Jannik Sinner Overcomes Early Scare to Triumph in French Open Opener

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner battles past Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets, extending his Grand Slam winning streak to 15 matches.

Paris [France], May 27 – World No. 1 Jannik Sinner began his Roland-Garros 2025 campaign with a gritty straight-sets victory over France’s Arthur Rinderknech on Monday night at Court Philippe-Chatrier. Despite facing a scare in the third set, the Italian emerged with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 win to book his place in the second round.

Sinner, returning to Grand Slam action for the first time since his Australian Open triumph in January, admitted the challenge of starting a major as the defending champion. “First-round matches, they are never easy, so I’m very happy with how I handled the situation, especially in the third set,” he said.

The 22-year-old weathered an inspired performance from Rinderknech, who raced to a 4-0 and then 5-2 lead in the third set. But Sinner, renowned for his mental resilience, won the final five games to close out the match in one hour and 56 minutes.

Roland Garros updates: Carlos Alcaraz Begins French Open Title Defence with Dominant Victory Over Zeppieri

“It was really solid,” Sinner reflected. “Coming through in straight sets means a lot. We’ve played each other a couple of times before, so we know each other a little bit; he’s an amazing player.”

Sinner’s mastery was clear from the outset. After saving three break points at 1-1 in the first set, he capitalized on his first opportunity in the tenth game to secure the opener. He dominated the second set, only facing resistance in the third when Rinderknech broke twice to go up 5-2. However, the Frenchman couldn’t convert his lead into a set win as Sinner showcased the calm and composure that has defined his rise to the top of the sport.

“I tried to gain confidence again; he made a couple of mistakes when he was serving for the set, so that gave me a little help,” Sinner said of the third set comeback. “I was just trying to have a good mindset and the right attitude on court.”

This win extended Sinner’s impressive record in Grand Slam first-round matches to 18-4, with his last opening-round loss dating back to Wimbledon 2021. It also marked his 15th consecutive Grand Slam victory, placing him alongside legends Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz in an elite club of players who have achieved such a streak in the past two decades.

Sinner will now face French veteran Richard Gasquet, 38, in what promises to be an emotional second-round encounter. Gasquet, playing the final tournament of his storied career, will be hoping to conjure up some Roland-Garros magic on home soil.

“It doesn’t get any better,” Sinner said of his upcoming clash. “He gave so much to our sport, he gave so much to you all, he’s a player you watched for years and years. I’m very happy to share the court with him; hopefully, it’s going to be a good match, which is the most important.”