Paris, May 27: World number one player Jannik Sinner made a spectacular return to the French Open on Tuesday, overcoming last year’s disappointment with a commanding performance in the first round.
Playing under the lights at Court Philippe-Chatrier, the Italian star defeated French wildcard Clément Tabur with a score of 6-1, 6-3, 6-4, showcasing his exceptional skills.
This victory on red clay marks Sinner’s entry into an elite group of male players who have won 30 or more consecutive matches in this century, alongside legends like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
For Sinner, returning to the French Open held more significance than just a regular first-round match. Twelve months ago, he faced one of the most painful defeats of his career on the same court, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the final after squandering three championship points. However, any lingering scars from that loss were absent in his calm and composed performance against Tabur.
In a post-match interview, Sinner expressed his joy at being back, saying, “I am very happy to be back here. This is a very special place with many great memories for me. First-round matches are never easy, but starting the tournament in the night session makes it even more special, so thank you all for being here.”
The 24-year-old maintained dominance from the baseline throughout the evening, skillfully combining deep shots with powerful strikes. He hit a total of 40 winners across the three sets and faced no break points, demonstrating his control over the match.
A standout moment came midway through the third set when Sinner seamlessly transitioned from defense to offense, executing a forehand squash shot from well behind the baseline, followed by a stunning backhand winner that drew loud applause from the Paris crowd. This showcased his ability to play effectively from all areas of the court.
This latest victory adds another milestone to Sinner’s historic season, which is already making waves in tennis history. He has won all five ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in 2026, including Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, and Rome, placing him among some of the sport’s most distinguished players.
His recent triumph in Rome made him the second player, after Novak Djokovic, to complete the ‘Career Golden Masters’, and he is now the youngest player to achieve this feat.
As a four-time Grand Slam champion, Sinner is now in pursuit of the only title missing from his collection, the French Open, which would help him complete the ‘Career Grand Slam’—a dream for every player. If he wins the Coupe des Mousquetaires this fortnight, he will become only the seventh male player to achieve this milestone in the Open Era.
Sinner’s next challenge will be against Argentina’s left-handed player Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who secured his spot in the next round by defeating Jacob Fearnley in straight sets earlier in the day.
Based on his initial performance, it seems Sinner has arrived in Paris not burdened by last year’s loss but rather with a fierce determination to finish the job this time.