The third round of Roland-Garros 2024 commenced today at the Porte d'Auteuil, marking the sixth day of the tournament. French hopes now rest on two players, Corentin Moutet and Chloé Paquet. Moutet is up against Austrian Sebastian Ofner, while Paquet faces the Russian Marketa Vondrousova.
Chloé Paquet, ranked 136th in the world, delivered a stunning performance in the second round by defeating Czech Katerina Siniakova, the 33rd ranked player and 32nd seed. Paquet triumphed in a hard-fought match lasting over three hours, emerging victorious in the tiebreak of the third set. This achievement marks the first time she has advanced to the third round at Porte d'Auteuil.
Among the major highlights, Jannik Sinner secured a dominant victory over Frenchman Richard Gasquet, advancing to the round of 32. The world number 2 demonstrated exceptional physical fitness and skill, overcoming Gasquet in three sets. He now prepares to face either Swiss Stan Wawrinka or Russian Pavel Kotov in the next round.
The tournament has been notably affected by adverse weather, leading to the suspension or cancellation of numerous matches. Despite these challenges, both Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas managed to complete their matches. Alcaraz fought through a tough battle against Dutchman Jesper de Jong, eventually winning in four sets. Tsitsipas also secured his spot in the next round by defeating German Daniel Altmaier.
The conditions have been challenging, with rain heavily impacting the schedule. The tournament is leveraging its advanced facilities, including the rain-protected central Philippe-Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen courts, to continue holding key matches despite the weather.
- In the women's draw, besides Chloé Paquet's remarkable advance, other significant matches include American Sofia Kenin defeating French Caroline Garcia, and Tunisian Ons Jabeur overcoming Colombian Maria Camila Osorio.
- Sinner, often referred to as the 'red baron', has rapidly become a crowd favorite. His connection with fans, who passionately cheer him on, reflects his growing popularity and potential to become a successor to Rafael Nadal in terms of public admiration.
- The sentiment in Paris is notably supportive of Sinner, with fans donning tricolored flags and vocal encouragement. This reflects a unique aspect of the France-Italy sports rivalry, where mutual admiration often transcends national allegiances.
- Nicola Pietrangeli, reminiscing about his own triumphs at Roland-Garros in 1959 and 1960, added historical context to the event, emphasizing the deep cultural connections and sporting heritage that span generations.
