Sinner opens French Open bid with composed victory
Thirty matches unbeaten and one title short of a career Grand Slam, Jannik Sinner settles into the clay with a first-round statement that mixes routine dominance and quiet resolve.
PARIS -- Jannik Sinner already started building a miniature Eiffel Tower with Lego blocks. Now he’s begun his pursuit of an elusive French Open title, too.
Streak sharpens focus under grand slam glare
Sinner’s first match back at Roland Garros after his dramatic five-set loss in last year’s final couldn’t have been more different than that epic encounter with Carlos Alcaraz. Playing in a first-round night session on Tuesday, the top-ranked Sinner routed 171st-ranked French wild card entry Clement Tabur 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 to extend his winning streak to 30 matches as he chases the only big title missing in his tennis career.
Clay demands extra topspin depth. The slow red surface at Roland Garros forced immediate tactical tweaks. Sinner leaned on heavier topspin to push balls deeper into the court, limiting Tabur‘s ability to step inside the baseline and counterpunch.
Early service games featured precise crosscourt angles that opened space for inside-out forehands, a pattern repeated across the first two sets. Tabur managed only sporadic success when he tried to redirect pace down the line.
Light Lego ritual eases title chase tension
To get himself in the mood for Paris, Sinner and his brother started on their Eiffel Tower Lego project when he spent a few days at home in northern Italy after his recent Italian Open title. The unfinished model became an unexpected release valve. “We tried to finish it. We couldn’t. Because they are the same pieces together. So at some point it’s very boring. But you know we are not far away, so I know after this tournament I go back home and then I’m going to send you guys a picture when it’s finished. Hopefully — if we don’t miss any pieces.”
That domestic detail stands in contrast to the heavier narrative surrounding a career Grand Slam. Sinner has won the Australian Open twice and Wimbledon and the U.S. Open once each. After losing three match points in the 2025 final to Alcaraz, he still needs a French Open trophy to complete the set.
With five straight tournament titles already secured, Sinner sits atop the rankings and carries the weight of expectations that come with chasing a career Grand Slam. The absence of Carlos Alcaraz due to a right wrist injury removes one major obstacle, yet the 24-year-old still must navigate a deep draw on a surface that rewards patience over raw power.
Minor foot issue tests composure late
The only issue for Sinner came when he wasted three match points on Tabur’s serve at 5-4 in the third set. Then he called for a trainer on the changeover and had his right foot tended to for an apparent blister. But he served it out in the next game.
Sinner hasn’t lost since getting beat by Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open quarterfinals more than three months ago. He’s attempting to become the first Italian man to win the singles trophy in Paris since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.
Thirty consecutive victories create their own quiet tension, especially on clay where points last longer and small errors compound. The night session atmosphere on Court Philippe-Chatrier added another layer, with the slower conditions amplifying the effect of Sinner’s depth and consistency. Five more wins would complete the career Grand Slam, but the immediate focus stays on daily adjustments that keep the streak alive and the title chase intact.