PARIS, MAY 30 : In an impressive display at the French Open, world No. 2 Jannik Sinner cruised to a straightforward victory over Richard Gasquet, ranked No. 124, with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

The match, held under a vibrant atmosphere at Philippe Chatrier, saw the young Italian maintaining his formidable form as he pursued the world No. 1 ranking.

Sinner entered this second-round encounter following a convincing straight-sets win against Christopher Eubanks. Meanwhile, Gasquet had surprised many with his first-round victory over Borna Coric.

At 37 years and 343 days old, Gasquet made history by becoming the second-oldest French player to win a match at a Grand Slam, following in the footsteps of Stephane Robert. This victory marked Gasquet’s first Grand Slam win since the 2022 US Open, where he reached the third round before being defeated by Rafael Nadal.

This year marks Gasquet’s 21st appearance in the French Open main draw, tying him with Feliciano Lopez for the most participation in the tournament. Gasquet, who debuted at Roland Garros at just 15 years and 7 months old thanks to a wildcard in 2002, once again entered the tournament with an invitation from the organizers.

Despite being in the twilight of his career and having slipped out of the top 100, Gasquet remains a beloved figure in French tennis. His match against Sinner offered the local fans a chance to witness one of their finest players in action, even though the odds were stacked against him.

From the outset, Sinner demonstrated his superior form, keeping Gasquet on the defensive. The Italian capitalised on Gasquet’s early uncertainties in the seventh game of the first set, securing a crucial break and taking the set 6-4. Gasquet’s first-serve percentage was a mere 40pc, allowing Sinner to dominate the longer rallies.

In the second set, Sinner quickly broke Gasquet’s serve, establishing a lead he would not relinquish. Gasquet appeared increasingly demoralised as Sinner secured another break, closing out the set 6-2 in just 33 minutes.

Sinner continued his relentless pressure in the third set, breaking early to lead 2-0. Although Gasquet briefly rallied to level the score at 2-2, thrilling the home fans with some spectacular shots, Sinner regained control and finished the set 6-4, sealing his victory.(UNI)