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Roland Garros Day Three Observations
11 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Xinyu Wang received an unsportsmanlike conduct warning for walking onto Tamara Korpatsch’s side of the court to look at a baseline line call in the third set which she didn’t trust was made in good faith. With all the money and points on the line in each Grand Slam match, if a player feels they got ripped off, I support such challenging behavior exhibited here by Wang. We know there is corruption and incompetence in tennis and bad calls are made. With red clay shot marks visible, a player should challenge a perceived injustice as Wang did. Surely Martina Hingis appreciated the tribute. Korpatsch won 62 26 63.
According to reports from Paris, Fokina Davidovich fired his coach, Mariano Puerta, between the first and second rounds of the 2026 Roland Garros tournament. The Argentine Puerta reached the Roland Garros final in 2005 but lost to Rafael Nadal, appearing in his first Grand Slam final. ADF lost today to Thiago Tirante in four sets. Wonder if Puerta knew the loss was coming?
ADF: “There was no fight with Puerta. After my match against Dzumhur, he told me he was going back to the hotel. Two hours later, I received a very long message from him saying he was leaving for good. He then took a flight to Miami without informing the rest of the team. We had a very good relationship. He has blocked both me and my wife. I considered him a good person until now. I don’t wish him any harm, but I hope future players are careful when working with him.”
Title contender Alexander Blockx is out. He injured his ankle because of the covers on the edges of the courts. He twisted his ankle during a training session with Fonseca.
First round opponent Laura Siegemund of Germany was asked about Naomi Osaka’s publicity stunt outfit after losing to her: “I honestly don’t care. I’m here to play tennis, not to do a fashion show.”
Coco Gauff on the importance of showcasing different styles for black hair on Tour: “I’ve said this before, I pride myself in showcasing different black hair on tour. Just so almost every girl can feel represented. The Williams sisters did that for me, so I try to do that for someone else.” I never knew anyone who wanted to be represented by a hair do.
Osaka mentions Baby Shai in Tennis Channel interview! “Her name is Shai but she’s not shy at all. She walks up to people all the time and says Hi, how are you?” Baby Shai the extrovert to Mom the introvert. Shai evidently not in Paris. Propaganda stunt? Can anybody corroborate these claims? Has any player seen the baby in person?
John Mcenroe just called Rafael Jodar, “This guy Joe-Dar” when it’s pronounced “Hoe-Dar.” Apparently Mac hasn’t been doing his homework on one of the rising stars of tennis. Jodar has shot up into the top 30.
RG organizers scheduled Novak Djokovic to play during the hottest part of the day today with temperatures expected to be 93 degrees. The no. 3 seed also plays a Frenchman named Royer, which under normal circumstances would be a night match. Don’t expect to see Sinner play in the heat of the day.
Sinner by beating Tabur in the first round, has now won 30 matches in a row.
1999 French Open 1st Round: (3) Patrick Rafter defeated (WC) Roger Federer 57 63 60 62. The 17-year-old Federer was making his main draw debut at a major. It was his first of 19 appearances
at RG. In that match Federer wore all white Nike and a backward white cap.
Unlike the 17 year old Federer, the 17 year old French kid Moise Kouame did win his first French Open and Grand Slam match, in three sets vs Marin Cilic.
Belgium’s Jesper De Jong lost in qualies 3R to Michael Zheng but Lucky Losered into main draw (thanks to Fils withdrawal) and the 25 year old ranked 106 has won his first two rounds vs Wawrinka and Cina. In his seventh Grand Slam main draw, Jesper De Jong has reached the third round for the first time.
Alexander Blockx · Jesper De Jong · Naomi Osaka · Novak Djokovic · Rafael Jodar · Roland Garros
Cyndy · May 28, 2026 at 9:56 am
Well hello to you Scoop Malinowski— it’s FO time at RG once again and I greatly look forward to reading your various articles as well as your thoughts on this and that and of course will be willing Djokovic to win today’s match with Royer… What is the atmosphere like at the RG this although I do like their ad which keeps appearing on my tv screen “from RG Paris .. it’s only Clay”.
Just watched the Sinner match against Cerundolos brother and it so happens that Sinner is out couldn’t believe that sets 4 and 5 were 61 61 .. good for him!
