French Open 2025: Pegula Muscles Through Li; Andreeva Cruises Into Last 32

Jessica Pegula led the American contingent at Roland Garros on Thursday with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6(3) win over compatriot Ann Li, marking her 30th match victory of the season.

The world No. 3 displayed determination, maintaining her composure in a tense second set to reach the third round of the French Open for the third time in her career.

Pegula’s victory is part of a broader resurgence for American women at Roland Garros. With Coco Gauff seeded No. 2 and Madison Keys also advancing, this marks the first time since the Venus and Serena Williams era in 2009 that the U.S. has three women in the top 10 seeds.

Notably, nine American women featured in the second-round matches from the bottom half of the draw—a significant presence on the Parisian clay.

Up next, Pegula faces former Roland Garros finalist and 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, who edged past No. 25 Magdalena Frech in three sets. It will be a stern test, but Pegula enters the contest high on confidence, having won more matches this season than any WTA player outside of Aryna Sabalenka.

Andreeva Cruises Through

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva advanced to the French Open last 32 on Thursday with a straight-sets victory over American Ashlyn Krueger.

The 18-year-old, seeded sixth at Roland Garros, secured a 6-3, 6-4 win on Court Simonne Mathieu in just 73 minutes.

Andreeva, who reached the semi-finals last year, will face either Taiwan’s Joanna Garland or Kazakh 32nd seed Yulia Putintseva in the third round.

She was still completing schoolwork during her 2024 run, which included a shocking quarter-final win over Aryna Sabalenka.

“I don’t have my school anymore. I’m finished. I’m done. So thank God. I have one problem less," said Andreeva.

She has climbed to a career-high ranking of sixth this season and became the youngest ever winner of a WTA 1000 title in Dubai in February, before securing another at Indian Wells.

Andreeva is widely expected to perform strongly at Roland Garros, with both Sabalenka and reigning champion Iga Swiatek in the other half of the draw.

“I would choose to win a Slam first, rather than being world number one," she said of her career priorities.

(with agency inputs)