It is the biggest annual increase in the tournament’s history and comes against a backdrop of escalating demands by players seeking a greater share of Grand Slam revenue.

At the French Open, some players restricted media appearances and even threatened a future boycott.

Speaking at a pre-Wimbledon press conference, All England Club chairman Debbie Jevans said prize money would go up significantly across every round of the tournament.

Singles champions will earn £3.6 million, up 20% on last year, with runners-up taking £1.8 million.

French Open prize money increases 9.5%, retiring players to be honoured

First-round losers will receive £80,000, compared to £66,000 pounds in 2025.

The AELTC also announced that total prize money for the qualifying draw would be £6.2 million, an increase of 25%.

“This announcement recognises the success of The Championships, and that we operate a sustainable programme that allows us not only to increase prize money, but also to invest in facilities, the grass court season and support British and international tennis,” Jevans said.

“We are clear that as Wimbledon grows, the players will continue to share in that success.”

After nearly four years away, the 44-year-old American great partnered Canadian teenager Mboko to victory against Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in front of a sell-out crowd on Tuesday.

They were scheduled to play Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the quarter-final, but 19-year-old Mboko has been forced to withdraw after slipping painfully during her singles match against Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday.

Serena still mulling Wimbledon return after comeback win

Mboko had to retire from that match and left the court hobbling and close to tears.

Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, will continue her comeback in Berlin next week and could seek a wildcard for the Wimbledon championships.

Anisimova, who received a bye into the Round of 16, made quick work of Germany’s Laura Siegemund in a 6-1, 6-3 victory that took just 66 minutes.

A finalist at this event along with Wimbledon in 2025, Anisimova dropped just four points behind her first serve.

She also saved her only break point and broke Siegemund’s serve four times, including the match’s final point.

Her next opponent, Jovic, also cruised to a quick victory, taking out Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour, 17 minutes.

Jovic committed four double faults but also notched four aces and broke Eala’s serve five times in seven chances.

Serena still mulling Wimbledon return after comeback win

No. 3 seed Victoria Mboko of Canada, Serena Williams’ doubles partner at this event, sustained a left knee injury against Czech Karolina Pliskova, who advanced to the quarterfinals when Mboko was forced to retire.

Williams, who is attempting a comeback at age 44, and Mboko are scheduled to face Leylah Fernandez and Siegemund in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

The round of 16 match between Croatia’s Donna Vekic and Czech Marie Bouzkova was postponed due to rain and darkness and will be finished Thursday.

Vekic led 6-5 in the opening set when play was suspended.

Libema Open In a match that started Tuesday but was delayed by rain, unseeded Caty McNally rallied to upset fellow American Emma Navarro, the No. 4 seed, 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands.

Navarro twice surrendered a break advantage in the first set but secured the set after earning a break in the 10th game.

In the second set, however, McNally – ranked No. 59 in the world – broke Navarro three times and didn’t face a single break point.

Rain interrupted the third set with McNally leading 2-1.

Leading 5-4, McNally served out the match to complete the upset. McNally in the Round of 16 will face Argentina’s Solana Sierra, who also rallied after dropping the first set to defeat fellow unseeded player Lois Boisson of France 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

Other winners included No. 5 seed Anastasia Potapova of Austria, Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic and Belgium’s Hanne Vandewinkel.

The match between Panna Udvardy of Hungary and Daria Snigur of Ukraine was suspended with Udvardy leading 4-2 in the third set and will be finished Thursday.

Snigur took the opening set 6-4, then Udvardy rallied to even the match with a 6-3 win in the second set.

The 44-year-old stole the limelight ‌at the Queen’s Club WTA event on Tuesday as she returned to the court alongside Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko to beat Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in front of a packed stadium.

Her performance, packing plenty of ​her trademark firepower, was impressive and with Wimbledon just around the corner, the prospect ​of her returning to the site of seven of her Grand Slam ⁠singles titles is an enticing one.

While she has been coy on a possible singles return, ​a doubles appearance would be a huge boost to the tournament’s TV ratings and she would ​almost certainly receive a wildcard.

“Like I said the other day, it’s just a day at a time. I still have a little time to decide, and they have been great about giving me that space ​and time to decide,” she said.

Williams was given a raucous reception as she walked on ​court and she treated the crowd to some crunching winners and some reminders of her awesome serving power.

Asked ‌for ⁠her rating on her performance, she said: “My God. What do you think? A C-minus?

“I got nervous right before the match, like, maybe 30 minutes before, and then I just let it go.

“With all the elements, considering coming back on grass is probably not the easiest surface. Overall, ​it was decent.”

Playing in ​front of her daughters ⁠was one of the motivations for adding another chapter to her storied career and eight-year-old Olympia and Adira, two, are with her in ​London.

Asked how they reacted to their mum’s win, she said: “Adira wanted ​to go ⁠to the toy store, and Olympia wanted to know what was for dinner.”

Next up for Williams and 19-year-old Mboko is a clash with Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarter-finals, scheduled for ⁠Thursday.

“It ​feels like it was far from our level a little ​bit, but I think it’s great knowing that you have so much room for improvement,” world number nine Mboko ​said.

“I mean, overall, I’d say it was pretty good.”

The 19-year-old Russian, long regarded as one of the sport’s brightest prospects, delivered on her promise on the biggest stage of all, ‌claiming a maiden Grand Slam title and joining the select group of active major champions led by players such as Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.

In doing so, Andreeva became the youngest women’s singles champion at Roland Garros since Monica Seles won her third consecutive title in Paris in 1992, a milestone that underlined the Russian’s precocious talent and the scale of her achievement.

“I’ll be honest, I’ve done a lot of visualisations before. Not just this ​tournament, but I’ve had dreams, I’ve had a lot of thoughts on how it’s going to happen, if it’s going to happen, when it’s going to happen, where,” Andreeva told ​reporters.

“I would say the feeling in real life is so much better, obviously, than in your dreams… looking at this trophy and realising that ⁠this is actually true, and I can call myself a Grand Slam champion.”

While Chwalinska’s remarkable run from qualifying captured the imagination and triggered praise from the greats of the game over the ​past fortnight, the final belonged to a player who increasingly looks equipped to shape the sport’s future.

As the 24-year-old Pole struggled to reproduce the tactical brilliance that had carried her through nine successive victories, ​Andreeva grew stronger with every game, imposing her power, absorbing the pressure and leaving little doubt that a new force has arrived at the top of the women’s game.

“These feelings are extra special. Now I’m already thinking of how I’m going to prepare for the grass season,” she said.

“This thing is a bit addictive, and I really want to do my best to experience all of this for the second time.”

Rankings jump

Chwalinska, however, is now ​allowed to dream of joining the club. Despite her below-par performance in the final, she will now jump to 21st in the world rankings.

There was no sign of a changing of the guard ​in the men’s doubles as Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos retained the title with a dominant 6-4 6-2 win over Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten, claiming their third Grand Slam title as a pair.

Spaniard Granollers and Argentine ‌Zeballos, who initially ⁠paired up in 2019, won the French Open and U.S. Open last year and justified their top seeding, having not dropped a set in their 2026 Roland Garros campaign.

