•Aryna Sabalenka defeated France’s Elsa Jacquemot 7-5, 6-2 in the second round of the 2026 French Open on May 28, 2026.
•Sabalenka, the world number one and 2025 finalist, overcame a first-set scare and a hostile home crowd to advance to the third round.
•Jacquemot, ranked 67th, broke Sabalenka twice in the first set and held set points, but Sabalenka saved them and closed out the set 7-5.
•In the second set, Sabalenka broke early and raced to a 6-2 win, setting up a third-round match against Australia’s Daria Kasatkina.
•The men’s top seed Jannik Sinner was eliminated earlier in the day, losing in five sets to Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
•Sabalenka aims to win her first French Open title after four previous Grand Slam championships.
•The match lasted approximately 90 minutes, showcasing Sabalenka’s resilience and tactical adaptability.
Defending her top seeding with composure under pressure, world number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus fought past a spirited Elsa Jacquemot of France in straight sets to advance to the third round of the 2026 French Open on May 28. The match, played under the gaze of a vociferous home crowd at Roland Garros, unfolded in two tightly contested sets, 7-5, 6-2, as Sabalenka navigated an early surge from the French underdog before asserting her dominance.
Sabalenka, who reached the final in Paris last year but fell short of the title, faced an immediate test when Jacquemot, ranked 67th in the world, unleashed a barrage of winners that kept the partisan crowd roaring. The Belarusian, a four-time Grand Slam champion, broke early with a trademark forehand to lead 3-1, but Jacquemot responded by breaking back, evening the match at 3-3. The momentum swung firmly in the Frenchwoman’s favor as she broke Sabalenka’s serve to take a 5-4 lead, sparking hopes of an upset. With the stadium pulsating with energy, Sabalenka saved two set points on her own delivery, steadied her game, and finally sealed the first set on her third set point after nearly 70 minutes of play.
“I knew I had to stay calm,” Sabalenka said after the match, reflecting on the tense moments. “The crowd was amazing, but I focused on my game. When I got the break at the start of the second set, I felt the match shift in my favor.”
The second set saw Sabalenka accelerate her pace, capitalizing on Jacquemot’s visibly waning energy. A swift break at the outset gave her a 2-0 cushion, and she raced to a 3-0 lead within minutes. Jacquemot, though applauded for her courageous display, could not muster a response. Sabalenka closed out the set 6-2, completing the victory in just over an hour and a half.
The win sets up a blockbuster third-round clash for Sabalenka, who will face fellow Grand Slam finalist Daria Kasatkina of Australia. Kasatkina, known for her powerful baseline game and recent resurgence, awaits with a quarterfinal spot on the line.
Sabalenka’s path to the title has now cleared significantly after the shock exit of men’s top seed Jannik Sinner, who was stunned in five sets by Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo earlier on the same day. The contrasting fortunes on the men’s and women’s sides added to the drama of the fortnight.
At 28 years old, Sabalenka remains focused on capturing her first French Open crown. “Every year I come here with the same goal — to win,” she said. “I feel stronger, more experienced. The court suits me, and I believe this is my year.”
With temperatures rising and the clay courts drying faster under the Parisian sun, Sabalenka will look to maintain her intensity as she eyes a historic maiden title on the red dirt. The tournament continues to deliver high-voltage drama, with the women’s draw now shaping up for a potential clash of generations in the next round.
