ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
Friday’s news, results and big stories as the third round of the men’s and women’s singles gets going in Paris.
RG Live: Friday May 29
News, photos and live updates from Roland-Garros 2026 on Day 6 of the main draw
Live
22:15Bencic into last 16
Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic finished the job against Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-3 on Simonne-Mathieu to set up a Sunday showdown with Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.
And on we go on Lenglen where Casper Ruud saved two match points serving at 4-5 in the fourth set against Tommy Paul before forcing a tiebreak and winning that shootout 7-4. They head into a fifth.
On Chatrier, No.2 seed and the highest ranked man left in the draw, Alexander Zverev, is a break ahead in the first set against France's Quentin Halys.
21:40Three matches on court
The delayed night match between Alexander Zverev and Quentin Halys has just started on Chatrier, while there are another two third round contests still on court with the time approaching 10pm local.
Tommy Paul is ahead by two sets to one against two-time finalist Casper Ruud on Lenglen, while No.11 seed Belinda Bencic is closing in on a fourth round spot as she leads American Peyton Stearns 6-3, 3-1.
21:20First-time major champion guaranteed
Joao Fonseca's victory over Novak Djokovic means there will be a first-time major champion crowned on the final Sunday of Roland-Garros. For the first time since 1968, no former Grand Slam champions will play in the round of 16 of a men's singles draw at a major.
21:10Zverev vs Halys at 21.30
After after an incredible last five hours inside Chatrier, the stadium is now being cleared before night session ticket holders can enter the court. Zverev and Halys will walk out at 21.30.
20:55Fonseca beats Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5
Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca comes from two sets down to beat 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic for a spot in the fourth round at Roland-Garros.
The 19-year-old from Rio hit three successive aces from break point down in the final game to wrap up the biggest victory of his career in front of 15,000 fans inside Chatrier.
"I felt like John Isner," Fonseca laughed during the on-court interview when asked about his explosive conclusion to the final game.
The match clock showed four hours and 53 minutes when the two embraced at the net, three minutes short of the longest contest of the tournament so far.
Fonseca plays Tommy Paul or Casper Ruud on Sunday.
20:43Lucky loser De Jong keeps winning
The great stories - and big wins - keep coming here as Dutch world No.106 Jesper de Jong is into the second week after outlasting No.13 seed Karen Khachanov in five sets 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-2 on Court 14 after over four hours.
Incredibly, De Jong lost to American Michael Zheng in the last round of qualifying during Opening Week and here he is into the fourth round of the main draw in his greatest adventure yet at one of the four majors.
He's just the third lucky loser in the Open era to reach the men's fourth round here after Stanislav Birner (1978) and David Goffin (2012).
De Jong plays Zverev or Halys.
20:37Jovic wants Djokovic's "growth mindset"
Through to the third round in Paris for the first time, American teenager Iva Jovic can call upon her idol and sometime mentor should she need any top tips.
20:15Mensik into second week
It's one heck of an effort from young Czech Jakub Mensik who hits back from losing the first set 6-0 to beat eighth seed Alex de Minaur 0-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. He is into the last 16 in Paris for the first time.
While that's been happening Djokovic and Fonseca have swapped breaks early in the fifth set on Chatrier. It's 3-3 in the decider after 4 hours and 22 minutes. Not surprisingly the teenager is looking the fresher of the two but this match is anyone's.
19:55Night session delayed
What the outcome of that fourth set also means is that the start of the night match between Alexander Zverev and Quentin Halys will be delayed. They were originally due on court in around 20 minutes at 20.15 local time, so they'll have to wait until this one is done on Chatrier.
19:52Into a fifth on Chatrier
Djokovic and Fonseca have treated us to a corker of a fourth set that eventually goes the way of the Brazilian 7-5. It's party time for the South Americans inside the main show court as the teenager mounts a comeback and that means we’re going the distance on Chatrier.
The 19- saved two break points serving at 3-4 15-40 in that fourth set to effectively stay in the match, Djokovic then saved two at 4-4 and Fonseca finally made the breakthrough to lead 6-5 when he hammered a forehand winner into the gap. A hold to 30 for the world No.30 from Rio means we have a one-set shootout for a place in the last 16. This match is delivering. Join us through the links below...
19:16Nothing to separate Novak and Joao
The fourth set between Djokovic and Fonseca is in the balance, back on serve after Fonseca had built an early 2-0 lead.
American Tommy Paul has just taken the first set off Casper Ruud 6-4 on Lenglen, while lucky loser Jesper de Jong is a set away from the last 16 against Karen Khachanov after winning the third 6-2 on Court 14.
Czech Jakub Mensik has rebounded from being bagelled in the first set against eighth seed Alex de Minaur by racing through the second set 6-2 and is now 4-1 ahead in the third.
