Amid the excitement of youth, world number three Zverev underlined his status as favourite for the men’s singles title with a clinical straight-set win over Jesper de Jong, which sent him through to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the sixth consecutive year.

The second seed, 29, has long been earmarked as a future Grand Slam champion but despite reaching finals at three of the four majors – and leading Carlos Alcaraz by two sets to one at the French Open in 2024 – he is still searching for his maiden title.

However, with world number one Jannik Sinner and Djokovic both eliminated in the first week, plus defending champion Alcaraz absent because of injury, the German’s route to the title has opened up.

De Jong, ranked more than 100 places below Zverev, went toe-to-toe with the heavy-hitting German in the opener, racing into a 3-0 lead and later leading 3-0 in the tie-break before Zverev reeled off seven consecutive points to take the set.

Zverev had to be patient in the second, waiting until the 10th game to convert one of only two break-point opportunities offered to him, but was too strong for his opponent in a 24-minute third set, completing a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-1 win.

Relentless on serve in the final two sets, he conceded just six points across nine service games while also showing his formidable touch at the net, winning 29 of 38 points.

“It was a bit difficult in the beginning,” Zverev said on court. “I didn’t start strong and he started really fast. But once I found my rhythm, I was comfortable.

“My game is there. It’s about showing it on the match courts.”

Zverev is one of only three top-10 seeds left in the draw, one of just two players with experience of playing in a major final and is competing on a surface on which he has won nine of his 24 ATP titles.

Perhs most crucially, while many of his rivals have battled through multiple five-set matches, he has won three of his four matches in straight sets.

The U.S. men’s national team preparations for this summer’s FIFA World Cup are now firmly underway. After players reported to training camp this week, Mauricio Pochettino’s side took on Senegal in a pre-tournament friendly on Sunday in Charlotte, which the Americans won 3-2.

Sergiño Dest opened the scoring, with Christian Pulisic doubling the World Cup hosts’ advantage, before a Sadio Mané brace leveled the score. Folarin Balogun, though, came off the bench to score and earn the U.S. an entertaining and deserved victory.

Relive all the action with ESPN.

Meanwhile, Romanian 18th seed Sorana Cirstea is into her second French Open quarter-final – 17 years after her first pearance in the last eight at Roland Garros.

The 36-year-old, who plans to retire at the end of the year, was a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) winner against Chinese qualifier Wang Xiyu.

The victory continues Cirstea’s remarkable form in the twilight of her career. following her 6-0 6-0 victory over Solano Sierra in the third round.

Cirstea said her final year in the sport is “going way better than I expected” but, at the moment, she is not planning to reverse her decision to retire.

“I’m just trying to take it week by week and I’m not going to do anything different,” said Cirstea. “I’m not going to try now to change things or put any pressure.

“Of course, we will assess things as we go, but at the moment the decision is the same.”

Cirstea beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Rome earlier this month, while her run at Roland Garros is her best at a Grand Slam since reaching the US Open quarter-finals in 2023.

Cirstea said she is “more mature” at the age of 36 compared to the early stages of her career and has a “different kind of perspective and mindset”.

She added: “I think when I was really young, it was a little bit of life or death every single match. I would win, I was very, very hpy. I would lose, [for] two days I would be crying.

“I have so much passion for the sport. I have so much joy playing, but at the same time, it’s my job.”

Cirstea will next play Russian eighth seed Mirra Andreeva, who won 6-3 6-2 against unseeded Swiss player Jil Teichmann in round four on Sunday.

Andreeva was two years old at the time of Cirstea’s previous last-eight pearance at Roland Garros in 2009.

Atlético Madrid‘s Julián Álvarez still has his heart set on joining Barcelona, who could also still make an attempt to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades

TRENDING RUMORS

– Barcelona have devised a plan to try and sign winger Marcus Rashford this summer despite already recruiting Anthony Gordon, according to the Daily Mail. England international Rashford is set to return to Manchester United this summer following a successful loan spell at Barça. With Gordon’s recent arrival from Newcastle United, it was thought that the Spanish club might not have the resources to sign Rashford permanently as well. However, Barcelona will seemingly attempt to recruit Rashford at the end of the transfer window, once some of their financial restrictions have been lifted.

