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Cerundolo holds for 6-5 in the third, the question now not so much whether he can win this set – it’s hard to see how he doesn’t – but whether Sinner can recover enough to snaffle another set. He takes some treatment between games, and this isn’t the first time he’s found himself in this situation.
Back on Lenglen, Vallejo has broken Kouame in set four, leading 4-2, and he looks by far the stronger man now. I wonder if the 17-year-old will tank the remainder of the set to have something left for a fifth, because he looks pretty wiped out there.
Sinner returns and he’s ready to go again – but what does he have left, serving three break-back points down? Er, no that much i don’t think, shots played at half-pace before he waves a a forehand wide. He had 10 minutes off, but 5-1 still became 5-5, and I’m really not sure if he’ll be able to go on! Initially, i thought he’d get it sorted, but now I’m seriously concerned.
Sinner feels dizzy and wants to vomit but can’t – does he have heat stroke? He leaves the court but is he allowed to take a medical timeout for cramp? I don’t think he can, but he can be assessed, we’re told, to see what the issue is, so even if they diagnose a problem the rules prevent him from getting treated, he gets a nice lie-down in the aircon, while Cerundolo loiters in the heat.
Er, I’m not sure what on earth is going on here, but Sinner has now lost 15 points in a row and, serving for the set at 2-0 5-4, he finds himself down 0-40 and sitting on a hoarding, clutching his back. The umpire comes down to talk to him, telling him he can either call the physio or take a time violation; he opts for the former, and it’s not clear if he’s hurt or has cramp, but either way, he’s getting a break.
Heliovaara and Patten break Borges and Zhang, then serve out the first set to lead 6-3; Gaston leads Cerundolo F 6-2; Hurkacz leads Tiafoe 7-6 1-2; and Tien has broken Diaz Acostas back in the fourth to trail 7-5 4-6 3-6 5-5;
At 30-all, Vallejo finds a fine delivery out wide, ending the point with an overhead, while Cerundolo JM, down 1-5 in the third, breaks Sinner to love, then holds to love – not many can say that. So the world no 1 will shortly serve for the match a second time.
After amping up the crowd before the start of set four, Kouame breaks, but then down 15-40, he advances to net … only to direct his volley into the tape. We’re level at 1-1, but the direction of travel is towards a decider, Vallejo now the more assured player.
I’m taking in a bit of doubles – as well as everything else – with Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten, Wimbledon champs in 2024 and Aussie 0pen champs in 2025, facing Nuno Borges and Zhang Zhizhen, a tough round one assignment. They lead 4-3 in the first.
Jaime Faria beats Jan-Leonard Struff 7-5 7-6(1) 6-2
Struff saw off Bublik in round one, but couldn’t exploit the no 9 seed’s path through the draw, losing to a qualifier – who meets Hurkacz or Tiafoe next.
Zach Svajda beats Adam Walton 6-3 6-4 (4)6-7 6-2
A terrific win for the 23-year-old American – what a cohort they’ve got coming through. Next for him: Cerundolo F or Gaston.
Back on Chatrier, Sinner now leads Cerundolo 6-3 6-2 4-0, and it’s a funny thing, really: obviously you put the best players on the best court, but as a spectator, I’d rather be almost anywhere else because at this stage of the competition, neither Sinner nor Sabalenka look pregnable, with the third match one for the domestic audience, Li taking on Parry.
Kouame takes his bag and takes a break so, while he’s doing that, let’s give Vallejo his biggups: alone on a packed court where everyone wants him to lose, he might easily have faded after losing the second set, but instead he kept at it and is now right into the match.
On Lenglen, Vallejo has retained his break, down 2-0 but up 5-3, and returning on deuce, he spanks a forehand to raise set point. Which is quickly extinguished via wide serve and clean-up forehand, Vallejo protesting that Kouame served too quickly; you can imagine how the home crowd react to such grassing. Anyroad up, Vallejo makes advantage, Kouame swipes a forehand long, and that’s one set back, the 17-year-old leading 6-3 7-5 3-6.
Obviously Sinner breaks Cerundolo at the first time of asking in set three; he’s nearly there, with Landaluce or Kopriva awaiting him in round three. In the other half of his eighth, we’ve got Rinderknech, Berrettini, Comesana and Darderi, so not much that’s scary, with Shelton his seeded quarter-final opponent and Auger-Aliassime or Cobolli his most likely semi-final adversary. I’ve not a clue how any of them go about beating him.