18:44Venus on the practice court
Venus Williams had to pull out of doubles when her partner Hailey Baptiste injured her left leg during her second-round singles match against China’s Wang Xiyu, but the 45-year-old legend is still putting in the hard yards. Far away from the bustle of Stade Roland-Garros, RG's Chris Oddo spotted the seven-time major champion earlier on Friday. It was quite the surprise to see Williams ripping groundstrokes with a hitting partner on a hard court located just off the Boulevard Murat. The American’s grunt was immediately recognisable, but CO had to peer through the fence to get a glimpse of the icon.
18:30Fonseca strikes to win the third
It’s game on on Chatrier where Joao Fonseca wins the third set 6-3 and a deafening roar rings around the famous stadium as the Brazilian fans start to celebrate. Djokovic is up two sets to one, but this has a different feel to it now. Will the Serbian start to suffer physically in the 30c-plus temperatures as this match starts to go long?
18:14Demon dominating
Alex de Minaur has raced through the opening set of his match against Jakub Mensik 6-0 in under 25 minutes on Simonne-Mathieu. Remember Mensik was the man who collapsed to the court with cramp after his 13-11 deciding tiebreak victory over Mariano Navone two days ago. Karen Khachanov has levelled his match with Dutch lucky loser Jesper de Jong at a set apiece by grabbing the second 7-5. And things are getting interesting on Chatrier as Joao Fonseca leads 5-2 in the third set against Novak Djokovic, looking to narrow the deficit and take their contest into a fourth set.
18:08Svitolina cruises
It’s another win on the board this clay season for No.7 seed Elina Svitolina who makes short work of her third round meeting with Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch 6-2, 6-3 on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
That makes it two women from Ukraine into the last 16 after Marta Kostyuk’s win earlier today. The nation had four players into the third round in Paris.
Although Yuliia Starodubtseva lost early on Friday, Oleksandra Oliynykova could make it three Ukrainians in the fourth round if she beats Diana Shnaider in the first match on Court 7 on Saturday.
17:30No mercy from Novak
Joao Fonseca will have to come back from two sets down if he’s to score a first win over 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic this evening. The Serbian broke midway through the second set and held onto his advantage to build a 6-4, 6-4 lead over the Brazilian teenager after an hour and a half on Chatrier. Djokovic would play either Casper Ruud or Tommy Paul in the last 16.
17:29Rafa keeps rolling
There will be an all-Spanish fourth round clash between two players at either end of the age spectrum after 19-year-old Rafa Jodar’s incredible season continues with victory over American Alex Michelsen 6-3 in the fifth.
Up next it’s 34-year-old fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta for a place in the last eight. Jodar has in recent weeks won his first ATP title in Marrakech, reached the semifinals in Barcelona, the quarterfinals in Madrid and Rome and now the second week at a major for the first time.
16:46First set Djokovic 6-4
Overall a good first set for Novak Djokovic who takes the opener 6-4 after 46 minutes, but he’ll be breathing a sigh of relief after a big lead quickly disappeared.
The Serbian had three set points with Fonseca serving at 1-5 0-40 before the teenage Brazilian woke up and slowly but surely raised his level.
So it's first set Novak, but we’ve got a match on our hands now after a one-sided opening few games.
Over on Simonne-Mathieu, Rafa Jodar has taken the fourth set 6-3 against Alex Michelsen. The American has had the physio out in that fourth. Into a fifth set over there…
16:31Halys vs Zverev coming up...
From 20:15 tonight, France's world No.90 Quentin Halys meets No.2 seed Alexander Zverev. Halys has never got past the third round here in eight attempts, while Zverev was runner-up in 2024 and a semifinalist three years in a row from 2021 to 2023. But as we've seen over the past couple of days, anything can happen at a Grand Slam.
16:12Teichmann beats 10th seed Muchova
As Novak Djokovic and Joao Fonseca get their third round meeting under way on Chatrier (Novak has an early break), let’s quickly take you around the other singles during the late afternoon here.
Swiss Jill Teichmann has just beaten No.10 seed Karolina Muchova 6-1, 7-5 on Lenglen, and American Alex Michelsen has taken a surprise 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 6-4 lead over Spain’s Rafa Jodar.
Elina Svitolina versus Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch is the next match on Lenglen. Karen Khachanov and lucky loser Jesper de Jong will be out soon on Court 14.
16:01Sorana's double bagel
Thirty-six-year-old Sorana Cirstea told RG’s Chris Oddo just yesterday that she was ‘living the dream’ during her final year on tour and that dream has continued in Paris today as she thrashes Argentina’s Solana Sierra 6-0, 6-0.
The result means’s she’s the oldest player in the Open era to record a ‘double bagel’ at a major. She faces Chinese qualifier Wang Xiyu for a place in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
16:00Novak vs Joao
Follow the drama from Chatrier...