– José Mourinho “won’t ask for star signings” at Real Madrid, Diario AS reports, saying the incoming coach wants players who are “hungry” and “with no ego” as part of his new team. Mourinho would like to sign “one or two centre-backs, a right-back, a left-back and two midfielders.” Meanwhile, Cadena COPE reports that sources in Rodri‘s camp admit they’ve held conversations with Enrique Riquelme in recent days, with the Madrid presidential candidate telling them he’d like to sign the midfielder, although no negotiations took place.

– Inter Milan are weighing up a surprise move for Manchester City defender Rúben Dias if defender Yann Bisseck leaves the Serie A club this summer, according to Corriere dello Sport. Inter view Portugal international Dias, who is under contract at the Etihad until 2029, as a potential marquee replacement and believe a deal could be structured as an initial loan with an obligation to sign him permanently. Christian Falk reports that Bayern Munich are monitoring Germany international Bisseck, who could be made available by Inter for around €40 million, opening the way for Dias to arrive.

– Manchester United and Aston Villa are both monitoring Borussia Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton ahead of a potential swoop, BILD reports. The 29-year-old has impressed at Dortmund since joining the club in 2024 from Stuttgart. While the Bundesliga giants are not actively looking to move Anton on, they may consider offers in the region of €35-40 million this summer.

ESPN SOURCES

– Andoni Iraola is the leading candidate to succeed Arne Slot as Liverpool head coach, sources have told ESPN. Iraola, 43, is a free agent after leaving Premier League rivals AFC Bournemouth at the end of the season following the club’s most successful league season that ended with the Cherries qualifying for the UEFA Europa League for the first time in its history. Read

OTHER RUMORS

– Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich are in the race to sign German wunderkind Kennet Eichhorn from Hertha Berlin. (Christian Falk)

– Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been offered to Serie A champions Inter Milan this summer. (La Gazzetta dello Sport)

– Bayern Munich are targeting Bournemouth’s 19-year-old forward Junior Kroupi as back-up to Colombia winger Luis Díaz. (Merkur)

– Chelsea aren’t expected to enter the race for the soon-to-be out-of-contract Ibrahima Konaté, with the Saudi Pro League instead emerging as a possible option. (TEAMtalk)

– Germany international Deniz Undav has agreed terms on a contract extension with Stuttgart, which will keep him at the Bundesliga club until 2029. (Sky Germany)

– Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara is “waiting on a response” from Aston Villa, after the Premier League side’s interest in him was communicated. The former Norwich City player has a valuation around the €35 million mark. (Sabah)

– Sporting CP are considering loaning out full-back Georgios Vagiannidis, who is a long-term Everton target. (A Bola)

– Championship side Preston North End have activated their option to sign Alfie Devine permanently from Tottenham Hotspur. (Lancashire Post)

– AC Milan are set to meet with former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner regarding the vacant head coach position at the club. (Daily Mail)

This debate is nothing new – but nothing has changed.

In each of the past three years, questions have been raised about whether the French Open should do more to showcase the women’s game.

“I don’t think they have daughters, because I don’t think they want to treat their daughters like this,” said Jabeur.

The lack of action prompted recently pointed WTA chief executive Valerie Camillo to seek answers from French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo – a former women’s world number one – when they met at Roland Garros this week.

In what the WTA describes as an open and productive conversation, Camillo underlined her belief that women’s players have delivered some of the “most exciting and dynamic competition in global sport” over recent months and years.

It remains to be seen whether Camillo’s call for action is listened to.

Mauresmo has consistently argued that the danger of women’s matches going “really fast” is the justification behind the choices.

With tickets ranging from €60 to €280 (£50 to £240), tournament organisers think the possibility of a short two-set women’s match does not represent value for money.

Mauresmo has insisted the night sessions will not be extended to two matches – like the Australian Open and US Open – in fear of creating late finishes.

Will the French Open be swayed? It refused to waver last year, despite pressure from players, the women’s governing body and – according to reports, external – broadcasters.

Former world number one Osaka will meet Aryna Sabalenka – the current top women’s player – in the last 16 on Monday.

The Janese player said she did not know if that blockbuster match would be under consideration for the night session, but added she felt the slot was reserved for “popcorn matches”.

If Osaka against Sabalenka does not fulfil the French Open’s criteria, it feels like nothing will.

“I hope it will change,” added Ostenko.

“Even if it’s not me playing, I would like to see some women’s matches there. But I don’t know that we will.”