With Osaka and Vekic finished, I’m taking in a bit of Svajda 6-3 6-3 6-7 1-1 Walton. I was extremely impressed that the young American lost the first set to Popyrin, then reeled off three on the spin and, in the same eighth as Cobolli, will feel he’s a chance to do something here.
Sinner serves out the second set to lead JM Cerundolo 6-3 6-2, while Vallejo, who’s never played a five-setter, never mind come back from 2-0 down to win, has broken Kouame for 3-1 in the third. But can he see out the set?
On 14, Hurkacz has broken Tiafoe back and leads 4-3 in the first; Diaz Acosta now leads Tien 2-1, the winner to meet Cobolli next; and Walton has taken set three to trail Svajda 2-1.
Flavio Cobolli (10) beats Wu Yibing 6-4 6-4 6-4
A second straightforward win for Cobolli, who with Medvedev gone from his eighth and Auger-Aliassime his seeded last-eight opponent, will be eyeing a deep run.
Now on Mathieu: Francisco Cerundolo (25) v Hugo Gaston.
OK, let’s do Osaka’s interview. She’s into round four for the first time since 2018 and says it means a lot, thanking the crowd for watching. She feels so grateful, this is another milestone and she hopes she gets to play more matches.
Despite a difficult first and second-round draw, she’s won both in two sets so has tried to play her best, be focused, and go point by point; eventually, she ended up winning, so she’s really happy.
On to the dress – we weren’t going at the start, so I didn’t report it – but she feels she’s developed a community with her on-court outfits, likes to keep people guessing, and she enjoys that people enjoy it.
Finally, asked for a word in French for the crowd, she offers “Merci”.
Sinner breaks Cerudolo again to lead 6-3 4-1, and he’ll soon be back in the locker room, so too Cobolli, who leads Wu 6-4 6-4 4-3. Otherwise, Tiafoe leads Hurkacz 2-1 with a break, Diaz acosta now leads Tien 5-7 6-4 5-3, Faria leads Struff 7-5 7-6 2-0 and Svajda leads Walton 6-3 6-4 5-6 on serve.
Back on Lenglen, Kouame – another it’s hard to see losing –holds for 6-5, then reaches 30-40 and set point, varying the trajectory and pace of his forehands … before exploding into a backhand winner, sent from centre to corner, inside-in! It’s a fantastic shot but more than that, a fantastic rally, totally controlled by a 17-year-old who looks terrifyingly complete. So he strikes what has already come to be his pose, right hand cupping an ear and left arm stretched across his body, hand on heart. This is amazing, affirming and inspiring to watch, a young man announcing himself to the world like it’s his; this is so overjoying I barely know what to do with myself and Kouame leads 6-3 7-5.
Naomi Osaka (16) beats Donna Vekic 7-6(1) 6-4
It always felt like Osaka had too much and she did, never in serious danger as she settled into form. Next for her comes Iva Jovic, and I cannot wait for that.
…but this time, Osaka finds the shot she missed last, a serve out wide tidied to the opposite corner, then an unreturned serve raise match point.
At 15-all, Osaka finds a big fist serve, and Vekic is vexed to swipe it wide. A decent return, though, on to the baseline, helps her to 30-all, and a backhand wiped wide means a break-back point…
A brave swing-volley gives Osaka break point at 30-40, a decent backhand return forces her into the point, and her second shot, a forehand guided – ushered – to the inside-out corner, means that at 7-6 5-4, she’ll shortly serve for the match. Her best stuff remains too good for almost everyone.
We’re on serve in our other feature matches, Osaka leading Vekic 7-6 4-4 and Kouame leading Vallejo 6-3 5-4. It feels like we know who’s going to win both matches, but we can’t be sure how either leader will respond once the finish line hoves into view.
Sinner holds to 15 and leads Cerundolo 6-3. I think there’s a good chance he wins this one.
While all that was going on, Vekic broke Osaka back, and they’re now level at 3-3 in the second, Osaka having taken the first; on Lenglen, Kouame has just broken Vallejo back after threatening it pretty much since it happened, to lead 6-3 3-3; and I’m now watching Sinner, who leads Cerundolo Jr 5-3.
