will return to the court to face Jiri Lehecka in the third round. The Czech posted a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over 26th-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain.

Also on Thursday, third-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany rebounded from a first-set misstep to notch a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 win over Jesper De Jong of the Netherlands. Zverev had 43 winners and broke De Jong’s serve seven times to win the match in three hours.

Fourteenth-seeded Frenchman Arthur Fills survived a scare — as well as a back injury — by posting a 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (4), 2-6, 0-6, 6-4 victory over Jaume Munar of Spain. The marathon match lasted four hours, 25 minutes.

He will next face 17th seed Andrey Rublev, who overcame Australia’s Adam Walton 7-6 (7/1), 6-1, 7-6 (7/5).

Ninth-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia and 19th-seeded Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic weren’t as fortunate.

Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik fought his way back for a 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory over de Minaur, while Portugal’s Henrique Rocha did the same in a 2-6, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over Mensik.

Bublik and Rocha will square off against each other in the third round.

Women’s second seed and former Roland Garros finalist Coco Gauff beat Tereza Valentova of Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4 to set up a third-round meeting with another Czech Marie Bouzkova.

The American did not have things all her own way, however.

Gauff came under threat from the 18-year-old Valentova’s powerful serve but found a way past her thanks to her relentless returning and powerful groundstrokes.

“She’s very young and I knew it would be a tough match,” 2022 runner-up Gauff said.

The 21-year-old took the opening set in 35 minutes but a string of service breaks, three in total, made the second a lot more competitive as her Czech opponent refused to go down quietly.

Sixth seed Mirra Andreeva, who had an impressive run to the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year, saw off American Ashlyn Krueger 6-3, 6-4.

Andreeva is playing her first Grand Slam as a top-10 seed after capturing WTA 1000 series titles in Dubai and Indian Wells.

“I’m just happy that I stayed calm during the match, and I’m happy that I overcame some little difficulties throughout the match,” said the teenager.

Third seed Jessica Pegula beat fellow American Ann Li 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) and will face former Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova in the third round after the Czech’s win over Magdalena Frech.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova was knocked out, though, dispatched 6-0, 6-3 by Russian Veronika Kudermetova.

Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa came from a set down to beat Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 while Australian Open champion Madison Keys, seeded seventh, dispatched Britain’s Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-3.

In Wednesday’s late action, Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 20th seed, suffered his earliest French Open exit in seven years as the 2021 runner-up lost 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to Matteo Gigante.

The Italian qualifier goes through to face Ben Shelton, who received a walkover as Hugo Gaston pulled out with an injury.

Bosnian Damir Dzumhur suffered a nasty fall in his match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard but recovered to outlast the big-serving Frenchman 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

Denmark’s 10th seed Holger Rune, the only man to beat Carlos Alcaraz on clay this year in the Barcelona final, beat American wild card Emilio Nava 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 in the night match.

The United States had reason to cheer though when Frances Tiafoe eased past Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 while Tommy Paul came back from the brink of defeat to beat Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

On the women’s side, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina won 6-3, 6-3 against American Iva Jovic, whose compatriot Caroline Dolehide was beaten 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 by 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko, while Russian 11th seed Diana Shnaider lost to Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2025