
Iga & Emma at the net after their fifth encounter. pic.twitter.com/brUaLoZ8Oo
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 28, 2025
Jeu, set et match, Sabalenka ?#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/3eRTFX7rhD
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2025
After dropping just one game in the 1st Round, Sabalenka found herself down 3-1 in the opening set vs. Jil Teichmann today. But that was the end of the development of any pull-the-fire-alarm moment for the world #1, as she proceeded to win 11 of the next 12 games en route to a 6-3/6-1 victory, her 18th straight win in the 2nd Round of a slam. Things could get interesting in two days, though, as big stage maven Olga Danilovic will be waiting. The Serb didn't post another win in a major over a seed -- she's had four since the start of last year's RG -- but that was only because Danielle Collins wasn't ranked high enough this year to get a Top 32 nod. She was last year, when Danilovic upset the then-#11 seed to end what had been a potentially career-extending springtime run on the dirt (including a Madrid win over Danilovic) spanning multiple continents for the then-thought-to-be-set-to-retire Bannerette. Danilovic and Collins have a history of competitive match-ups (unlike the next match I'll mention), and today was no different.
Different year, same result ??
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 28, 2025
For the second year in a row, Olga Danilovic defeats Danielle Collins in the second round after a hard-fought, three set battle ?? #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/b61m6XGU6J
Danilovic's 6-4/3-6/6-4 win over Collins gives the Serb a 2-1 edge in their head-to-head series, with all matches played on clay over the past thirteen months, and all three going three sets. Over the nine sets they've contested, all but one (the 2nd set today) has finished up at 6-4 or closer (w/ two TB and a 7-5 set). Danilovic, with a 13-6 overall mark in slam MD play, has (so far) posted five wins over seeds in her career, but will need to make it six vs. Sabalenka if she's going to reach the Round of 16 at a slam for a third time in her last four major MD appearances. Meanwhile, #5 seed Iga Swiatek arguably had an even easier time with Emma Raducanu than Sabalenka had with Teichmann after her slow start. But, really, history says that that *should* have been the case as the Pole picked up her 23rd straight win in RG play.
"Jazda!"
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 28, 2025
Defending champion Iga Swiatek drops only three games en route to beat Emma Raducanu for her spot in R3 in Paris. pic.twitter.com/cZn79zuAE6
Even if Raducanu wasn't playing on her "lesser" surface, coming off a back injury (and is exceedingly injury-plagued, anyway) *and* a long three-setter in the 1st Round, Swiatek's dominance over the Brit has been profound over the years. It goes back to Swiatek's 6-0/6-1 victory in a match between the two in the Wimbledon girls' QF -- yes, on grass -- in 2018 in a tournament that Swiatek won. In pro meetings, with Swiatek's 6-1/6-2 win today, she's 5-0 vs. Raducanu, has never lost a set, and after their 6-4/6-4 match in meeting #1 Iga has dropped no more than three games in seven of the eight sets they've played. In their last two meetings, Raducanu has won a *combined* four games.
Return game on point ?? #RolandGarros - @iga_swiatek pic.twitter.com/DoGpD765ry
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 28, 2025
While a player will always choose to play well rather than not, there's a legit question whether -- especially now -- this sort of match helps or hinders Swiatek more. She'll surely have bigger challenges down the line, against players who won't enter with a feeling of dread or misplaced veneration of their opponent, and this match won't help her come that moment (if it comes). Last year, Swiatek was forced to saved MP in Paris in her 2nd Round match vs. Naomi Osaka, and pushed forward to win her third straight RG title. What I've always felt was her most impressive slam run came not in Paris, but in New York, when she overcame spotty play and tough-and-ready competition en route to her only major championship off the terre battue. There's a lot to be said for picking up momentum and renewed confidence by winning when maybe one *shouldn't* (or has to really fight to do so) than simply rolling along. Serena Williams did that, but then she won all her majors in every conceivable way and it does no one any favors to be compared to her (which Iga is *far too often* simply because her numbers are impressive to look at). Thing is, Swiatek has had a lot of matches like this -- after which she's showered in a virtual ticker tape parade of praise -- "Doubt her no longer!," "She's back!," "Look out, here she comes!", "She reminded everyone who she is!" -- amidst her recent troubles, and they've ultimately meant nothing. She's often been blasted out of tournaments in her next outing or two. Before her loss to Mirra Andreeva in Dubai, Swiatek had won a pair of love sets in