Jovic and Navarro share a hug of obvious affection, then the younger player moves along the front row, signing stuff and taking selfies like it’s nothing. She knows this is where she belongs – I know this feels a lazy comparison, but she’s almost Mirra Andreeva, with definitive weapons.
Next on Court 14: Hubert Hurkacz v Francis Tiafoe (19).
Iva Jovic (17) beats Emma Navarro 6-0 6-3
An amazing performance from Jovic, who played unstoppable tennis for a set and a bit, rode out a comeback from a serious opponent, then took over again. She is going to be a factor for a long, long time, and might just contest the title this year – and if it isn’t now, it’ll be soon. Next for her: Vekiv or Osaka, and what a blockbuster that might be. We are watching greatness, people.
Sinner now leads Cerundolo Jr 4-2; Cobolli leads Wu 6-4 5-3; Tien leads Diaz Acosta 7-5 4-4; and Svajda leads Walton 6-3 6-4 1-1. Meantime, back on 16, Jovic again asserts herself, missing a putaway at 15-40 but securing her break next point. She’s now serving for the match at 6-0 5-3.
Vallejo nets a putaway he ought to have monstered, and you can’t be handing Kouame gifts like that – a terrific backhand cross-court raises both a break-back point and the pressure. Back on 16, Jovic stops the rot, holding for 6-0 4-3, while Osaka breaks Vekic to 15 for a 7-6 2-2 lead … and Vallejo saves another break-back with a booming backhand cross, but must still pass through deuce to retain his advantage.
It takes him a while, but Vallejo eventually endorses his break for 3-6 2-0, Kouame still at it, and, on Mathieu, Vekic needs some time to secure her hold in the first game of set two; she trails Osaka 6-7 1-0. Oh, and on 14, Navarro makes it three games on the bounce, holding, just, to trail Jovic 0-6 3-3
On Chatrier, Sinner breaks Cerundolo Jr immediately for 2-0. He’s my dark horse to make the final.
Now then! Navarro gets herself on the board at 0-6 1-3, then makes 30-40 … and is that a sign of stress? Jovic flaps a forehand way wide and, after winning the first nine games, she’s lost two on the spin and we’re back on serve in the second, the match still in the balance.
Yup, Vekic nets a backhand and Osaka leads 7-6 while, on Lenglen, Vallejo breaks Kouame at the start of set two to trail 3-6 1-0. Otherwise, moving around the courts, Cobolli now leads Wu 6-4 1-2; Tien leads Diaz Acosta 7-5 1-1; Faria leads Struff 7-5; and Svajda leads Walton 6-3 4-4.
Gosh, Osaka is all over Vekic now, rushing to a 6-0 breaker lead, and though a drop retrieves a point, this is a depressing way to lose a set – even if it’s been in the post for a few games now.
We’ll soon be underway on Chatrier, where Sinner faces Cerudolo – I guess I’ll join that match when Jovic has finished with Navarro, her lead 6-0 3-0. Her shot-selection is really excellent, especially given her commitment to attack – she rarely reaches for one that isn’t there, and there aren’t many who can play better than she is this morning.
Vekic has lost the run of herself, gifting two set points after Osaka holds for 6-5. So she marches on to a forehand and unloads, a winner making 30-40, then, sending down a second serve that sits up nicely, watches the overhit return fly long. That’s a big missed opportunity then, when she arranges another, a wide serve and line backhand restore deuce; excellent work from Vekic. An ace follows, and from there, she closes out the hold; a breaker will settle things.
Back with Kouame, he’s up advantage, takes control of the next rally, and a deep backhand incites Vallejo to net on the forehand! The 17-year-old takes the first set 6-3, with two breaks, and Lenglen is jumping!
Kouame holds for 5-3, then makes 30-40 and set point; Vallejo saves it well, serving out wide then putting away a shoulder-high volley. But he’s soon down advantage, Kouame missing his backhand down the line to restore deuce, but Vallejo shanks his forehand so back round we go. Meantime, Jovic outlasts Navarro in a protracted game on 14, taking her sixth break point to leads 6-0 2-0. She’s taking an experienced top-10 talent to the absolute cleaners.
