French Open Shines: Fierce Competitions and Unexpected Twists

Day six of the French Open featured numerous highlights including Swiatek's and Jabeur's victories, Vondrousova's advancement, and Sinner's dominant performance. Additionally, security forces foiled a planned attack targeting the Olympic Games, and new events were announced in World Athletics' four-year business strategy.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Tennis-French Open day six

Highlights of the sixth day at the French Open on Friday (times GMT): 1633 SWIATEK BEATS BOUZKOVA

Tennis-Vondrousova ousts Paquet to reach French Open fourth round

Former finalist Marketa Vondrousova overcame France's Chloe Paquet to win 6-1 6-3 and reach the last 16 of the French Open on Friday. Vondrousova, who became the first unseeded player to win Wimbledon last year, was a beaten finalist at Roland Garros in 2019, and the Czech player kept alive her dream of a return to the final with her straight sets win.

Tennis-Jabeur ousts Fernandez to book French Open fourth-round spot

Eighth seed Ons Jabeur continued her latest bid to become the first Arab and African woman to claim a Grand Slam title with a tough 6-4 7-6(5) victory over Canadian Leylah Fernandez that put her into the French Open fourth round on Friday. Tunisian Jabeur has come within touching distance of Grand Slam glory in the past, reaching the last two Wimbledon finals and the 2022 U.S. Open title clash but the 29-year-old has not been able to cross the finish line.

France says it foiled attack targeting Olympic Games at St Etienne

French security forces arrested earlier this month in Saint-Etienne an 18-year old Chechen suspected of planning an attack at the city's soccer stadium during this summer's Olympic Games, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said. The PNAT anti-terrorism prosecutor told Reuters the suspect was put under formal investigation on May 26, in connection with the planned attack.

Tennis-Sinner strolls into French Open fourth round

World number two Jannik Sinner eased into the French Open fourth round with a ruthless 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory against Russian Pavel Kotov on Friday. The Australian Open champion, wearing a long-sleeve undershirt on yet another chilly day, only faced one break point in a one-sided encounter.

Athletics-World Athletics to trial new events like mixed 4x100 relay, steeplechase mile

World Athletics unveiled plans to test new events such as a mixed 4x100 metres relay and a steeplechase mile in their four-year business strategy published on Friday, with the aim of providing faster paced and more exciting events. Testing will also include implementing a take-off zone for long jump and triple jump, getting rid of foul jumps to make the events more appealing to fans, which received mixed reviews when plans for its trial were revealed in February.

Tennis-Sixth seed Rublev dumped out by inspired Arnaldi

Italy's Matteo Arnaldi produced a sensational performance to take out sixth seed Andrey Rublev and reach the last 16 of the French Open on Friday. The 23-year-old saved a set point in the opening set and went on to dominate his emotionally-charged opponent for a 7-6(8) 6-2 6-4 victory to equal his best Grand Slam run.

Tennis-Gauff cruises past Yastremska into French Open fourth round

American third seed Coco Gauff showed some second-set resilience in 6-2 6-4 victory over Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska on Friday to advance to the French Open fourth round and move a step closer to ending a three-year claycourt drought. The U.S. Open winner, who reached the final in Paris in 2022 and last won a title on the surface in 2021, was in solid form in the first set against surprise Australian Open semi-finalist Yastremska before struggling briefly in the second.

Tennis-Birthday girl Swiatek swats aside Bouzkova to reach French Open last 16

World number one Iga Swiatek celebrated her 23rd birthday in style with an emphatic 6-4 6-2 victory over Marie Bouzkova to move into the last 16 at the French Open on Friday. Swiatek survived a major scare in the previous round when she saved a match point against Naomi Osaka before sealing a hard-fought victory, but against Bouzkova she picked apart the Czech player's serve with some precision hitting.

Boxing-Winner of Hrgovic v Dubois could become IBF heavyweight champion

The winner of Saturday's heavyweight fight between IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois could become world champion if Oleksandr Usyk relinquishes the belt or is stripped by the sanctioning body. The BBC and talkSPORT reported on Friday that the contest had been "tentatively sanctioned" by the IBF to be for the interim heavyweight title.