Aryna Sabalenka defeats Elsa Jacquemot to reach third round at Roland Garros 2026

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elsa Jacquemot in straight sets to continue her strong run at Roland Garros 2026.

Photo: Tim Clayton/ Getty Imaes

Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant run at Roland Garros 2026 on Thursday, defeating Elsa Jacquemot 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the third round in Paris.

The World No. 1 needed one hour and 34 minutes to overcome the French player, maintaining her strong push toward a first career Roland Garros title.

Jacquemot challenged Sabalenka early in the match, using aggressive baseline play and the support of the home crowd to keep the opening set competitive. However, the Belarusian raised her level in the crucial moments and secured the key late break to close the set 7-5.

From there, Sabalenka took complete control.

Her powerful returns and aggressive serving overwhelmed Jacquemot in the second set, as the top seed dictated rallies and steadily increased the pressure from the baseline.

Sabalenka’s victory also carries major significance in the WTA rankings race. Following the earlier elimination of Elena Rybakina, the Belarusian remains firmly in control of the World No. 1 position while strengthening her status as the leading favorite in the women’s draw.

Next, Sabalenka will face Daria Kasatkina for a place in the Round of 16 after Kasatkina advanced through a tough second-round match.

With every round, Sabalenka continues to look more comfortable on the Paris clay and increasingly dangerous in her pursuit of the trophy.