French Open: How has Rafael Jodar messed that up?
A sign of nerves and inexperience, maybe, from Rafael Jodar as he fails to serve out the second set and then loses an error-strewn tiebreak to Alex Michelsen! Jodar slumped a forehand into the net down set point, and then heads off the court to clear his head. A big test for the 27th seed, with that match soon to tick over the two-hour mark.
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2026 14:12
How the heat and illness wrecked Jannik Sinner’s Career Grand Slam dream
Jannik Sinner crashed out of the French Open in the second round on Thursday after dramatically cramping, one game away from winning the match.
The world No 1, and the overwhelming favourite to win the men’s singles title, was two sets and 5-1 to the good against Argentine player Juan Manuel Cerundolo, when he suffered a physical breakdown.
Barely moving, Sinner eventually called for the trainer and said he “wanted to vomit.” The Italian continued, but won only two more games as Cerundolo completed one of the biggest shocks in Grand Slam history.
It means Sinner’s dream of completing the Career Grand Slam at Roland Garros – having had three championship points in his historic final defeat against Carlos Alcaraz last year – is over for another year. He hinted afterwards he will now take a break and won’t compete until Wimbledon on 29 June.
Yet what are the heat rules in place? And what did Sinner say afterwards?
Kieran Jackson29 May 2026 14:05
French Open: Mirra Andreeva wins opening set on Chatrier
A trademark backhand winner from Mirra Andreeva seals a 6-4 opening set against the 27th seed Marie Bouzkova. Andreeva has reached the semi-finals and quarter-finals in her previous two appearances in Paris, and is on course to reach the business end of the tournament again.
There’s an upset brewing on Suzanne-Lenglen, though. Jil Teichmann, the 70-ranked Swiss, has won the opening set 6-1 against 10th seed and former French Open finalist Karolina Muchova. Meanwhile, Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar has earned a crucial break against Alex Michelsen and will serve for a two-set lead…
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2026 13:56
What has Fonseca said about Djokovic?
Over the past few months, Joao Fonseca has played Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for the first time, but he now gets a first shot at the “GOAT”.
“I always say to my coach, I want to be in Novak’s draw because I know it’s not going to last too long (his career). I just want to have this experience in my life.
“I’m just going to enjoy it. For me, being in the Roland Garros third round is just a dream. I’m going to enjoy every moment playing against an idol, the GOAT of the sport.
“Hopefully, I can play a great match. Of course, stepping onto the court, I’m going to respect him, but I’ll also try to do my best and win this match.
“I think having Novak in this sport is just a pleasure. He inspired me. He inspired the next generation and the generation before.”
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2026 13:50
What has Djokovic said about Fonseca?
“Fonseca has received plenty of praise in the last two years. I believe his potential and quality as a player are beyond doubt. He has tremendous support, that of the Brazilian public, and he’s a player who likes to perform on big stages, who thrives in major arenas.
“He played a great match against [Jannik] Sinner in Indian Wells, beat [Andrey] Rublev in straight sets in Australia, and it’s clear he can step up in big matches and bring out his best, with very powerful shots.”
Joao Fonseca will get a shot at Novak Djokovic for the first time after surviving a five-set epic (Getty)
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2026 13:35
Frances Tiafoe rewards fan for returning racket after wild French Open celebrations
Frances Tiafoe has been reunited with his racket after losing track of his equipment in the celebrations that followed his French Open win over Hubert Hurkacz.
The American prevailed in a five-set battle to reach the third round at Roland Garros, but later revealed that his racket had been taken in the subsequent celebratory melee.
The 19th seed had offered a reward of two tickets to the individual who had taken his Yonex, and it appears the thief took Tiafoe up on the offer after the racket was returned to his coach.
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2026 13:20
Jannik Sinner: ‘This is my main goal here and I had a very early exit’
Jannik Sinner finished his press conference by confirming he does not regret playing such a busy clay-court swing, after titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome. The world No 1 says winning the French Open was his biggest goal of the year, but his challenge is over after just the second round.
“If I don’t play Madrid or if I don’t play Rome, maybe I come here and I have still have a day like this where you feel sick. Looking back, it’s always very tough. At the same time I won three tournaments on clay, had incredible results, an amazing streak.
“As I said in the beginning of the year, this is my main goal here and I had a very early exit. It’s not what I was looking for. But you also don’t know if things would have changed if I would maybe skip Madrid and play only Rome or maybe skipping Rome and to come here. You never know.”
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2026 13:05
French Open: Iga Swiatek books Marta Kostyuk clash in fourth round
Iga Swiatek gets the job done in the all-Poland clash against Magda Linette, with the four-time champion advancing thanks to a slightly roundabout 6-4 6-4 win in 85 minutes.
Swiatek, who improves her overall record at Roland Garros to 43-3, has reached the third round in Paris in all eight of her appearances and now faces the in-form Marta Kostyuk in the fourth round on Sunday.
Kostyuk, the 15th seed, has won 14 matches in a row and is unbeaten on clay this year. Swiatek, though, has won all four of her previous matches against the Ukrainian. That’s a cracker.
Iga Swiatek celebrates winning her third round match against Poland’s Magda Linette (Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2026 12:51
The men’s French Open contenders after Jannik Sinner shock including Spanish teenager
Jannik Sinner is out of the French Open and with that goes the biggest favourite before a Grand Slam in the men’s singles draw since Rafael Nadal, also at the French Open in 2009.
The Italian went down in five sets to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, and with Carlos Alcaraz also out of Roland Garros, and Wimbledon, this year due to injury, Novak Djokovic has a chance to bring up a 25th Grand Slam.
That would take Djokovic past Margaret Court, breaking a tie with the Australian for most singles titles in the sport’s history.
Outside of Djokovic, there are no Grand Slam winners in the draw left, offering both opportunity and pressure without the two players that have defined this current era of men’s tennis.
Here we look at the contenders in the men’s French Open as we approach the end of the first week:
Jack Rathborn29 May 2026 12:50