The women’s title featured two Grand Slam final debutants, and the most experienced, albeit the youngest, prevailed on a windswept Court Philippe Chatrier.

Eighth-seeded Andreeva’s heavy groundstrokes began to penetrate through the wind while Chwalinska’s trademark touch and variety increasingly deserted her, allowing the Russian to take command of the contest.

The opening set was a tense affair, with both players struggling to cope with the pressure of a maiden Grand Slam final.

Marathon game

Chwalinska, ​only the second woman in the professional era ​to come through qualifying and reach a ⁠Grand Slam final after Britain’s Emma Raducanu won the 2021 U.S. Open, survived a marathon opening service game in which she saved three break points with a mixture of delicate drop shots and bold winners.

Neither player, however, could establish control.

Breaks were traded repeatedly, Andreeva surrendering one service game with two ​double faults while Chwalinska’s forehand often let her down.

At 3-3, Andreeva began finding greater depth and weight off her wings, pushing Chwalinska behind ​the baseline and growing in ⁠confidence, even smiling after netting an easy overhead smash.

She broke for 4-3 when Chwalinska netted a sliced backhand, consolidated for 5-3 and then capitalised on another nervous service game to claim the opening set.

The Russian carried that momentum into the second, breaking immediately and again for a 4-0 lead as Chwalinska struggled to contain her opponent’s relentless pressure.

The Pole briefly threatened a comeback, recovering one break and reducing the deficit ⁠to 5-2, ​but Andreeva remained unmoved, sealing the biggest victory of her young career with a crisp crosscourt backhand winner on her ​opponent’s serve.

The triumph earned Andreeva $3.22 million in prize money, while Chwalinska collected $1.61 million, roughly double her career earnings before arriving in Paris.

“It’ll be different, for sure, but I think and I hope I’ll adapt. I’ll definitely work hard,” Chwalinska said.

“I need ​to continue to stay in the present and give my all to be a better player every day.”

The eighth seed seized control from the outset and never loosened her grip on the contest, overwhelming Kostyuk with her depth and aggression on Court Philippe Chatrier to set up a title clash against compatriot Diana Shnaider or Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska.

As has become customary for Ukrainian players since Russia’s invasion of their country in 2022, Kostyuk did not pose for the traditional pre-match photograph with her opponent and there was no handshake at the net before or after the match.

Andreeva, 19, raced into a 4-0 lead in the opening set and barely looked back in the third meeting between the two players, the Ukrainian having won the first two.

Errani and Vavassori retain French Open mixed doubles title

Kostyuk briefly threatened to make a contest of it in the second set, but the Russian swiftly snuffed out any hopes of a comeback before serving out the match to complete a dominant display.

“I’m still very nervous, very nervous coming to this match as she’s had an amazing season, she hadn’t lost on clay, so that put pressure,” said Andreeva.

“She’s an amazing player, a tough opponent, so I’m super happy with the way I played. I’m happy I got revenge for the Madrid final, and to reach my first Grand Slam final.

“All of these feelings combined, I’ve never felt anything like this, I’m very excited about the last match here in Paris.”

Kostyuk seemed to struggle with early nerves and windy conditions, handing her opponent the first break with a double fault and an unforced backhand error while Andreeva picked up steam.

The Ukrainian was out of sorts but briefly put up a fight in the second set when she broke back for 4-3, only to drop serve in the next game and continue to pepper the court with unforced errors.

A final forehand wide gave Andreeva a deserved win after one hour and 16 minutes of a one-sided encounter.

“The conditions were tough, very windy, I couldn’t understand which direction it was going, but I’m happy I was able to stay focused,” said Andreeva after both players had continued to play when the roof was being closed.

“I was ready to accept anything that happens. It felt like a day when anything could happen. I told myself I would fight, and if she had to win she would have to work for it. With this mindset, I ended up winning and I’m very happy.”

The Italian duo dominated the deciding match tiebreak on Court Philippe Chatrier and are the first pair to successfully defend the French Open mixed doubles title since Croatia’s Ivan Dodig and Taiwan’s Latisha Chan in 2018 and 2019.

Qualifier Chwalinska reaches French Open semi-finals

This latest triumph marks a remarkable run of success for Errani and Vavassori, securing their fourth mixed doubles trophy in the last seven Grand Slam tournaments, a stretch that includes back-to-back U.S. Open titles in 2024 and 2025.

In a tournament that has already witnessed several shocks, including premature exits ‌for defending champion Coco Gauff and four-times winner Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka’s collapse was another unexpected jolt through the field.

With world number one Jannik Sinner and 24-times major winner Novak Djokovic also early casualties, it means that for the first time since the 1977 edition of Roland Garros there will be no Grand Slam champion featuring in the semi-finals of a major.

“No thoughts, no emotions. I just want to quit tennis now,” a downbeat Sabalenka told reporters after her ​defeat. “We’ll see in a few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.

“I don’t know when was the last time that happened to me that I lost 10 games in ​a row. I guess mentally I got into very deep, dark hole over there, and I just couldn’t get back on track mentally.”

While Sabalenka ⁠was left to rue her missed chances after going a set and a break up and being two points from winning the match, Shnaider said she had taken lessons from the Belarusian’s struggles in ​last year’s wind-hit final.

‘Super windy’

Sabalenka produced a litany of unforced errors in similarly tricky conditions 12 months ago to lose the title clash.

“Of course I knew in the final last year … it was ​super windy,” Shnaider said.

“I had that thought in the back of my mind that she was struggling with Coco last year. I was like, ‘yeah, I’ve got to use this opportunity, I need to just adjust’.

“I was starting to step in more on her second serve, putting pressure. She got a couple of unforced errors here and there and the momentum was shifting a bit towards my side.

“I believed more in myself.”

Shnaider will continue to believe she can ​progress to her maiden Grand Slam final when she takes on Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, who continued her Paris dream run with a 7-6(3) 6-3 victory over Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya.

Swiatek shadow

Chwalinska will have ​the chance to step out of compatriot Swiatek’s shadow and earn a much bigger windfall having already collected $870,000 for her semi-final run - more than she has earned during her entire career.

“I feel like for some reason, I don’t ‌process it. ⁠Like, I’m just focusing on every single match. I honestly don’t feel like it’s like a huge moment for me,” Chwalinska said of her win.

“But after the tournament finishes, I’ll have time to be grateful for what happened and process it as well. But for now, I’m happy, but I know that I need to focus on the job.”

As Chwalinska focused on staying in the moment, Flavio Cobolli showed similar composure to navigate tricky conditions and surge into his maiden Grand Slam semi-final with a 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 win over fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Cobolli, among the Italian men looking to shine in ​Sinner’s absence, lost the opening set and came ​back from 1-3 down in the next ⁠when the playing conditions suddenly improved with the roof closed in anticipation of rain.

He blew away his Canadian opponent in style before talking about the superstitious beliefs that have helped him in his run this year in Paris, including the use of 14-times champion Rafa Nadal’s preferred locker room shower stall.

“I’m ​a little bit (superstitious), but not crazy,” the 10th seed said. “But this week, I’m a little bit more crazy than the others. I go ​same restaurant, same menu, same ⁠shower.

“Actually, I think I said in the first press conference that I used the same shower as Rafa, because I had memories with that shower. He told me it has been his shower since 14 years.

