French Open 2025: Sinner Blitzes Into Last 16; Andreeva, Pegula Advance

World number one Jannik Sinner powered into the last 16 of the French Open on Saturday, dominating Czech Jiri Lehecka. American Jessica Pegula and Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva also secured their spots in the second week.

Sinner triumphed 6-0, 6-1, 6-2, with world number 34 Lehecka unable to withstand the Italian’s onslaught on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, marking his third defeat in as many meetings after a one-hour 34-minute match.

“Today I was playing really, really well, especially during the first two-and-a-half sets… so very happy," said top seed Sinner. “I don’t think there’s much I could improve."

Three-time Grand Slam winner Sinner will next face Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who advanced to the fourth round after France’s Arthur Fils withdrew due to injury on Friday.

Sinner has been gaining momentum since returning from a three-month doping ban at the Italian Open in May, where he reached the final before losing to reigning Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz. The 23-year-old has continued his strong performance on the red clay of Roland Garros, not dropping a set and extending his Grand Slam winning streak to 17 matches after titles at the 2024 US Open and Australian Open in January.

German third seed Alexander Zverev, who lost last year’s final to Alcaraz, will face Italian Flavio Cobolli, the world number 26, later in the day.

Novak Djokovic faces a Champions League clash as he pursues a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam against Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic in the primetime night session on Court Philippe Chatrier.

In the women’s tournament, American third seed Jessica Pegula battled into the last 16 with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Czech Marketa Vondrousova. Pegula, last year’s US Open runner-up, will play the winner of the all-French duel between Lois Boisson, ranked 361, and Elsa Jacquemot, 138th, for a place in the quarter-finals. The 31-year-old, who missed the 2024 tournament due to injuries, hopes to improve on her previous best run in Paris, which was a quarter-final appearance three years ago.

Andreeva feeling ‘better and better’

Earlier, 18-year-old Andreeva eased into the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Kazakh Yulia Putintseva. Sixth seed Andreeva took 78 minutes to dispatch Putinstseva, setting up a showdown with Daria Kasatkina.

Kasatkina, now representing Australia after switching allegiance from Russia, defeated the Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa 6-1, 7-5 in their third-round match.

Andreeva is competing in just her ninth Grand Slam event but has now reached the second week in five of them. After a closely contested first set, Andreeva took control, winning nine of the last 10 games of the match.

“I felt a little nervous before the match, but overall, throughout I felt like I could do whatever I want on the court," said Andreeva. “Even though the match is tight and sometimes she plays tough shots, I felt like as soon as I recover and the point starts again, I can create what I want. It felt nice, honestly. I’m happy that with every match I play, I feel better and better. I think this is a good thing."

Women’s second seed and former finalist Coco Gauff will play Czech world number 47 Marie Bouzkova later on Saturday.

Three other American women are in action: Madison Keys and Sofia Kenin will clash for a place in the last 16, and unseeded compatriot Hailey Baptiste will face Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

(with agency inputs)