➡️ Radio Roland-Garros
➡️ Live scores
15:47'Merci beaucoup' says Andreeva
Mirra Andreeva thanks the crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier as she moves into the second week of RG thanks to a 6-4, 6-2 win over Czech Marie Bouzkova. Andreeva now leads the women's tour with 32 victories this season.
➡️ Andreeva charges towards business end of RG
➡️ Live scores
15:21Under the lights
Tonight's night session on Chatrier features No.2 seed Alexander Zverev and home hope Quentin Halys. The Frenchman got to the third round here last year before falling to Holger Rune in five. He's vowed to not make the same mistakes again.
15:07Michelsen levels against Jodar
Alex Michelsen steals the second set from under the nose of young Spaniard Rafa Jodar. The teenager from Madrid served for the set at 6-5 before the American edged a tense tiebreak 7-5 when Jodar dumped a short forehand into the net on set point. One set all after just under two hours...
14:55Swiss roll
Swiss Jill Teichmann has played one heck of a first set against No.10 seed Karolina Muchova on Lenglen, blazing through the opener 6-1.
The lefty, currently ranked No.170 in the world, only missed four first serves, smacked 11 winners and won 100 per cent of the net points she played.
The 28-year-old is hoping to book a meeting with either Mirra Andreeva or Maria Bouzkova in the last 16. Andreeva won the first set 6-4 on Chatrier.
14:45PCB back in R4
Spain’s world No.89 Pablo Carreno Busta reaches the fourth round at a major for the first time since the 2022 US Open as he grinds down Argentina’s Thiago Tirante in four sets on Court 14.
The former two-time RG quarterfinalist (two US Open semifinals are his personal best runs at the Grand Slams) recovered after losing the third set to win 7-6(0), 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.
The 34-year-old took out the in-form Czech Jiri Lehecka in the opening round this year. He plays Alex Michelsen or Rafa Jodar on Sunday. Jodar leads that one by a set on Simonne-Mathieu.
14:26Stat time
As the third round gets going, here are some numbers for you from the first two:
Men’s singles
Longest match: Moise Kouame d Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (4h56m)
Most time on court: Luca Van Assche (8h 22m)
Fastest match: Stefanos Tsitsipas d Alexandre Muller (50m)
Fastest completed match: Rafael Jodar d Alexandr Kovacevic (1h34m)
Most winners (match): Frances Tiafoe d Hubert Hurkacz (156)
Most winners (player): Hubert Hurkacz (141)
Most aces (match): Frances Tiafoe d Hubert Hurkacz (58 combined)
Most aces (player): Hubert Hurkacz (59)
Most break points converted: Martin Landaluce (18)
Most break points saved: Adam Walton (27)
Women’s singles
Longest match: Camila Osorio d Yulia Putintseva (3h30m)
Most time on court: Yulia Putintseva (5h48m)
Fastest match: Amanda Anisimova d Julia Grabher (25m)
Fastest completed match: Iga Swiatek d Emerson Jones (1h0m)
Most winners (match): Magda Linette d Tereza Valentova and Camila Osorio d Yulia Putintseva (88 combined each)
Most winners (player): Marta Kostyuk (80)
Most aces (match): Hailey Baptiste d Barbora Krejcikova (14 combined)
Most aces (player): Maria Sakkari (14)
Most break points converted: Victoria Mboko, Anastasia Potapova (14 each)
Most break points saved: Camila Osorio (27)
14:09Super Saturday schedule is out
The order of play for Day 7 has been released with No.4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and Brandon Nakashima stepping up to fill the night session slot on Chatrier. Flavio Cobolli, Amanda Anisimova and Coco Gauff all play on the main show court during the day.
Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Moise Kouame and Frances Tiafoe feature on Lenglen. All third round matches in the top halves of both singles draws will be completed.
14:00Djokovic vs Fonseca
Excitement is starting to build around this afternoon's first meeting between three-time champion Novak Djokovic and Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca on Chatrier - they're the third match on the main court not before 15.30. Remember you can tune into ball-by-ball live coverage of today's big match with the radio team inside the stadium - they bring expert analysis from first ball to last every single day of the tournament.
13:54Rublev beats Borges
Is Andrey Rublev making a push deep into the men's draw after an impressive performance on Lenglen to beat Portugal's No.1 Nuno Borges? The 10-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist comes through 7-5, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) and will play either Alex de Minuar or Jakub Mensik on Sunday.
13:40Iga's through
Iga Swiatek follows Marta Kostyuk and Xiyu Wang into the last 16 with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Magda Linette on Chatrier. She'll meet Kostyuk in the next round, a player she has beaten in all of their three previous encounters, although they haven't faced each other since 2024.