back-to-back straight sets victories. Before she was upset by Alex Eala in Indian Wells, she'd has won eight consecutive sets while dropping a combined twelve games. Before Alona Ostapenko beat her again in Stuttgart, Swiatek had won a match 2 & 2. Before being thumped by Coco Gauff in Madrid, she'd run off 3 & 2 2nd/3rd sets vs. Madison Keys after losing a love 1st. And before Danielle Collins took her out in Rome, Swiatek had won her previous match by a 6-1/6-0 score. In other words, we move on to the next round and see what happens there. It'll be against Jaqueline Cristian. And, yes, Ostapenko is still alive for a *possible* Round of 16 match-up, though the Latvian did again make hearts flutter -- and Iga fans hope against hope -- for a set (she dropped the 1st vs. Caroline Dolehide) and then down the stretch (the Bannerette led 3-2, on serve, before Ostapenko swept the final four games) before shrugging it all off and motoring through another round. ...qualifier Victoria Mboko continues to become the talk of Canadian tennis (w/ the lacking results of the nation's other singles stars at this RG, there's a big opening to fill) -- with expansion possible quite soon -- after getting past Eva Lys 6-4/6-4 today to reach the 3rd Round in her major debut.
Watch out for Victoria Mboko ??
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 28, 2025
The 18-year-old qualifier advances to a major third round in her debut appearance. ??#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/rcs55fAj58
The 18-year old will next get the reigning Olympic Gold medalist, who won her title at this same facility last summer, in #8 Zheng Qinwen. She made quick work of Emiliana Arango, 6-2/6-3, to notch her eighth straight (overall) win in Paris.
Zheng Qinwen scores her eighth consecutive win on the courts of Roland Garros ??
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 28, 2025
The gold medalist bests Emiliana Arango 6-2, 6-3 in the second round!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/oAquBb4Irz
Win or lose, Mboko will relish the opportunity, even if it turns out to be a learning experience. Remember, she took Coco Gauff to three sets earlier this month in Rome. The teenager is 42-5 on the year, 12-3 on clay.
The firsts continue in Paris ??
— wta (@WTA) May 28, 2025
Victoria Mboko speaks on her Round 3 match against Zheng Qinwen!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/RpPjaMU7PN
...elsewhere on Day 4, *three* Ukrainians advanced to the 3rd Round, including lucky loser Yuliia Starodubtseva, who became the second LL to get so far in Paris in three years (after Elina Avanesyan's 4th Round run in '23) and the third in the 2020s with a 7-6(4)/6-2 upset of Anastasia Potapova. Joining her will be #13 Elina Svitolina, now 14-2 on clay this year, who edged by Anna Bondar in two tight sets.
Pure power ??#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/HngzOYkRCP
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2025
The other day, somehow, a Tennis Channel discussion about the best active women's players without a major title (6 were initially named) did *not* include Svitolina. Thankfully, though, Paul Annacone rightly brought her up as being missing from the list. After all, Elina's To-Do List *still* remains an ongoing work in progress (ala Coco's) and includes that long missing slam crown. The third product of Ukraine to reach the Final 32 today was Dayana Yastremska, who took out #11 Diana Shnaider (so both the bandanna *and* the backward cap were sent packing on Day 4 in a truly mournful moment for unique fashion statements), 7-5/7-5.
Yastremska handled business and is on to the next round ??#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/5RGFUUi1iv
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2025
While the second-highest seeded Hordette (after #6 Mirra) is no more, #19 Liudmila Samsonova, a Strasbourg finalist pre-RG, did her part to keep up the Russian run of slam 3rd Round appearances in majors. Her 6-3/6-3 win over qualifier Leyre Romero Gormaz means at least one Hordette has reached the Round of 32 at 96 of the last 98 (eligible) majors, and in 20 straight.
...HEY, THAT'S NOT FAIR... ON DAY 4:
Andreeva inspiration pic.twitter.com/v5804zYCRc
— Lenafan (@Lenafan75) May 28, 2025
...FOR THE RIGHT TO FACE (probably, you-know-who... unless the cape-less crusader rises up, that is)... ON DAY 4:
A third round showdown is set between these two slam champs ??#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ziRL3Fu9ds
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 28, 2025
The #5 seed is 0-6 vs. Ostapenko (0-2 in '25), and 3-4 vs. Rybakina (but 2-0 this year).
...SLOANE IN HER ELEMENT... ON DAY 4:
Day 4 ?? pic.twitter.com/Mo7l2yqvkb
— sloanestephens (@SloaneStephens) May 28, 2025
...FORGET THE HAIR, I'M JUST GLAD HE SHAVED THE FACIAL HAIR (it wasn't a good look on him, IMHO)... ON DAY 4:
New haircut, same winning ways ??@carlosalcaraz | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/9KXF5ISFoY
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 28, 2025