Scoop Malinowski · May 28, 2026 at 8:32 pm
Hi Cyndy, Welcome back! Missed your comments and energy. A part of me just can’t buy Sinner’s collapse from such a commanding two set and 51 position. The special treatment he got from the umpire and the third set betting irregularities were the first thoughts during this historic or scripted nosedive. The Mensik cramp episode yesterday may have set the stage for this one? Djokovic was 16-1 to win this title before it started. Nice odds for smart bettors. Lacoste is a big sponsor of Roland Garros, with Fils and Med out, does Lacoste have the clout to get Novak some preferential treatment now? Sinner was drawing half empty stadiums in his two rounds, he is simply not a draw and not popular which means lousy tv ratings if he won the final. That is bad for sponsors and 2027 Roland Garros. I believe the stage is set for Novak to win 25 next week. I remember Serbian Dusan Vemic saying in January he thought Novak would win “two or three Grand Slams this year.” Zverev looks great, as does Tien, Fonseca, Kouame. Curious how Fokina’s coach left the day before he lost to Tirante and Rybakina’s coach left mid match of her loss to Starobtseva due to not feeling well. If you buy that. Querrey said Med tanked the last four points vs Walton. Just how much tanking is really going on? My friend Kathy Horvath has been to the venue every day for the last several years and she loves it. I think Sinner out makes the mens draw much more interesting. Are you enjoying RG so far?
Cyndy · May 29, 2026 at 3:05 am
A hello to you Scoop Malinowski and thank you for your warm welcome too! I do appreciate that you have always always responded!
Read your write up on Sinner ‘Tennis Media Questioning Sinner’s Special Treatment’; and seems like it is so true that. Lots of special treatment for him there for all to see and realise. He was affected at Melbourne as well as you know – then they closed the roof and turned on the air conditioning etc. In the era of Line Calling Live, it is completely ridiculous to have line judges present just for the sake of being present… and yes as you mentioned the draw now does get interesting a fair bit and there are some new faces too Kouame, Collignon, in front of the press after his second round win 🎙️
Cyndy · May 29, 2026 at 3:14 am
Hi Scoop Malinowski— I had begun to type you a long reply in response to your msg but not sure where it went as it seems to not be there ! So the very short one I think got sent to you. I do apologise for this and I had answered your question that yes I am enjoying RG thus far!
Cyndy · May 29, 2026 at 8:48 am
Hello and thanks very much Scoop Malinowski for your lovely warm welcome! So good to be hearing from you as well and I do so appreciate that you always respond that’s super nice I say! Yes I do agree with you on all Sinner related issues that you have mentioned… I was thinking of the AO time when they closed the roof specially for him but at RG it wasn’t the case! ‘Prolly’ (I’m sure you will remember who said that word!) wasn’t meant! Yes I am enjoying RG and the ones that you mentioned still there Tien, Fonseka, Kouame and even Berettini and Arnaldi in… Rublev and Zverev as well… tonight later will be the Djokovic/Fonseka match which I should be watching… it’s wonderful as always to get your views too and thank you again for writing to let me know on the same! I did write to you earlier I think two and I’m not sure what has happened as it didn’t go through I’m thinking…
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2026 at 8:52 am
Cyndy, Just not sure to buy the cramps story. I want to believe it, should believe it but something about it seems orchestrated. Djokovic will now be the huge sentimental favorite but he will have to get by Fonseca which could be trouble. Maybe the Sinner boycott worked.
Cyndy · May 29, 2026 at 10:24 am
Hi Scoop Malinowski— I agree but I’d think from now on all of Djokovics opponents will be playing harder and faster etc etc lights out tennis kind of style and Djokovic will have to grapple all this but he has his immense experience and expertise on his side so I’m surely hoping that will help him to get that most coveted 25th FO title . I’m sure you are watching it now as am I!
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2026 at 11:10 am
Yes and this reminds of Sampras vs young Roger at Wimbledon when Roger won in five set marathon. But Djokovic is a different animal than Pete was. Good thing Djokovic got to start on Sunday, an extra day for him could make a difference.
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2026 at 11:49 am
Jodar is looking really good too. He came up big at the end vs Michelsen who is always a bulldog. Jodar looks like he can in the title too. He just has that look. Very interesting matchup vs Carreno Busta next round.
Sam · June 4, 2026 at 4:49 am
Osaka mentions Baby Shai in Tennis Channel interview!
So, after all this time, there’s still no photographic evidence of the phantom baby?? 🤔
Maybe Osaka consulted with Stevie Wonder on finding a stunt to make herself more marketable. 😹
Scoop Malinowski · June 4, 2026 at 8:14 am
Sam, Nope, nobody has ever seen the baby at a tournament, the only evidence is some People Magazine photos from a year ago. They key suspect point is how the father Cordae has no photos of the baby on his Instagram but he does have a picture of a fan’s baby because the fan named his baby after Cordae.