French Open 2026: Cerundolo Beats Van de Zandschulp in Four Sets at Roland Garros

Cerundolo holds off Van de Zandschulp fightback to reach French Open round two  

The Dutch world No. 55 loses to Argentina’s Cerundolo despite winning the third set, continuing his run of early exits in Paris.

Van de Zandschulp saves a match point and takes the third set but cannot stop Cerundolo from sealing a four-set win in Paris...

 

Botic van de Zandschulp is out of the French Open after a sloppy match against Francisco Cerundolo. He committed 72 unforced errors and lost 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(7), 4-6 to the Argentine.

Van de Zandschulp was one of three Dutch players in the main draw. He was the second to play, following Jesper de Jong, who beat Stan Wawrinka in four sets in what was Wawrinka’s final French Open.

Against 26th-ranked Francisco Cerundolo, Van de Zandschulp started well but lost three straight service games to drop the opening set.

He looked to have steadied himself after earning an early break in the second set. However, he reverted to earlier mistakes and handed Cerundolo the set with two sloppy errors. It was a difficult afternoon for the world No. 55, who had already made 35 unforced errors after two sets.

Long battle but Francisco Cerundolo claims the win!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/hyiCt82sIc

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2026

Van de Zandschulp briefly turned things around after coming back from 5-3 down in the third set to force a tiebreak. He saved a match point early in the tiebreak and went on to take the set, keeping his hopes alive in Paris.

His reprieve did not last long. Cerundolo and Van de Zandschulp traded breaks, and both had chances for another. In the end it was Cerundolo who converted, sealing the win after letting two more match points slip. The match lasted 3 hours and 40 minutes.

The 30-year-old Van de Zandschulp exits in the first round for the fourth year in a row at Roland Garros. Cerundolo now advances to face either Hugo Gaston or Gael Monfils in round two.