World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the third round of the French Open with a straight-sets victory over French wildcard Elsa Jacquemot in Paris on Thursday, continuing her strong start at Roland Garros as she pursues a maiden title in the event.
Sabalenka was made to work early in the match, with Jacquemot matching her for much of the opening set. The score was level at 5-5 before Sabalenka raised her level and took control, winning seven of the next eight games to complete a 7-5, 6-2 win in 1 hour and 35 minutes. The Belarusian top seed showed power and composure in the decisive moments, separating herself from the local favorite after a competitive beginning.
The victory extended several impressive streaks for Sabalenka. She improved to 7-0 against French opponents at Grand Slam tournaments and reached the third round of the French Open for the seventh consecutive year. This was also her ninth straight main-draw appearance in Paris. More broadly, Sabalenka has now made the third round in 20 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments, and she has not lost before that stage at a major since the 2020 U.S. Open.
Sabalenka’s performance also reinforced her dominance on the WTA Tour this season. The match was her 26th straight-sets win of the year, the most of any player on tour, and her 29th victory of the season overall. She has lost only three matches in 2026 and is set to retain the world No. 1 ranking at the end of the French Open regardless of what happens later in the tournament.
Against Jacquemot, Sabalenka struck 45 winners, underlining the aggressive style that has carried her through the season. She also made 31 unforced errors, while Jacquemot finished with 15 winners and 11 unforced errors. Although the French player competed well in the opening stages, Sabalenka’s firepower ultimately proved decisive once she found her rhythm.
Next, Sabalenka will face Daria Kasatkina in the third round. Kasatkina reached the same stage after defeating Susan Bandecchi 7-5, 7-6 (13-11). Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 7-2 and has won all three of their meetings on clay. Kasatkina’s last win over Sabalenka came in Cincinnati in 2023, and Sabalenka has won the last four matches in the rivalry.
