Jannik Sinner faced a bit of a challenge in the third set of his first round match against Arthur Rinderknech on Monday. However, the top men’s seeds at the 2025 French Open ended up going straight sets at 6-4, 6-3 and 7-5.
Since playing his first major tournament since offering three months of suspension in a banned substance test last year, Thinner appears to have been refreshed and composed, earning his first two sets relatively easily with Linder Neck. At one point, Linderneck attempted an underarm serve, probably thinking he had nothing to lose.
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However, the home crowd cheers on Philip Chatelier’s compatriots on the court, chanting “Arthur!” Rinderknech fought in that third set, taking a 4-0 and 5-2 lead. The French also scored points and even reached for the high five stands before waving their arms to perform to the crowd.
However, Thinner shook the challenge, but he seemed to appreciate it, tied the set 5-5 and ultimately won three games for the match win.
As his fellow countrymen cheer him on, Arthur Lindernok was ultimately defeated after Janik Sinner worked in the third set of the match. (AP Photo/Lindsay Wasson)
(AP News)
“The first round match is by no means easy, so I’m particularly pleased with how we handled the situation in the third set,” Thinner said after the match. “To go through a straight set for me means a lot.”
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Next is Richard Gasquet, another Frenchman.
“I know you’ll support him,” Thinner told the fans. “But that’s fine.”
Gasquet, 38, says the 2025 French Open will be the final tournament of his career. It may provide even more inspiration to the audience. Thinner defeated Gasquet in the second round last year in Paris on a straight set.
Day 2 of his play at Roland Garos was notoriously lost to fourth seed Taylor Fritz’s first round match, but Top Seeded Thinner and Carlos Alcaraz won in straight sets as they remained on the collision course for a rematch in the final. At last year’s French Open, Alcaraz defeated the sinner in the semi-finals of five sets. In a possible preview, the sinner also fell to Alcaraz at the Italian Open a week ago.