13:15Unstoppable Wang marches on
There's no stopping Chinese world No.148 Wang Xiyu who still hasn't dropped a set here and who completes her SIXTH win since arriving in Paris by beating Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 7-5. The 25-year-old scored three straight-sets victories in qualifying and another today to put her into the fourth round. She's the first qualifier to reach the last 16 here without dropping a set since 2012.
She's also the first woman to go through qualifying and into the last 16 at a major without losing a set since Britain's Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open and we all know what happened there. She couldn't could she?
12:50Kostyuk into sweet 16
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk is the first player in either draw to move into the last 16 with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Viktorija Golubic on Simonne-Mathieu.
It's the second time the 23-year-old has reached the fourth round in Paris and maintains her record as the only undefeated player at WTA tour level on clay this season.
The recent Madrid champion will play either Magda Linette or four-time champion Iga Swiatek in the next round. Swiatek is up a set 6-4 on her fellow Pole on Chatrier.
Reem Abulleil met Kostyuk's coach Sandra Zaniewska recently to find out why the last few weeks have been so rewarding.
12:35Thursday’s thrillers
What.a.day.
We’re all still recovering from the excitement and drama around the grounds on Thursday.
If you kept up with everything you can take a well-deserved pat on the back, but if you didn’t, here’s a brief round-up from our busy reporting team.
The story yesterday, of course, was No.1 seed Jannik Sinner going out to 56th-ranked Argentinian Juan Manuel Cerundolo, after the Italian had been two sets up when his body refused to cooperate any further. Chris Oddo had sauntered over to Chatrier to take a look - and what a match it turned out to be. Chris also took a look at the result from Sinner’s perspective. Not done for the day, Chris popped back to Chatrier to watch as No.1 seed Aryna Sabalenka moved past France’s Elsa Jacquemot 7-5, 6-2. He then, (does he ever sleep?) gave us a lovely profile of Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, who is planning to retire at the end of this season but is now playing better than ever.
Alex Sharp was another reporter who got slightly more than he’d bargained for. Little did he know that the match he was covering on Court Suzanne-Lenglen would turn out to be the longest clash of the tournament so far, as French 17-year-old Moise Kouame defeated Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. Lasting just shy of five hours, we hope Alex had remembered his cushion. Having got the feeling back in his legs, he was back on Lenglen to watch Coco Gauff defeat Egypt’s Mayar Sherif, which thankfully (for Alex) only lasted one hour and 50 minutes.
Dan Imhoff started his day with a profile of Argentina’s book-loving world No.60 Thiago Agustin Tirante, who is currently on Court 14 facing Spain’s former world No.10 Pablo Carreno Busta. Moving on to the day’s matches, Dan watched Belgium’s Raphael Collignon - playing in his first Roland-Garros - take down men’s No.5 seed Ben Shelton in straight sets.
Reem Abulleil made a guest appearance on the reporting team to give us an insight into the positive connection between Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk and her Polish coach Sandra Zaniewska.
Victoria Chiesa was keeping an eye on the night session, where Italy’s Matteo Berrettini was fit and firing as he moved past France’s Arthur Rinderknech.
We’ll have to get a bed set up in Blog HQ for Lee Goodall, who stayed up late to wrap it all up for you.
12:18Chatrier in action
In the first all-Polish encounter at Roland-Garros in the Open era, No.3 seed Iga Swiatek is facing compatriot Magda Linette, who is currently up a break 2-0 in the first set after 10 minutes.
12:15Talking of Ukraine...
Marta Kostyuk has secured the first set in just over an hour in her encounter with Swiss world No.82 Viktorija Golubic on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
12:02Ukraine's women: 'A great inspiration'
For just the second time in the Open era, four women from Ukraine have reached the third round of a Grand Slam.
11:23Getting ready...
Brazil's Joao Fonseca is in the house ahead of his third round meeting with Novak Djkovic later today.
11:00Bonjour - it's Roland-Garros Day 6!
We start the third round today with clashes from the bottom half of the men’s and women’s draws, which means players including Elina Svitolina, Casper Ruud and Alex de Minaur are all in action from 11:00.
➡️ Here’s the order of play for Friday
Iga Swiatek gets Chatrier underway from 12:00 - taking on compatriot Magda Linette in the first time in the Open era that two Poles have faced each other at Roland-Garros.
After them, No.8 seed Mirra Andreeva meets Czech 27th seed Marie Bouzkova, before Novak Djokovic takes on Joao Fonseca, which if any of the Brazilian’s previous matches are anything to go by will be a lively affair. In Friday’s night session, No.2 seed Alexander Zverev returns to Chatrier to face French hope world No.90 Quentin Halys.
➡️ Alix Ramsay's top picks for the day
It’s another busy one - keep checking back for all the updates.