“So the best thing I’m doing (this year) … the shower.”

He faces fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who advanced when Matteo Berrettini retired with a hip injury while trailing 7-5 5-2.

“Definitely not the match I was expecting and that we ⁠wanted to see. ​But I’m definitely happy about my performance, about how the tournament is going,” said Arnaldi.

“It’s crazy to think I’m ​in the semi-finals. I’m happy for that, and I feel sorry for Matteo. We practise a lot together in Monte Carlo. It’s tough to see him like that, but he played an amazing tournament.

“He came back to a great level, and ​now it’s going to be the grass season for him where he plays his best tennis. I’m sure he’ll come back stronger.”

The 24-year-old absorbed the power of the 22nd seed superbly, repeatedly forcing Kalinskaya into errors by extending rallies and making her hit one extra shot as she became only the second qualifier in the Open era to reach the Roland Garros semi-finals - and the sixth to achieve the feat at a Grand Slam.

Chwalinska will face world number one Aryna Sabalenka or Russia’s Diana Shnaider for a place in Saturday’s final.

After an early exchange of breaks, Chwalinska broke her opponent’s serve again and saved two break points to move 4-1 ahead before nerves crept in, allowing Kalinskaya to force a tiebreak.

But Chwalinska, who had won only two Tour-level matches on clay before this tournament, rediscovered her composure at the perfect moment. After a tense nine-shot rally on set point, Kalinskaya sent a backhand long to hand the Pole the opening set.

Glittering Osaka edges Jovic to prolong French Open run

Chwalinska maintained her momentum in the second set and, aided by a stream of unforced errors from Kalinskaya, raced into a 4-1 lead.

Kalinskaya snatched a break back for 5-3 but Chwalinska sealed victory in the next game on another unforced error by the Russian.

“Every single match here is kind of crazy for me, I’m very grateful,” said Chwalinska, who has only dropped one set on her way to the last four.

“Inside I’m nervous and stressed. I try to focus on my game and I’m happy I managed that. Honestly I just try to win every match, I’m not focusing on confidence, I’m not comparing myself (with the top players).”

The 23-time Grand Slam champion last played on the WTA Tour in September 2022, when she retired from professional tennis after a third-round loss at the U.S. Open.

“Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter. Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I’m excited to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages,” Williams was quoted as saying.

Williams had re-entered the sport’s anti-doping pool last year, spurring rumours of her return. The rumours persisted after she playfully dodged questions about coming back in an interview on NBC.

Up to Serena to announce potential comeback and partnership, says Mboko

Novak Djokovic said in March that Williams could target Wimbledon for her comeback, while her former coach Rick Macci said she was “going all out” in training to get ready for a return to the sport she dominated for two decades along with her sister Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam winner.

Venus, 15 months older than Serena, is still playing and competed at the Australian Open in January as a wildcard.

The 22-year-old left-hander, seeded 25th, had to recover from a second-set concentration lapse before dishing out a bagel with her heavy top-spin forehand, to book a last-eight spot.

After three straight losses to Keys, Shnaider earns first win over her in first meeting on clay.

Neither player was able to hold serve for the first four games and while Shnaider, ranked 23rd in the world, did manage to hold on her third attempt, Keys failed to do so until after Shnaider was 5-2 up.

Serena Williams to return to make competitive return at Queen’s Club

American Keys, the 2025 Australian Open champion, could do nothing to stop the Russian clinching the first set a game later with a powerful forehand down the line.

The tables were turned in the second set with Keys being more aggressive and reducing her number of unforced errors to level.

Shnaider quickly recovered and raced through the decider to set up a quarter-final either against top seed Aryna Sabalenka or former world number one Naomi Osaka.

World number one Sabalenka will likely face a stern test in her bid to win a maiden Roland Garros crown after suffering an agonising loss to Coco Gauff in last year’s final.

A resurgent Osaka has powered into the French Open last 16 for the first time in her career, looking more at home then ever before on the Parisian clay.

It will be only the fourth meeting, all at the last-16 stage of tournaments, between two of the biggest stars in the sport.

Osaka edged their first encounter en route to the 2018 US Open title and then they never met again until this year.

Sabalenka saw off her Japanese opponent in straight sets in Indian Wells, before fighting back from a set down to win at the Madrid Open.

Holder Gauff joins big-name exodus, Sabalenka solid at French Open

They renew their rivalry with a quarter-final against either former Australian Open champion Madison Keys or Russia’s Diana Shnaider up for grabs.

“It’s great, great to see her back on her level. Maybe not at her best level, but she’s back, she’s fighting, she’s building her level,” said Sabalenka of Osaka, who took a break from tennis in 2023 to give birth to her daughter.

“It’s nice to see her. She’s a great player, great person. I feel like I really enjoy our battles. It’s high-level matches, and I really enjoy when somebody pushes me to the limit.”

Osaka struggled initially for form after rejoining the tour, but reached the US Open semi-finals last year, the first time she had made the second week of a Grand Slam event since winning her second Australian Open title in 2021.

“I really wanted to make it a goal to do really well on clay and grass,” said Osaka, who has never got past the third round at Wimbledon.

“I don’t want this to be my last round. I want to keep going. I just want to keep focusing on every match.”

Osaka has been wearing a sequined, gold dress in Paris, which she likened to the Eiffel Tower at night, but has said she may switch things up for the night session.

The last remaining French player Diane Parry will be hoping to emulate last year’s surprise semi-finalist Lois Boisson and continue her dream run, going up against Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska.

Austrian 28th seed Anastasia Potapova looks to back up her win over defending champion Coco Gauff when she faces Anna Kalinskaya.

Wide-open men’s draw

World number six Felix Auger-Aliassime is the highest-ranked player left in the top half of the men’s draw after the shock exit of Jannik Sinner and an early defeat for Ben Shelton.

The Canadian will bid to reach his first French Open quarter-final when he plays Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, in the last 16 of a Slam event for the first time.

World number 85 Zachary Svajda had only won two Grand Slam matches before this tournament, but even he took notice of Sinner’s loss.

“When I saw Sinner was out, I try to stay present and stay positive and just take it day by day, match by match,” said the American, who takes on Italian 10th seed Flavio Cobolli.

“I knew the draw was open, but I just tried to keep doing my routines, keep doing what I’ve been doing, and just see what happens.”

Former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini targets his first Slam quarter-final since 2022 when he goes up against Sinner’s conqueror Juan Manuel Cerundolo on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Frances Tiafoe, who lost to Lorenzo Musetti in the last eight 12 months ago, plays another Italian in Matteo Arnaldi.

The 25-year-old rallied from a set down to beat Gauff 4-6 7-6(1) 6-4 in the third round, knocking out the fourth seed amid a breakthrough season that has followed her switch ​to representing Austria.

“I think it’s also being a coincidence, which is nice, ​but also at the same time I do feel free, I ⁠feel better, I feel the support from Austrian people,” Potapova told reporters when ​asked whether her improved results were linked to the move.

“For sure it’s given ​me extra boost of energy to fight for those wins.”

Potapova, who began representing Austria after obtaining citizenship in December, is one of several Russian-born players to have switched allegiance since Russia’s ​2022 invasion of Ukraine.

