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Roland-Garros wrap - Thurs May 28

World No.56 Juan Manuel Cerundolo produces the shock of the year

Juan Manuel Cerundolo / Deuxième Tour - Simple Messieurs - Roland-Garros 2026
©Nicolas Gouhier / FFT
 - Lee Goodall

Even hours after the red dust had settled on Juan Manuel Cerundolo’s unlikely second round victory over world No.1 Jannik Sinner on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the result, scoreline and circumstances still take some fathoming.

➡️ Thursday results
➡️ Friday order of play

When the Italian led 6-3, 6-2, 5-1 and just a game from a 31st successive victory under a hot Paris sun there seemed no feasible possibility of a comeback by the world No.56 from Argentina.

And yet not too long afterwards the South American lefty was putting the finishing touches to one of the most remarkable matches seen at Roland-Garros in recent years 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.

The scoreline of course only tells half the story as Sinner once more was limited by physical problems in extreme heat that began to surface when he served for a routine win in the third set.

From 5-1 down as Sinner’s struggles grew more debilitating, Cerundolo won 18 consecutive points to start to turn the contest around. From that moment, Sinner just couldn’t find the energy to compete as the match started to slip through his fingers.

“I struggled, starting to feel very dizzy. Very low of energy," the top seed told the press afterwards. "Now I really need some time off, to recover completely, and also mentally, and then be ready to go again for Wimbledon."

While that seismic result was starting to sink in around the Porte d’auteuil venue, 17-year-old French youngster Moise Kouame was thrilling a wild Court Suzanne-Lenglen capacity crowd just next door.

The Paris teenager looked down and out after letting slip a two-set lead and finding himself 5-3 down in the fifth to Paraguay’s Daniel Vallejo, before an astonishing recovery to win 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6[10-8] in just under five hours.

The two big names in the top half of the women’s draw - world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Coco Gauff - both went through without too much drama later in the day.

Sabalenka won a tough first set before pulling away from Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot 7-5, 6-2. Gauff had to stay focused but was too good for Egyptian qualifier Maya Sherif 6-3, 6-2.

Other seeds who joined them in the round of 32 included Iva Jovic and Naomi Osaka, who face one another on Saturday. Victoria Mboko, Madison Keys and sixth seed Amanda Anisimova also won.

With Sinner heading home anyone left in the top half of the men’s field will be desperate to make the most of the opportunity and during the evening Belgium’s Raphael Collignon kept his hopes alive by outplaying No.5 seed Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.

Former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini made sure his name is still in the conversation by beating Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 during the Chatrier night session, and Frances Tiafoe will be confident after clawing his way past Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 in the fifth after four hours and 43 minutes.

Frances Tiafoe / Deuxième Tour - Simple Messieurs - Roland-Garros 2026
©Julien Crosnier / FFT

Third round matches begin on Friday and recent Madrid champion Marta Kostyuk will hope for another victory to make the second week in Paris. Reem Abulleil met her coach Sandra Zaniewska to chat about her player’s recent improvements, form and ambitions.

Another hoping to extend her adventure in the city of lights is Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, who retires at the end of the year. Chris Oddo met the 36-year-old to discuss why 2026 has been such a rewarding period.

And Dan Imhoff tracked down another player having the time of his life right now, big-serving Argentine Thiago Tirante ahead of his third round meeting with Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

That trio all feature on the Day 6 order of play as things start to get serious in the French capital.

Alix Ramsay is on hand to choose her matches of the day including a first meeting between Novak Djokovic and young Brazilian Joao Fonseca.