Digging deep to make the third round. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/RnQskdzWkf
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2025
Lavender Haze ?@iga_swiatek | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Gs9BcR0rCB
— wta (@WTA) May 28, 2025

4th Rd. - Elina Avanesyan, RUS (2023)
3rd Rd. - Veronika Martinek, GER (1995)
3rd Rd. - Gloria Pizzichini, ITA (1996)
3rd Rd. - Ons Jabeur, TUN (2017)
3rd Rd. - YULIIA STARODUBTSEVA, UKR (2025)
*LONGEST RG WIN STREAKS - OPEN ERA*
29 - Chris Evert, 1974-75/79-81
25 - Monica Seles, 1990-92/96
24 - Justine Henin, 2005-07/10
23 - IGA SWIATEK, 2022-current
20 - Steffi Graf, 1987-89
19 - Chris Evert, 1985-87
18 - Steffi Graf, 1995-97

This technology, part of AT&T's Mobile Telephone Service introduced in 1949, required manual operator assistance and was bulky, weighing about 80 pounds,
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) May 27, 2025

Freedom
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) May 28, 2025
pic.twitter.com/gtrsIQBKbJ

TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): xx
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2 - Nao Nibino/JPN def. #17 Bianca Andreescu/CAN 2-6/7-6(5)/6-4 - Andreescu led 6-2/5-3, holding a MP in game #8 of the 2nd and then serving for the win a game later, and led 5-2 in the 2nd set TB; Hibino also saved 2 MP vs. Ella Seidel/GER in Q3.
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): xx
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #13 Elina Svitolina/UKR (def. Sonmez/TUR)
FIRST SEED OUT: #28 Peyton Stearns/USA (1r: Lys/GER)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Emiliana Arango/COL, Sara Bejlek/CZE, Lois Boisson/FRA, Joanna Garland/TPE, Victoria Mboko/CAN, Leyre Romero Gormaz/ESP, Tereza Valentova/CZE
UPSET QUEENS: Czech Republic
REVELATION LADIES: United States
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Australia (2-5 1st Rd.; only wins AUS/AUS 1r and new-AUS Kasatkina)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: In 2r: Bejlek/CZE(L), Garland/TPE, Hibino/JPN, Mboko/CAN(W), Romero Gormaz/ESP(L), Valentova/CZE
LUCKY LOSER WINS: In 3r: Starodubtseva/UKR
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: In 2r: Boisson/FRA, Jacquemot/FRA, Jeanjean/FRA, Jovic/USA(L)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: none
LAST PASTRY STANDING: In 2r: Boisson, Jacquemot, Jeanjean
Ms./Mademoiselle OPPORTUNITY: x
IT "TBD": x
COMEBACK PLAYER: x
CRASH & BURN: Nominee: #9 Navarro (1r- 1 game vs. Bouzas Maneiro)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF PARIS: Nominees: Potapova/RUS (1r- trailed #29 Noskova 5-2 in the 3rd); Valentova/CZE (1r- trailed 5-2 in 3rd vs. Paquet, who served up 5-3 30/love; '24 RG Jr. champ wins last 5 games for first slam MD win)
DOUBLES STAR: x
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): x
Mademoiselle/Madame OF THE EVENING: x
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x
Légion de Lenglen: 100th anniversary of Suzanne Lenglen's first grand slam French Championship titles (WS/WD/MX sweep) in 1925 (first time event open to non-FRA competitors)
Coupe LA PETIT TAUREAU: x