This season she has established herself among the tour’s most ​consistent performers on clay.

Last month, Potapova became the first lucky loser to reach the semi-finals of ‌a ⁠WTA 1000 event when she made a surprise run in Madrid, where she defeated former world number one Karolina Pliskova as well as former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and world number two Elena Rybakina.

Potapova pointed to a number of ​reasons when asked about ​how she has ⁠found such form.

“I’ve been here for 10 years on tour. This is the first time I managed to do this ​well and stay this consistent,” she said.

“Maybe it’s a combination ​of everything, ⁠of the experience that I have from previous years, of also a maturity that I grown up, that I changed the mentality in my head.

“We switched a lot ⁠of ​things with my team. I switched my team, ​first of all, and then we started to work on the new things. I think it’s just ​giving a positivity now.”

After a ​brutal two days for fancied players at the claycourt Grand Slam during which Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic crashed out, Gauff was unable to find her best ‌level and lost 4-6 7-6(1) 6-4 to fall by the wayside.

“I don’t know, I had chances,” Gauff said.

“Just trying to capitalise more on these good points that I was hitting and not quite finishing … that was the difference, she was able to finish points and I wasn’t.

“It’s one thing to lose, but today I competed, I fought my hardest, but I don’t think I played the way I wanted to in the crucial moments.”

Gauff’s premature exit leaves four-times ​champion Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka as the top contenders to win the Suzanne Lenglen Cup, while Potapova will be viewed as the dark horse having dished out a massive upset.

“I’m ​cramping a little bit, but it’s OK, it’s all good. I don’t have any words now, I’m extremely happy,” Potapova said in her on-court interview ⁠as she clutched her right arm after two hours and 37 minutes of big hitting.

“The fight we could show … Coco’s such a champion and I respect her so much. I’m unbelievably proud ​of myself, that I stayed there, and that I was fighting until the last point.”

Sabalenka earlier beat Kasatkina 6-0 7-5 on a sun-drenched Court Suzanne Lenglen for her 100th win as the top-ranked woman, ​making her only the ninth player to achieve the feat since the inception of the WTA rankings.

She joined Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Justine Henin and Swiatek in the honours list.

“I’ve got goosebumps,” said Sabalenka, who struggled with dips in form and crippling service issues a few years ago.

“It means the world to me and I’m just happy that in the tough moments I stayed tough. I was fighting ​and never gave up and that is what it has brought me.”

Marathon battles

Matteo Berrettini brought plenty of fight to his clash with Francisco Comesana, prevailing 7-6(3) 5-7 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(15-13) in five hours ​and 13 minutes, to book an encounter with Sinner-slayer Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

Cerundolo came through his own epic, with a 6-4 6-7(9) 7-6(4) 6-7(4) 7-6(10-8) win over Martin Landaluce in a match that was two minutes short ‌of six hours. ⁠But his brother Francisco lost 6-3 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-3 to Zachary Svajda.

Alejandro Tabilo ended the run of French 17-year-old Moise Kouame 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(11-9) in another long contest, but local fans had plenty of reason to celebrate as Diane Parry battled past sixth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3 4-6 7-6(10-3).

Madison Keys showed far too much experience to see off 19-year-old Victoria Mboko 6-3 5-7 7-5.

Potapova rattled Keys’ compatriot Gauff with some powerful baseline hitting and broke to love in the opening game, before taking a 4-2 lead when the American slipped and dropped to the floor of Court Philippe Chatrier trying to ​reach the ball.

Gauff dusted herself off and won ​the next two games in front of a ⁠sparse centre court crowd, with the attention split between Paris St Germain’s Champions League soccer final with Arsenal in Budapest and Kouame in action.

The 22-year-old raised her game again to take the first set, but Russian-born Potapova immediately ramped up the pressure and targeted the American’s wobbly serve to grab ​a double break at the start of the second set.

Potapova was on the verge of levelling the match while ahead 5-2 but Gauff ​moved through the gears to ⁠surge ahead by claiming four games in a row, only to lose the next game and then the set in a tiebreak where her serve let her down.

The pair traded breaks in a breathless decider, but world number four Gauff lost her way as Potapova took control and won in style for a meeting with 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya, who beat Camila Osorio 6-3 0-6 6-2.

Kalinskaya’s Russian compatriot Diana Shnaider went ⁠through with ​a 7-5 6-1 win over Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova, who criticised Russian players over their stance on Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Former world ​number one Naomi Osaka earlier dazzled with an all-gold outfit but had to dig deep for a hard-fought 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-4 victory over American teenager Iva Jovic.

Flavio Cobolli then sent out another young American with a 6-2 6-2 6-3 win over Learner ​Tien before Matteo Arnaldi got past Raphael Collignon 6-4 6-7(5) 5-7 6-4 7-6(10-4), as Italian fans found new hope after Sinner’s defeat.

The Spaniard, who retired in 2024, said he took immense risks with his health to keep his tennis career going, after a Netflix series called ‘Rafa’ provided an in-depth look into his physical and mental struggles to pursue greatness.

“I’ve had to make decisions about my health, where you are on the borderline between right or wrong. But if I hadn’t explored all that, I probably would have had 10 fewer Grand Slams… this is the reality,” Nadal told the BBC in an interview published on Friday.

Nadal was diagnosed with a rare condition called Mueller-Weiss syndrome after he broke his foot during the Madrid Open final of 2005, months after he won the French Open on his first attempt aged 19, clinching his first Grand Slam title.

Although the condition, which was caused by his extensive training as a child under his uncle Toni, put his career at risk, Nadal refused to give up.

Djokovic seeks record 25th Grand Slam as French Open begins

The injury haunted him even as he won 13 more Grand Slams in the next nine years, clinching at least one major every year.

“Tennis became a race against time. Always having the doubt in my head of, how long can I last with this foot? I never knew how long my career would last,” Nadal said.

“I always thought, maybe it’s the last year, so there’s no time to stop.”

The injury also led to other health complications, including tendinitis in his left knee and perforations in his intestines, the latter caused by the use of painkillers.

Sometimes he had to manage the pain with targeted anaesthetic injections, and had no feeling in his leg during the final of the 2022 French Open, his last Grand Slam win.

“The key was the suffering was less than my passion and my happiness for what I was doing,” the 39-year-old said.

Williams, who won the last of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles in 2017 and has not competed since the 2022 U.S. Open, can officially enter tournaments after rejoining the tennis anti-doping testing pool last year.

The 44-year-old said in August 2022 that she was “evolving away from tennis” and has not responded to Reuters requests for comment on her comeback, though she previously denied she was preparing to return to the sport she dominated for 20 years.

Multiple British media reports on Thursday said Williams will team up with 19-year-old Canadian Mboko after requesting a wildcard for the doubles tournament at Queen’s Club.

“Yeah, I’m very happy. Serena and I have stayed in touch, which is really nice, because I really look up to her. The fact that she even knows me is very exciting,” Mboko told reporters at the French Open, without confirming Serena’s comeback.

“I feel like if she’s ready to come back on her own terms, then I feel like it’s up to her to announce that, but other than that, I don’t really have much to say.

“I think the moment is all up to her, and when she’s ready to come back.”

