Elena Rybakina, the world number two, suffered a stunning defeat at the French Open on Tuesday, losing 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) to Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva. The Kazakhstani, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, was unable to find her rhythm and made too many unforced errors.
Rybakina's Early Exit
Rybakina's defeat marks her earliest departure from a tour-level tournament since the 2025 Miami Open and her first loss in the opening two rounds of a major since the 2024 Australian Open. 'I couldn't find the balance. I couldn't find the right shot, and it was clearly just too many mistakes,' Rybakina said.
Starodubtseva, ranked 55th in the world, will face China's Wang Xiyu for a place in the last 16. The Ukrainian has matched her previous best run at a grand slam, having reached the third round last year as a lucky loser. 'Honestly, hard to describe, I'm super-happy,' Starodubtseva said after recording her first victory over a top-10 opponent.
Jones Battles but Falls Short
Earlier in the day, Britain's Fran Jones produced a spirited fightback but ultimately lost 6-0, 7-6 (3) to the 27th seed, Czech Marie Bouzkova. Jones, who describes herself as a 'mentality monster,' trailed 0-6, 1-4 before rallying to force a tie-break, but Bouzkova held firm.
Jones had won her first grand slam main-draw match on Sunday, defeating former top-10 player Beatriz Haddad Maia in three sets. Against Bouzkova, she again started slowly but showed her trademark resilience. 'I think I'm always going to make opponents feel uncomfortable,' Jones said. 'I don't care what the score is. I will throw everything at you.'
Jones, who has overcome a rare genetic condition called ectrodactyly ectodermal dysplasia, has faced additional challenges this year, including a concussion from a gym accident. She has initiated legal action over the incident. Despite the defeat, she remains optimistic. 'This week proves that I'm always going to back myself,' she said.
Other Matches
In other action, Tamara Korpatsch defeated Wang Xinyu 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in a heated contest that saw a dispute over a line call. Korpatsch will next face Elina Svitolina. Iga Swiatek breezed past Sara Bejlek 6-2, 6-3 and will meet Magda Linette. Argentina's Solana Sierra upset former finalist Jasmine Paolini 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
