Rublev exits after third round loss

Paris, May 31: Sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev was knocked out of the French Open by Matteo Arnaldi 7-6 (6), 6-2, 6-4 in the third round on Friday.
Rublev showed frustration throughout over his lack of precision, committing 37 unforced errors and four double faults. After netting a forehand in the third set, he smashed his racket on his knee four times.
“I am completely disappointed with myself, with the way I behaved, the way I performed, and I can’t remember ever behaving worse in a Grand Slam tournament,” he said. “It was the first time I ever behaved that badly.” Rublev entered the French Open as a contender after winning the Madrid Open this month.
Arnaldi, ranked 35th, will face Stefanos Tsitsipas or Zhizhen Zhang, who were scheduled to play later Friday.
No. 2 Jannik Sinner progressed by downing Pavel Kotov 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
On the women’s side, No. 3-seeded Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round after beating Australian Open semifinalist Dayana Yastremska 6-2, 6-4.
Gauff pressured her opponent into committing 38 unforced errors on Court Philippe Chatrier, and converted five of her 11 break points.
After several seeded players were knocked out on Thursday, Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto pulled off another upset by defeating No. 17 Liudmila Samsonova 7-6 (4), 6-2 on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Cocciaretto, ranked 51st, reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.
She will play Gauff next. Gauff won both of their previous meetings but said, “She is definitely a fighter.” Gauff is the reigning U.S. Open champion and was a finalist at the French Open in 2022.
Qualifier Olga Danilovic, ranked 125th, beat Donna Vekic 0-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8) to make her first fourth-round appearance at a Grand Slam tournament.
For the fourth consecutive day, rain interrupted play. There was a delay of about 1 1/2 hours on Friday. (AP)