Reuters has sought comment from the organisers of the Queen’s event, which gets under way in London on June 8.

Mboko, who won her Roland Garros second-round match against Katerina Siniakova late on Thursday, said she was in touch with Serena and delighted that the American followed her results on the women’s circuit.

“She has texted me. I can’t really tell you the exact date. I don’t know. But it’s really cool that she follows the results. She knows who I am … I looked up to her. She’s my idol, it’s really cool,” Mboko added.

“I remember watching her at the U.S. Open on TV and then seeing her in person … I feel like it was hard not to like her because she won everything.

“She was such a great role model and such an inspiration to so many young girls out there.”

Sinner arrived in Paris as the favourite for the title having lifted claycourt titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome, with his main rival and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz ruled out with injury and Novak Djokovic searching for his best form.

But Cerundolo tore up the script in a dramatic clash where he held his nerve even as last year’s runner-up Sinner crumbled while on the verge of a big win, sending shockwaves through Roland Garros.

“It’s tough for him. He was winning the match. I couldn’t win more than three games (in any of the first two sets),” said Cerundolo.

“I think I was a little bit lucky, I feel sorry for him … he was serving to win this match, but then I don’t know what happened. I think he was cramping maybe, or maybe it was the pressure of the match, I don’t know.

“But of course I feel sorry for him and I hope he recovers. I’m super happy. I’m going to keep trying to play my best… I hope to be ready for the next match.”

Jannik Sinner sets Masters 1000 set record with Miami Open round of 32 win

As the temperature climbed over the 30 degrees Celsius mark for the first time in the afternoon, Sinner had already breezed through the first set on the back of a solitary break, and the 24-year-old Italian looked to be in cruise mode.

Cerundolo offered resistance towards the end of the second set, but the 56th-ranked Argentine was left with a mountain to climb after Sinner unleashed a huge forehand winner to double his lead in the match for the loss of only five games.

The four-times Grand Slam champion cooled off with an ice towel in the break and turned up the intensity on his unseeded opponent in the third set to go 5-1 ahead, before he began to struggle and halted play when serving at 5-4.

“In the third set I felt dizzy and I wanted to vomit but I couldn’t,” the Italian was heard saying to an official, before he stepped off the court for a medical timeout.

Sinner returned five minutes later and was immediately broken for 5-5, and dropped the next two games to hand the set to his Argentine opponent, who sensed the chance to pull off a major upset.

Hitting heavier to quicken the points and also serving and volleying frequently, Sinner looked desperate to avoid the exit but his troubles only increased as he began to clutch his right thigh in the fourth set, which he surrendered tamely.

Quickly losing control, Sinner was broken early in the decider, as Cerundolo took full advantage to leave the Paris Grand Slam without its title favourite and Djokovic with a golden opportunity to win a standalone 25th major.

Rome champion Elina Svitolina continued to mark herself out as a genuine title contender with a 6-0 6-4 victory ‌over Kaitlin Quevedo on Court Philippe Chatrier, before fellow Ukrainian and Madrid winner Marta Kostyuk beat Katie Volynets 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3.

There has been much to celebrate for Ukrainian tennis in the last few weeks and Yuliia Starodubtseva gave her country another reason to rejoice amid the Russian-led war after she fought past Moscow-born Rybakina 3-6 6-1 7-6(10-4) for a first top-five win.

Fresh from claiming her second Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January, Roland Garros second seed Rybakina was a shadow of ​her usually dominant self as she made 71 unforced errors in the clash with Starodubtseva to bow out tamely.

“I feel like if you’re trying to beat one of the best, you ​have to think that you can,” Starodubtseva told reporters.

“I was trying to go into this match with this mindset, try not to give too much respect, ⁠even though she’s a great player and someone you can look up to.”

Russian eighth seed Mirra Andreeva seemed to be joining Rybakina through the exit door but she regained her composure to down Spain’s ​Marina Bassols Ribera 3-6 6-1 6-1.

Jasmine Paolini, the 2024 runner-up, was beaten 3-6 6-4 6-3 by Argentina’s Solana Sierra.

Swiatek is another player trying to rediscover her belief at the French Open after a lacklustre few months ​but the four-times winner was plagued by 38 unforced errors but still had too much quality as saw off Czech Sara Bejlek 6-2 6-3.

“It was a tricky match in terms of the rhythm, because Sara plays differently than most of the players,” Swiatek said.

“I’m happy with the way I adjusted and how I was making decisions, because sometimes it wasn’t obvious when to attack and stay back. In the end I felt pretty good.”

Three-times champion Djokovic then overcame stiff resistance from ​local favourite Valentin Royer to seal a 6-3 6-2 6-7(7) 6-3 victory, as the Serb stayed on track for a standalone 25th Grand Slam title at the age of 39.

“I think Valentin deserves a big ​round of applause for his performance today. I hope I won’t play any more French players for the rest of the tournament,” said Djokovic, who opened his campaign against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

While that clash against Frenchman Perricard was ‌played in the ⁠cool conditions of the evening, Djokovic was made to sweat as Paris continued to reel under the heatwave that has tested players.

“The feelings on the court are different when you win,” added Djokovic.

“But it was a tough match in difficult conditions.”

While Djokovic was cheered on from the stands by his coaching team that included new addition Viktor Troicki, it was a different story for Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Abrupt exit

The Spaniard found himself without a coach at the Grand Slam as his mentor Mariano Puerta abruptly left the venue after sending Davidovich Fokina a text message and flew to Miami, leaving him to fend for himself in his clash with Argentine ​Thiago Agustin Tirante.

“After the match against Damir Dzumhur, ​we had lunch and after that, I went ⁠to cool down. He said he was feeling bad, he was going to the hotel,” Davidovich Fokina explained after his four-set win over Tirante.

“In the afternoon … he texted me a message (saying) he’ll not continue … he didn’t say nothing to anybody, he just took the flight and flew to Miami.”

There was bad blood on ​the court when Tamara Korpatsch snubbed a handshake with Wang Xinyu after beating the 32nd seed in a tense match and said she resented being ​portrayed as an unfair player ⁠over a line call.

Tensions arose late in the opening set of Korpatsch’s 6-2 2-6 6-3 win on Court Seven when Wang struck a shot she believed had landed inside the baseline, only for her opponent to point to a ball mark outside the court.

The disagreement escalated when Wang crossed the net to inspect the mark on Korpatsch’s side, drawing a code violation from chair umpire Aurelie Tourte for unsportsmanlike conduct, and sparking tension that lingered ⁠through the ​match.

“I can’t say I’ll gift her the point,” Korpatsch said.

“I’m a bit surprised, because we have a good relationship, we’re not ​enemies. I didn’t offer her my hand because that’s not fair for me. She was unfair to come on my side, and I’m not an unfair player.”

Korpatsch’s German compatriot Alexander Zverev took another step in his quest for a maiden Grand Slam title as ​he dismantled Czech Tomas Machac 6-4 6-2 6-2 in the evening session.

Zverev’s fellow Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Belinda Bencic earlier breezed past American Caty McNally 6-4 6-0.

