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.



PSG Signs 19-year-old Italian Goalkeeper Renato Marin on a Five-season Deal

Paris Saint-Germain's Fabián Ruiz applauds his team's supporters after losing the Club World Cup final soccer match against Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Paris Saint-Germain's Fabián Ruiz applauds his team's supporters after losing the Club World Cup final soccer match against Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
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PSG Signs 19-year-old Italian Goalkeeper Renato Marin on a Five-season Deal

Paris Saint-Germain's Fabián Ruiz applauds his team's supporters after losing the Club World Cup final soccer match against Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Paris Saint-Germain's Fabián Ruiz applauds his team's supporters after losing the Club World Cup final soccer match against Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

European champion Paris Saint-Germain has made its first signing of the summer, bringing in a new goalkeeper.

PSG said in a statement late Thursday that 19-year-old Renato Marin agreed on a five-season deal through to 2030.

The Italian player joined the Champions League winners on a free transfer after his contract with AS Roma expired.

Marin, who was born in Brazil, is joining fellow Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has one year left on his contract. The other PSG 'keepers are Matveï Safonov and Arnau Tenas.