World Number One Sinner Obliterates Lehecka to Reach French Open Fourth Round

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his third round match against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his third round match against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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World Number One Sinner Obliterates Lehecka to Reach French Open Fourth Round

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his third round match against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his third round match against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

World number one Jannik Sinner delivered a flawless performance to pulverise Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-0 6-1 6-2 in little more than 90 minutes on Saturday, to burst into the French Open fourth round and issue a ominous warning to other title contenders.

The 23-year-old Italian, who returned to tennis in May after a three-month-doping ban, won the first 11 games in a row, and has so far found no resistance en route to the last 16, Reuters reported.

He has yet to drop a set in his second tournament back, after reaching the final in Rome earlier in the month.

"Today I was playing really, really well," Sinner said. "He was serving very well and brave. But I am very happy.

"My coach had (his) birthday yesterday and usually when he has birthday I don't play good. Luckily I was not playing yesterday."

"This morning I said to my team I feel well," he added. "I warmed up feeling really well, trying to go on court with a good focus. My team gave me the right tactics. It is a combination also being happy on court."

Sinner exploded into action, racing through the first set with a bagel in 25 minutes.

The Czech was left stunned, wondering how to counter such power and precision, but before he came up with any answer he was already trailing 3-0 in the second set.

Pinned to the back, Lehecka could only watch how Sinner's shots flew past him, including a sensational baseline forehand winner that earned the Italian a 4-0 advantage.

The 23-year-old world number 34 earned a big cheer when he finally got onto the scoreboard at 5-1 but his ordeal was far from over.

Sinner served out the second set before proceeding to break shell-shocked Lehecka at the very start of the third.

Running his panting opponent ragged, Sinner earned another break and put him out of his misery with his first match point.

The top seed has now stretched his winning streak at Grand Slam events to 17 matches, after winning the titles at the 2024 US Open and the Australian Open in January prior to his doping ban.

He will next face 17th-seed Andrey Rublev, who advanced after his opponent Arthur Fils of France withdrew with a back injury.



Al Ahly Midfielder Ashour to Miss Remainder of Club World Cup with Broken Collarbone

Emam Ashour #22 of Al Ahly FC leaves the pitch with an injury during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Al Ahly FC and Internacional CF Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on June 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
Emam Ashour #22 of Al Ahly FC leaves the pitch with an injury during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Al Ahly FC and Internacional CF Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on June 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Al Ahly Midfielder Ashour to Miss Remainder of Club World Cup with Broken Collarbone

Emam Ashour #22 of Al Ahly FC leaves the pitch with an injury during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Al Ahly FC and Internacional CF Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on June 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
Emam Ashour #22 of Al Ahly FC leaves the pitch with an injury during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Al Ahly FC and Internacional CF Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on June 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)

Al Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour will miss the remainder of the 2025 Club World Cup after scans confirmed he had suffered a broken collarbone, the Egyptian club announced on Sunday.

Ashour left the opening match of the revamped competition against Inter Miami, which ended in a goalless draw, in tears after injuring his shoulder.

"Medical examinations on Emam Ashour in a Miami hospital showed he sustained a broken collarbone, and he will miss the remaining matches in the Club World Cup," Al Ahly doctor Ahmed Gaballah said via the club's account on X.

Ashour, who had previously suffered a serious shoulder injury while playing for the Egyptian national team in 2024, initially fell early in the game and received treatment on the sidelines before returning briefly and missing a one-on-one chance.

However, the 27-year-old Egyptian Premier League top scorer was unable to continue and asked to be substituted in the 14th minute, being replaced by Ahmed Sayed (Zizo).