Matteo Berrettini emerged from a marathon encounter at Roland Garros, outlasting Francisco Comesama in a five-set battle that stretched just over five hours. The score read 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (13) after 389 points of tension on Court Simonne-Mathieu.

Berrettini found himself on the brink more than once, including a match point against him late in the decisive breaker. He had rallied from a two-sets-to-one deficit and navigated a 10-point final-set tiebreaker, reaching match point four times before finally closing it out. At one crucial moment Comesama ran around to hit a forehand and sent it long, then later missed again at 14-13, handing Berrettini the opportunity he needed.

“I was just telling myself I deserve to be here.”

Statistically the match was brutal and brilliant in equal measure. They combined for 40 aces, and Berrettini produced 70 winners against 80 unforced errors. Across the 5 hours and 13 minutes, his average first-serve speed was recorded at 126 m.p.h.

“Francisco played an unbelievable match, he missed like two balls in five hours.”

Berrettini, now 30 and ranked 105th, has a clear narrative of interrupted potential. After a quarterfinal run at Roland Garros in 2021 he missed the clay major four straight times because of a string of injuries to his ab, ankle, hand and foot. This win, and the return to form it signals, will push him well back inside the Top 100.

“I’m really proud of the work that I’ve done to come back and to feel good again. Matteo Berrettini”

After the match he credited the crowd and his team for getting him through.

“I’m just so happy, so tired,” he said. “Grateful for this incredible team, this unbelievable crowd, under the heat, under the sun, two sets to one down, we fought through this match, guys.”

With the exit of his countryman Jannik Sinner, Berrettini arrives in the second week with renewed health and a realistic chance to advance deep at the Grand Slam.

Zachary Svajda became the first American man to reach the second week at this year’s Roland Garros after a draining five-set victory over Francisco Cerundolo. Svajda, who arrived in Paris with one clay win this season, moved past Cerundolo 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 following a pair of earlier four-set wins.

“I’m definitely shocked, surprised for sure. It hasn’t kicked in yet,” the world No. 85 told press afterwards. He reflected on his unexpected form on clay and on the meaning of the day: “I knew I would get good on the clay. I thought maybe in a few years, but I never expected right now. I’m very grateful and blessed and just taking it all in.”

Svajda said fatigue crept in after the two-set lead as Cerundolo raised his level, prompting shorter points and a tense finish. He also credited an emotional lift tied to the calendar: “It’s like I’m dreaming right now, in a dream. It’s crazy. Today was so special, too, because it’s also my dad’s birthday.”

The San Diego, Calif. native came into the tournament with a 3-7 start to the season in tour-level matches. His run in Paris will push him past his previous career-high ranking of No. 82 regardless of the outcome in his next match against Flavio Cobolli.

After the win several peers approached Svajda, including Frances Tiafoe. “He was super happy for me. He gave me a big hug. He was just talking how good I’m playing,” Svajda recalled. “He was shocked too. ‘Like, Dude, this is clay court, what’s going on?’ I’m, like, ‘Dude, I have no idea what’s going on.’ He’s a great guy. It was funny.”

Svajda leaves Paris with his best major result to date and a dramatic five-set triumph that doubled as a personal milestone.

Aryna Sabalenka advanced into the Roland Garros fourth round with a straight-sets win over Daria Kasatkina, 6-0, 7-5, in the third round of the clay-court major. The victory carried extra significance: it was Sabalenka’s 100th career match win while holding the world No. 1 ranking.

The result arrived on Saturday and reinforced Sabalenka’s sustained hold on the top spot. She is spending her 92nd and 93rd career weeks at No. 1 during the two weeks of Roland Garros, and those weeks represent her 84th and 85th consecutive weeks at the summit. That run already ranks among the Top 10 longest streaks at the top spot in WTA rankings history.

The milestone places Sabalenka in a select group. She became just the ninth player since WTA rankings began in 1975 to reach 100 wins as world No. 1, joining Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Serena Williams, Justine Henin and most recently Iga Swiatek.

On the court against Kasatkina, Sabalenka combined a dominant opening set with a tighter second set to close out the match in two sets. The 6-0 first set signaled control from the outset, and a 7-5 second set finished the job without extending the contest to a decider.

Sabalenka’s 100th win while ranked No. 1 is both a personal landmark and a statistical milestone for the WTA era. As she moves deeper into the draw at the clay major, the victory adds another notable entry to a period of sustained success at the top of the rankings.