The Frenchman, who turns 40 in September, bade a fond farewell to Roland Garros after going down 6-2 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-0 to compatriot Hugo ​Gaston in the first round on Monday, walking off to a standing ​ovation that celebrated a career that spanned two decades.

Monfils will retire at ⁠the end of the season as he seeks to manage his body into ​his 40s.

“Why do I want to get to the States? Because I want to ​play until 40. My wish is to be an athlete that plays until 40 years old,” Monfils said.

“Like Stan (Wawrinka), LeBron, Cristiano, (Patrice) Evra, like all of the athletes who have managed to continue ​their sport until the age of 40.

“That’s what I want to do. You ​know that whatever happens this summer, I’m locked in to train.”

The former world number six, who ‌has ⁠enjoyed some of his best results on clay, acknowledged that the surface has become more challenging in recent years.

While he hopes to secure a wildcard for the U.S. Open, he also plans to play Wimbledon and Montreal.

“Hopefully Wimbledon. Then need to ​decide if we go ​to Washington or ⁠not,” he said.

Olympic champion Zheng’s return to Paris ends in tame defeat

“I think we will ask Montreal, hopefully. I want to say

goodbye to Montreal. Obviously I will ask the French ​Federation to have the U.S. Open wildcard. Hopefully I will ​have this ⁠one.

“Asia is a bit blurry, to be honest. Then the end of the year, I can tell you I will play Lyon, the new tournament. Nicolas (his agent) wants me ⁠to ​play Vienna, and then hopefully, Paris.”

The 13-time ATP ​title winner reached the French Open semi-finals in 2008 and was a key part of France’s Davis Cup ​runs in 2010 and 2014.

China’s Zheng has largely struggled to replicate the form that carried her to the gold medal at the Paris Games two years ago with a chronic right elbow injury stalling her progress and forcing her to undergo surgery last summer.

The 23-year-old, who made the Roland Garros quarter-finals last year, took treatment for a foot problem midway through the second set before her first defeat in the opening round of the French Open.

Swiatek, Rybakina prepare for Roland Garros bow

World number 114 Chwalinska, who came through three rounds of qualifying and dished out two bagels along the way, showed no mercy and wrapped up the win to book a clash with either Tatjana Maria or 23rd seed Elise Mertens in the second round.

After her three-year reign as Roland Garros champion was brought to an end by world number one Aryna Sabalenka at the semi-final stage last year, Swiatek has done plenty of soul searching.

The 24-year-old Pole recently changed up her team and now makes her major debut with Rafael Nadal’s former coach, Francisco Roig, in her box.

“Every year I say that every tournament is a different story, no matter if I won Rome (final WTA 1000 tournament before Roland Garros), no matter if I lost second round,” Swiatek told reporters on Friday.

“We still have time to kind of refresh, reset, and start the tournament from a totally different perspective.

“I think I will take good experience from this year’s Rome and positive feedback also after the matches… I’m in the match rhythm, which is great, comparing to last year.”

Swiatek showed signs of being back to her old self at the Italian Open earlier in May, before losing in the last four to eventual winner Elina Svitolina.

The third seed will begin her quest for a seventh Grand Slam title by opening play on centre court on day two of Roland Garros against 17-year-old Australian wild card Emerson Jones.

That match-up will be followed by the entry of world number two Rybakina as she seeks to win a second straight Grand Slam after triumphing at the Australian Open in January.

The 26-year-old Kazakh has been drawn against 84th-ranked Slovenian Veronika Erjavec in the first round.

Rybakina has never got beyond the last eight in the French capital, but, despite disappointing runs at the Madrid Open and in Rome, she will come into Roland Garros with confidence after winning the 500-level event on clay in Stuttgart last month.

China’s Zheng Qinwen will make her return to Grand Slam action for the first time since Wimbledon last year when the former world number four meets Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska.

‘Ask the museum’

Seventh seed Svitolina will also be in action over on Court Suzanne Lenglen when she takes on Hungary’s Anna Bondar.

The Ukrainian’s husband, Monfils, who will retire at the end of the season, then heads up an all-French affair in the night session as he hopes to prolong his adieu to Roland Garros.

The hugely-popular 39-year-old will play fellow wild card Hugo Gaston on centre court.

Monfils won’t be the only beloved figure on the men’s tour to risk leaving the French Open for the very last time on Monday.

Wawrinka, the 2015 champion, will also hang up his racquet at the end of the season after a glittering 24-year career.

The 41-year-old Swiss faces Dutch lucky loser Jesper de Jong on Court Simonne Mathieu, after his original opponent, France’s Arthur Fils, withdrew injured.

“I’m happy to be back here, happy to have an opportunity to play one last time here in French Open. Of course it’s not going to be easy at the end, but so far I’m happy,” Wawrinka told reporters on media day.

He even joked that for the occasion he might bring out of retirement the famous checkered shorts he wore during his victorious run in Paris 11 years ago.

“I’ll ask the museum (at Roland Garros). I’m not sure. Maybe we can wash them before,” he said.

At the other end of the scale, Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar will make his debut in the senior draw at Roland Garros on court 12 as he prepares to meet American Aleksandar Kovacevic.

The ​claycourt Grand Slam starts under a shadow, with some players deciding to restrict their appearances at Friday’s and Saturday’s traditional pre-tournament ‌media days amid growing tensions over prize money and player influence.

Top men’s match: Djokovic v mpetshi perricard

Djokovic has played just one match since Indian Wells in March and the 39-year-old will need to quickly shake off any rust when he meets Mpetshi Perricard for the first time in his career in his opening match.

The Serbian has ​spent the last two years trying to capture a 25th major crown that would move him past Margaret Court to take ​sole possession of the all-time record, but that quest looks in danger of being prolonged.

“I wanted to play more ⁠but my body was not allowing me. I was going through rehabilitation process for my injury,” Djokovic told reporters.

“If I’m able to somehow maintain ​a level of freshness and progress… then I feel like I have always a very good chance. I have proven that in Australia this ​year where I was close to winning another Slam. I always have that belief in me when I’m on the court.”

Top women’s match: Andreeva v Ferro

Russian Mirra Andreeva has had a strong clay season, winning the Linz Open and reaching her first WTA 1000 final at the Madrid Open, while also making it to the semi-finals ​in Stuttgart and quarter-finals in Rome.

The 19-year-old begins against world number 200 Fiona Ferro of France, and should face little trouble if she can ​prevent the home fans from affecting her like they did in her quarter-final defeat to Lois Boisson at last year’s tournament.

“Obviously the crowd is going to support ‌her (Ferro) as ⁠much as they can, and that’s totally okay,” Andreeva said.

“I have some experience even from last year when I played quarters, so I pretty much know what to expect… We will see how it’s going to go, but I hope they’re not going to be too hard on me.”

Can Zerev join grand slam club?

Zverev has been on the verge of a maiden Grand Slam title at many points over his career, reaching three finals ​and falling just short, and if ​the German is to finally ⁠accomplish the feat the French Open looks to be his best bet.

The 29-year-old reached the final in Paris in 2024 and has made it to at least the quarter-final stage in seven of the past eight editions, ​putting him among the favourites this year, especially in the absence of injured world number two Carlos Alcaraz.