Osaka makes 0-15, then a double, the first of the match, gives her a serious sniff; this might be a turning point. So Vekic slams down an ace, her first of the match, a return goes long, and this is a decent response … but a fine return from Osaka raises break-back point then, out of nowhere, she ups the pace, an inside-out backhand to the corner the shot of the match so far. We’re level at 5-5, and this is brewing into a very acceptable contest.
Talking of Vekic and Osaka, the former is about to serve for set one at 5-4, still in charge but probably second-best in terms of play now. Otherwise, Cobolli leads Wu 6-4, Tien is about to serve for the set against Diaz Acosta at 5-4, and Svajda leads Walton 6-3 0-2.
On Mathieu, Jovic has bagelled Navarro, and might she be a threat to win this title, this year? What I enjoy about her in particular is her attitude – she looks to dominate and does, but if she’s behind in the rally, she’s certain she can work her way back into it. There’s not much she can’t do, really, and if she were to win today, then beat Vekic or Osaka, she’d probably face Sabalenka in round four. That could be quite a contest.
At 30-all, Kouame hooks a forehand wide, his first proper error … so he plays a gorgeous backhand drop to save break point …then punishes a backhand winner down the line for advantage … then seizes momentum in the next rally with a backhand … only to net the follow-up forehand. But you can see that at 17, his tennis brain is seriously precocious, and a ludicrous forehand, taken early and sent cross-court to the opposite corner, restores advantage. Again, he can’t see it out, but increasingly, I’m convinced we’re watching a superstar. As I type, he flings down an ace, then dashes in to sweep a forehand cross, and the break is thusly endorsed, Kouame up 4-2.
Given how much tennis I watch, and it’s a fair bit, I’ve not seen loads of Jovic, but I’m certain that’ll be addressed over the next decade or two. She’s started beautifully here, up 4-0 on Navarro – still feeling her way back after taking a career break to refresh:
I think it should be normalised. The circuit is very tough, long, and exhausting. Fans see us on TV for an hour and a half every few days, and that’s pretty much all they see of many things we do on and off the court. So yes, there is a lot involved in trying to be at the top level in your sport, and it requires constant care of the body and mind. It takes a toll, without a doubt.
It’s important to normalise it and take a break if necessary. I tried to step back from the circuit and didn’t follow the results or watch any tennis matches when I wasn’t playing. I just wanted to feel like a normal person, a person who wasn’t playing tennis, rather than a tennis player. I spent a lot of time with my family and friends at home and, well, yes, I managed to feel quite normal. That was really nice. Yes, it made me appreciate many things when returning to the circuit.”
These are important words. Of course there are worse things to do for a living than travel the world playing tennis, but that doesn’t mean it should be an endurance test with domestic consequences.
Elsewhere, Cobolli leads Wu 3-2 with a break; Tien leads Diaz Acosta 3-2 with a break; and Svajda leads Walton 5-2.
Righto, I’m watching Vekic 3-1 Osaka; Jovic 3-0 Navarro; and Kouame 3-2 Vallejo – and the younger of the two youngsters has just broken.
Preamble
Salut à tout le monde et bienvenue à Roland-Garros 2026 – cinquième jour! Et oh là là, quel tennis nous attend!
We begin today with a raft of compelling contests. Naomi Osaka takes on Donna Vekic and Iva Jovic meets Emma Navrro, with Flavio Cobolli, Learner Tien and Zach Svajda also in action. But the most exciting among the exciting is to be found on Lenglen, where Moise Kouame, the 17-year-old local boy whose destruction of Marin Cilic made him the hero of round one, addresses Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in what looks an exceedingly winnable matchup.
Soon after, Jannik Sinner takes to the clay against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo – whose seeded older brother faces Hugo Gaston later in the day. But while that’s going on, we might easily be distracted, given the appearances of Amanda Anisimova, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys and Felix Auger-Aliassime – whose battle with Jorge Burruchaga’s son will engage football fans of a certain medieval.
Then, as the day continues, we’ve got the first appearance of Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara, former men’s doubles champions at Wimbledon and in Melbourne; Victoria Mboko against Katarina Siniakova; with Ben Shelton, Anna Kalinskaya and Katie Boulter also in action. Or, in other words, quelqu’un aurait-il des yeux de rechange?
Chauette! On y va!
