Casper Rude wins
In the men’s singles, last year’s finalist Casper Ruud broke the Chinese player’s impressive streak by defeating Zhang Zhizhen in the third round. Fourth seed Ruud had lost to Rafael Nadal in the final here last year. He defeated Zhang Zhijen 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4. Zhang Zhizhen became the first Chinese player since Kho Hsin Khie in 1937 to reach the third round at Roland Garros. Kho had reached the fourth round in 1936 but Zhang could not match him after a good start. Zhang won the first set which left the Norwegian Rude looking desperate. But after this, Rude won three consecutive sets to enter the next round.
Rybakina took her name back
World number-4 in women’s ranking Elena Rybakina withdrew her name from the tournament due to respiratory illness. The reigning Wimbledon champion announced her withdrawal before taking the court for her third-round match against Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo. Champion of two WTA 1000 events this year, including the most recent win over Clay in Rome two weeks ago. Rybakina was striving to build on her momentum in Paris, where she was a quarterfinalist in 2021. They did not drop a set in their first two rounds of the tournament, defeating Brenda Fruhvitorva and Linda Noskova.