Sabalenka, Rybakina, Medvedev Advance at Rain-Hit French Open

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka navigated the rain-affected French Open on Thursday, advancing to the third round with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima. The inclement weather, which has plagued Roland Garros for three consecutive days, forced the suspension of play on all courts without roofs.

Despite the challenging conditions, Sabalenka, the second seed, remained focused and dominated the match from the outset. She broke Uchijima's serve twice in the first set and cruised to a 6-2 victory. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Sabalenka breaking her opponent's serve early and maintaining her advantage throughout.

Sabalenka's victory sets up a third-round clash with close friend and doubles partner Paula Badosa. The two players have a strong bond both on and off the court, but Sabalenka acknowledged the difficulty of facing a close friend in competition. "It's always tough to play your friend," she said. "But we know how to separate court and life."

Other notable results on Thursday included Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, defeating Arantxa Rus 6-3, 6-4. Fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev also advanced after his opponent, Miomir Kecmanovic, retired while trailing 6-1, 5-0.

Three days after his stunning victory over Rafael Nadal, No. 4 Alexander Zverev continued his impressive run by defeating David Goffin 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-2. The German player praised the electric atmosphere at Roland Garros, particularly with the addition of two new roofs. "The crowd is always unbelievable in Paris," Zverev said. "When you guys are rooting for me, it's even better."

As the French Open progresses, the weather forecast remains uncertain, with more rain expected in the coming days. However, the tournament organizers are hopeful that the new roofs will allow play to continue uninterrupted.

Tags: #FrenchOpen#Tennis#ArynaSabalenka#ElenaRybakina#DaniilMedvedev#AlexanderZverev#RainDelay#RolandGarros