Arnav Paparkar’s dream ends with defeat in the third round of boys’ singles at the French Open

Arnav Paparkar’s promising run at the Roland Garros 2026 boys’ singles tournament ended in the third round, but it was only the young Indian who showed glimpses of real potential on one of the sport’s biggest junior stages.

The 18-year-old impressed at the start of the tournament with his balanced ground game and ability to compete under pressure, but in the round of 16 he faced a significant advance against fourth seed Jack Kennedy of the United States. On Court 11, Kennedy proved too strong at key moments, winning 7-5, 6-2 in a match that lasted 1 hour and 33 minutes.

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Paparkar struggled to establish a rhythm throughout the match as Jack Kennedy maintained constant pressure from the baseline and consistently targeted weaknesses in his serve and backhand. In the opening set, Paparkar showed brief resistance through some well-timed winners and extended rallies, but his overall game lacked consistency. A low first serve percentage in key service games repeatedly exposed him, allowing Kennedy to take control of the points early.

ARNAV PAPARKAR STRUGGLES UNDER PRESSURE

Paparkar’s unforced errors became a defining issue, especially at key moments like deuces and break point situations. Even after recovering from a 30-30 or advantage position, he often followed up with rushed or ill-timed shots that immediately shifted the momentum back to Kennedy. Extended rallies further highlighted his inconsistency, with shot selection crumbling under sustained pressure.

Although he managed to hold serve on several occasions, he was unable to build momentum or maintain pressure on his opponent, eventually dropping the first set 7–5.

In the second set, Kennedy turned up the intensity and quickly took advantage of Paparkar’s declining consistency. The Indian player’s serve again lacked reliability and his backhand errors increased significantly. Kennedy dominated the return games, converting breaks effectively and keeping Paparkar under constant pressure. Despite occasional delays, Paparkar was unable to recover as Kennedy closed out the set 6–2 to seal the straight-set win.

For Indian tennis, Paparkar’s performance in Paris is another encouraging sign at the junior level. While the result against Kennedy highlighted the gap that still exists at the top of the junior game, it also offered valuable experience against elite opposition in a Grand Slam setting.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

June 4, 2026 0:15 AM IST