Elena Rybakina Advances to French Open Third Round, Set to Face Jelena Ostapenko

Elena Rybakina, the 12th seed and 2022 Wimbledon champion, advanced to the third round of the 2025 French Open after defeating American wildcard Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-3 in a second-round match. Rybakina had earlier survived a tough three-set battle against qualifier Julia Riera in the first round. Despite an early break loss in the first set against Jovic, Rybakina's aggressive playing style, including strong serving and net play, helped her secure crucial breaks to close out both sets. She is set to face 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko next, holding a favorable 3-2 head-to-head record against the Latvian. Before the match, statistical predictions heavily favored Rybakina, estimating a 91% chance for her victory, with betting odds strongly supporting her as the favorite. Rybakina commented on her game adaptability across surfaces, emphasizing her aggressive style and serve as key components to her success on clay and other courts.