Zverev ​begins his campaign against ⁠Bonzi, who could prove a tricky customer however, with the Frenchman being one of only three players to have taken a set off world number one Jannik Sinner during the Italian’s incredible 29-match winning streak.

French open order of play on sunday (prefix number denotes seeding):

Court philippe chatrier (play begins at 1000 GMT)

• Sinja Kraus (Austria) ⁠v 11-Belinda Bencic (Switzerland)
• Benjamin ​Bonzi (France) v 2-Alexander Zverev (Germany)
• 8-Mirra Andreeva (Russia) v Fiona Ferro (France)Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (France) v 3-Novak Djokovic (Serbia)

Court Suzanne ​Lenglen (play begins at 0900 GMT)

• 13-Karen Khachanov (Russia) v Arthur Gea (France)
• 26-Hailey Baptiste (United States) v Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic)
• 7-Taylor Fritz (U.S.) v Nishesh Basavareddy (U.S.)
• Ksenia Efremova (France) v 18-Sorana Cirstea (Romania)

Court Simonne Mathieu (play begins at 0900 GMT)

• 15-Marta Kostyuk (Ukraine) ​v Oksana Selekhmeteva (Russia)
• Katie Volynets (U.S.) v Clara Burel (France)
• Titouan Droguet (France) v 26-Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic)
• 28-Joao Fonseca (Brazil) v Luka Pavlovic (France)

Djokovic, 39, is chasing a 25th major title, which would put him outright first for the most Grand Slam victories in the history of the sport.

However, Sinner, who is on a 29-match winning streak and has won the last six Masters events, casts a long shadow over the sole remaining Grand Slam tournament he has not yet won.

“It’s an incredible feat for him and his team. We’ve talked a lot about how impressive he is on all surfaces,” Djokovic said of Sinner, who with victory at the three clay-court Masters this season became just the second man after the Serb to win all nine 1000-level titles.

“Being one of the two guys that have managed in the history to be the only ones to win the Golden Masters, I know how challenging that is and how difficult it is.

Djokovic reaches 100th Australian Open match win in hunt for 25th Grand Slam

“So I want to congratulate him for that because it’s quite an achievement and he’s really young, he still has a lot of time ahead of him.”

After falling on opposite sides of the draw, third-seeded Djokovic and Sinner, 24, cannot meet until the final on June 7.

In the absence through injury of double-defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic, who has reached at least the semi-finals at each of the past five Grand Slams, appears the most likely man to be able to put a stop to Sinner’s run.

“He’s going for his Golden Slam as well here if I’m not mistaken. He’s maybe in the form of his life, and without Carlos being here also increases his chances even more of claiming more Grand Slam titles,” Djokovic said.

“So we’re all here to try to win against him and prevent him from taking more titles.”

Novak Djokovic still dealing with injury, may not play Madrid Open

‘Always have that belief’

Djokovic, who lost the Australian Open final to Alcaraz in January, added the Spaniard’s withdrawal is a “big blow for the tournament”, but that it did not change his approach.

“I don’t think it does significantly change, to be honest, because I have been through challenging times with my body in the last, you know, six to eight months,” he said.

“If I’m able to somehow maintain that level of freshness and progress, then I feel like I have always a very good chance.

“I have proven that in Australia this year where I was close to wining another Slam… I always have that belief in me when I’m on the court.”

But the three-time champion enters his 22nd Roland Garros with very little clay-court playing time under his belt this season.

After exiting Indian Wells at the round-of-16 stage to Jack Draper in March, Djokovic has only played one warm-up match on the red dirt – crashing out in his opening match in Rome to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic.

Sabalenka says she is ‘100%’ ready for French Open after claycourt struggles

Djokovic admitted his reduced time on court was not of his own choosing.

“I wanted to play more, but my body was not allowing me,” he said. “I was going through rehabilitation process for my (shoulder) injury. So after Indian Wells, it was just not possible for me to compete for several months.”

He added that he entered the Italian Open just to get some match experience before his latest tilt at a 25th major crown.

“Really wanted to go to Rome to give it a shot and try and, you know, see how I feel,” he explained.

“I was far from being ready to compete, but still, I needed at least that one match just to have the score called by a chair umpire and have experience of the nerves before I eventually come to Roland Garros, which at that point I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play or not.”

Djokovic will begin his Roland Garros campaign against big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Sabalenka’s French Open hopes had been clouded by injury and the Belarusian top seed managed just four wins from six matches on clay this season, a stark contrast to her dominant 26-1 win-loss record before this year’s claycourt swing began.

Her struggles included a shock third-round exit at the Italian Open, where she complained of lower back and hip problems, but the 28-year-old said that taking some time off had worked wonders for her recovery.

“I struggled in the beginning of the claycourt (swing) physically, but right now I feel 100%,” Sabalenka told reporters on Friday.

“We did a great recovery. We focused on recovery and made sure that I’m healed everywhere and I’m ready to go. Right now, physically I’m ready to go.”

She has played just six matches on clay but Sabalenka brushed off concerns about her limited time on court, insisting experience trumped match practice.

Sabalenka fights rust to reach third round of Madrid Open

“I think all of us are here just for one reason, doesn’t matter if I didn’t play a lot of matches on the claycourt,” Sabalenka added.

“I know how to play on clay and it’s all about being physically and mentally healthy, to go for it, and to be ready to fight.”

Once prone to letting her emotions spill over on court, Sabalenka said her improved composure has been key to her rise to the top of the game.

“My emotions were destroying my game and my level was dropping dramatically when I would just start over-reacting on everything,” she said.

“And also, at the same time, my opponents would see that and they would step in and play better.

“First of all, making sure that my opponent doesn’t see what’s going on in my head, and at the same time, to perform better and to stay in the zone - it was a huge improvement over the years in my career and really helped me to level up.”

The top seed is looking to go one step further than last year when she fell in the final to American Coco Gauff despite taking the first set.

With her body healed and emotions in check, Sabalenka delivered a simple message about her French Open ambitions: “All I can say that I’m ready to fight. Of course, I hope to do a little bit better than I did last year.”

Several leading players are expected to restrict their appearances at Friday and Saturday’s traditional pre-tournament media days to the mandatory 15-minute ​sessions before leaving without conducting any additional interviews, according to French ​media reports, which Mauresmo confirmed.

The move comes after weeks of ⁠mounting frustration among players, who argue that the four Grand Slams distribute ​a smaller share of revenues than ATP and WTA events while making ​key decisions without sufficient consultation.

“We regret this decision but I’m confident about the discussions that will happen and that we will move forward together,” Mauresmo told reporters.

World number one ​Aryna Sabalenka had warned earlier this month in Rome that players could ​eventually consider a boycott if their demands were not heard.

“At some point, we will have ‌to ⁠boycott if that’s the only solution to defend our rights,” Sabalenka said. “We put on the show. Without us, there would be no tournaments, no entertainment. I think we deserve to be paid better.”

While top ATP and WTA ​events redistribute around 22% ​of revenue to ⁠players, the Grand Slams are estimated to return closer to 15%, a figure that has fuelled tensions between ​tournament organisers and player representatives.

Mauresmo said the French Open ​did not ⁠take the boycott threats lightly but added discussions would take place.

“We’re taking everything that comes from the players seriously,” she said.

