PARIS (REUTERS) – Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas staved off a spectacular fightback from US Open runner-up Alexander Zverev for a 6-3 6-3 4-6 4-6 6-3 victory in a scintillating French Open clash on Friday (June 11) and book a maiden Grand Slam final spot. Tsitsipas, 22, has long been marked out as a future Grand Slam... » read more
PARIS (AFP) – Serena Williams’ latest quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title ended with a 6-3, 7-5 defeat by Kazakh 21st seed Elena Rybakina in the French Open last 16 on Sunday (June 6). The 39-year-old American, still one short of Margaret Court’s all-time record of most Grand Slam singles titles, has not... » read more
PARIS (REUTERS) – Clay was no longer an object of hate for Russian Daniil Medvedev as he stormed into the fourth round of the French Open with a commanding 6-4 6-2 6-4 win against towering American Reilly Opelka. The rangy 25-year-old has reached two Grand Slam finals on hardcourts but has never hidden his dislike... » read more
PARIS (REUTERS) – Coco Gauff reached the third round of the French Open for the first time as the 17-year-old American battled past China’s Wang Qiang 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) on Thursday (June 3). Gauff eased through the opening set after jumping out to a 3-0 lead, but did not have things her own way after... » read more
PARIS (REUTERS) – Former world number one Serena Williams, chasing a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title, overcame a second-set blip to reach the French Open third round with a 6-3 5-7 6-1 win against Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu on Wednesday (June 2). Three-time Roland Garros champion Williams, who has been stuck on 23 major titles... » read more
PARIS (AFP) – Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas marched into the French Open third round on Wednesday (June 2) with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Spaniard Pedro Martinez. The Greek star, who lost an epic semi-final at Roland Garros to Novak Djokovic last year, next faces big-serving American John Isner for a spot in the... » read more
PARIS (AFP) – Rafael Nadal said he is content with being seeded third at Roland Garros, after starting his bid for a 14th French Open title with a comfortable victory over Alexei Popyrin on Tuesday (June 1). The 34-year-old Nadal raced through the first two sets before fighting back from 2-5 down in the third... » read more
PARIS (AFP) – Naomi Osaka said Monday (May 31) she was withdrawing from the French Open following the bitter fall-out from her decision to boycott all media activity at the Grand Slam event. “The best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back... » read more
PARIS (AFP) – Roger Federer kicked off only his second French Open campaign in six years with an impressive dismissal of Denis Istomin on Monday (May 31), while reigning women’s champion Iga Swiatek and men’s second seed Daniil Medvedev both reached round two. The 39-year-old Federer, level with Rafael Nadal on 20 Grand Slam singles... » read more
PARIS (AFP) – Fourth seed Dominic Thiem blew a two-set lead to be dumped out of the French Open in the first round by Spanish veteran Pablo Andujar on Sunday (May 30). The 35-year-old Andujar staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the two-time Roland Garros runner-up 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 after almost 41/2 hours... » read more
ROME (REUTERS) – Former French Open champion Simona Halep retired from her Italian Open second-round match against Angelique Kerber on Wednesday (May 12) with a calf injury, raising doubts over her participation at Roland Garros. Third seed Halep was leading 6-1 3-3 when she showed discomfort while trying to reach a first serve from her... » read more
PARIS (REUTERS) – Up to 1000 fans will be admitted into each of the three main Roland Garros showcourts while the smaller venues will be able to admit 35% of their capacity during the first 10 days of the French Open due to Covid-19 restrictions, sports minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said on Sunday (May 2). The... » read more
MIAMI (AFP) – World number three Simona Halep withdrew from the WTA and ATP Miami Open on Saturday (March 27) because of a right shoulder injury, sending Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova into the round of 16. The 29-year-old Romanian isn’t set to play again until next month’s Billie Jean King Cup, formerly the Fed Cup. “I’m very... » read more
LENS • Mauricio Pochettino has paid tribute to former Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel, after Neymar scored on his return to action as the French champions beat Marseille 2-1 to win the French Super Cup. The Brazilian rolled home an 85th-minute penalty to put PSG two goals up following Mauro Icardi’s first-half opener. The win... » read more
PARIS • Former France rugby star Christophe Dominici, whose dazzling runs made him one of the country’s best wingers, has died at the age of 48, his former club Stade Francais said on Tuesday. “It is with immense sadness that Stade Francais learns of the death of Christophe Dominici,” a statement read. He won 67... » read more
The French football philosophy that produced the likes of Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe, Thierry Henry and Nicholas Anelka and made Les Bleus world champions will now be taught in Singapore, with the French Football Federation (FFF) opening the French Football Academy yesterday. It is believed that this is the first time the national federation... » read more