“I’m not going to tell you ⁠tomorrow ​night that everything has been solved but the ​discussion will also continue after the tournament. We’re going to start discussions, which is what ​everybody wants.”

The French Open starts on Sunday.

The popular Frenchman took centre stage on Court Philippe-Chatrier for ‘Gael & Friends’, an evening that blended tennis, music and tributes to celebrate his two-decade journey on the professional tour. The former world number six was joined by an array of leading players, including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka also featured, alongside Maria Sakkari and rising American talent Iva Jovic, while his former Davis Cup teammates Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet added a nostalgic touch to the occasion. Monfils and Svitolina capped the night by winning the exhibition event, delighting the Paris crowd in an event filled with laughter, trick shots and playful exchanges replacing the usual tension of a competition.

Monfils won 13 ATP titles and enjoyed memorable runs in Paris, including a semi-final appearance in 2008. He helped France to Davis Cup finals in 2010 and 2014.

While a Grand Slam title eluded him, his impact extended far beyond results and his on-court charisma made him a major draw card wherever he played.

“Thanks to you all for everything you’ve given me over the years,” the 39-year-old showman said after the exhibition match.

“It’s been a dream of my life. I’ve always given my absolute most. I was never quite good enough to win a Grand Slam.

But maybe I won something more important than that - a tennis career I’m proud of.“

Svitolina, who had earlier called her husband “a magician” in a note written to their daughter, was reduced to tears as Monfils lingered on court, soaking up one final ovation.

Monfils will play 25-year-old compatriot Hugo Gaston in the first round at Roland Garros next week, his 19th appearance in the main draw at the French Open.

The 23-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion has not played since withdrawing from the Barcelona Open last month.

“My recovery is going well and I feel much better, but unfortunately I’m still not ready to be able to play, and that’s why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen’s and Wimbledon,” the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon champion wrote on X.

Alcaraz ready to get his socks dirty with return to clay

Alcaraz’s rivalry with Italian Jannik Sinner has captivated men’s tennis and his absence from the next two Grand Slam tournaments is a huge blow to fans and broadcasters alike.

The pair contested an epic French Open final last year with Alcaraz coming back to win the title before Sinner turned the tables to take the Wimbledon crown.

Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam this year when he won the Australian Open.

Victory over the American followed Svitolina’s wins over world number two Elena Rybakina and third-ranked Iga Swiatek, making her a strong contender to claim a maiden Grand Slam title in Paris, where the main draw begins on May 24.

Svitolina’s third title in the Italian capital comes eight years ​after her second successive triumph at the Foro Italico, a spell that included a maternity break in which she gave ​birth to her daughter with fellow player Gael Monfils in late 2022.

“It’s hard to believe it’s ⁠been eight years since I had this trophy here,” Svitolina said.

“I’m very pleased with my two weeks here. Congratulations to Coco ​for a great tournament. You’re such a great champion, and I hope we can have more battles in the future.”

Seventh seed Svitolina twice ​came from a break down to level a tight first set at 4-4 against Gauff, and the Ukrainian held on under huge pressure during exhausting rallies to get ahead in the ninth game with some powerful hitting.

A couple of untimely double faults from Gauff’s racket in the next game gifted ​Svitolina the opening set, and the 31-year-old dialled up the intensity late in the next set to go within touching distance ​of a third Rome title.

Gauff, the reigning Roland Garros champion, held on bravely until 5-5 in the second set and then broke with a ‌reflex volley ⁠at the net after a shot that clipped the netcord unsettled Svitolina and forced her into making a flat return.

That joy was short-lived as Svitolina broke back immediately, but Gauff raised her game in the tiebreak to drag the match into a deciding set, where there was little to separate the duo after the opening four games.

A backhand error from Gauff meant Svitolina sealed a vital break in the ​fifth game, and the Ukrainian ​pounced again for a double ⁠break, before holding her nerve in a tense finish to secure victory on her third match point.

Svitolina thanks Ukrainians

Svitolina later thanked Ukrainians back home as the country continues to grapple with war following ​Russia’s 2022 invasion.

“Many of them are in bomb shelters and it’s been really heavy in ​the past couple ⁠of weeks for Ukraine,” she added.

“I want to thank you for all the support from afar, I feel all the love.”

A distraught Gauff was left to digest her third straight defeat by Svitolina, following losses in the Australian Open quarter-finals and Dubai semi-finals this year.

“Another tough ⁠battle ​between us. I’m on the other side but hopefully one of these days ​I can get over that,” Gauff said.

“You had an incredible tournament with a lot of long matches against great players, so congratulations to you and your team.

“Hopefully ​I’ll see you at the French Open, in the final.”

The top seed beat Medvedev ‌6-2 5-7 6-4 in a semi-final that was suspended on Friday due to heavy rain, with Sinner leading 4-2 in the decider when play was halted.

On Sunday, Sinner ​will play Norwegian 23rd seed Casper Ruud, who has lost four ​times against the Italian.

“A tough challenge, to be honest. During ⁠the night, usually I never struggle to sleep. This night was not ​easy,” Sinner said.

“When you’re in the third set, nearly done, but you ​still have to show up again … It’s basically a new start of a match. There are nerves again, but I’m very happy how I handled the situation.”

The victory ​extended Sinner’s remarkable Masters winning streak to 33 consecutive matches, a record ​run that has seen him claim titles in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo ‌and ⁠Madrid.

Remarkably, the Rome crown is the only one missing from his impressive Masters collection, having lost to Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final.

By reaching Sunday’s showpiece, Sinner also became the first Italian since Nicola Pietrangeli 68 years ​ago to reach ​back-to-back Rome finals.

Sinner ⁠has a perfect 4-0 record against Ruud, including a quarter-final win in Rome last year, and has never ​dropped a set against the Norwegian. But he expects ​a stern ⁠test.

“I think he’s playing much, much better tennis right now, it’s going to be very tough,” Sinner added.

“I’m just happy to stand again here in ⁠the final - ​special tournament for me, special tournament for ​Italians … If it goes well, I’m very happy. If not, the final of a Masters ​is an amazing result.”

The IOC had recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be banned from events since 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Belarus has been used as a staging ground for the invasion.

However, the IOC said last week it no longer recommended restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes and teams in events governed by international federations and international sports event organisers.

Svitolina, who has continued to boycott the post-match tradition of shaking hands when she faces Russian and Belarusian opponents, said the decision was difficult to process given the ongoing conflict.

“Rockets are still going to Ukraine. Those two countries are still considered aggressors,” she told reporters at the Italian Open in Rome on Sunday.

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“For us it’s very sad and very painful to see this even considered, they’re talking about it.

“It’s a very heavy topic. I have a lot to say. I think now isn’t the best time. I’m definitely not supporting the talks.”

While they are banned from team competitions, Russian and Belarusian tennis players have continued competing on the professional tours as neutrals, without national flags or anthems.

The governing International Tennis Federation said on Friday that the IOC’s announcement did not change its position regarding the suspensions of the Belarus and Russian tennis federations.

However, the membership status of Belarus will be considered at its October annual general meeting by voting member nations.

Belarusian world number one Aryna Sabalenka said last week she hoped tennis governing bodies would “give us our flag back”.