French Open: Round-up men – Djokovic passes the test, Alcaraz marches through – sport


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While the Serb has to fight hard in the 3rd round of the French Open, the world number 1 masters his hurdle with ease.


The top 10 players

  • Novak Djokovic (SRB/ATP 3) sees Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP/ATP 34) 7: 6 (7: 4), 7: 6 (7: 5), 6: 2
  • Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/ATP 1) s. Denis Shapovalov (CAN/ATP 32) 6: 1, 6: 4, 6: 2
  • Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/ATP 5) see Diego Schwartzman (ARG/ATP 95) 6: 2, 6: 2, 6: 3
  • Andrei Rublev (RUS/ATP 7) and Lorenzo Sonego (ITA/ATP 48) 7: 5, 6: 0, 3: 6, 6: 7 (5: 7), 3: 6

Novak Djokovic passed the first real endurance test at the French Open. The Serb prevailed in an intense third round match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina from Spain after 3:36 hours in 3 sets. The 22-time Grand Slam winner was not entirely without negative overtones. After he had also won the second set in the short decision after a full 2:47 hours, he burst into exuberant cheering, which the audience on Court Philippe-Chatrier acknowledged with a whistle-concert. Even when the Serb then took a “medical time-out”, there were whistles. Djokovic responded with mocking applause.

As a result, Davidovich Fokina did not find his way back into the game. The 23-year-old had previously demanded everything from Djokovic with his variable game and many stop balls. In the first set he led twice with a break and was also ahead 4:1 in the tie-break. In the second round he made it 2:0, but also gave up this lead. Djokovic has to deal with Juan Pablo Varillas (PER/ATP 94) in the round of 16, who knocked out Hubert Hurkacz Hubert (POL/ATP 14).

Carlos Alcaráz did not show any weakness against Denis Shapovalov. The 20-year-old Spanish top favorite was already leading 5-0 after 25 minutes and secured the first set 6-1. Shapovalov seemed capable of a reaction in the second set. He made breaks to make it 2-0 and 3-1, but Alcaraz hit back. After the 1:4 he recorded a total of 7 games in a row and finally broke the resistance of the 4 year older Canadian. Next up to try his hand at Alcaraz is Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti (ATP 18).

Diego Schwartzman was for Stefanos Tsitsipas no gauge. The Greek dominated the game against the Argentine at will, conceding just a single break in just over 2 hours. He broke Schwartzman’s serve 6 times himself. Tsitsipas has a good chance of reaching the quarterfinals for the third time in Roland Garros. His opponent in the round of 16 is a qualifier with Sebastian Ofner (AUT/ATP 118).

In his 5th Roland Garros participation Andrei Rublev have to give up already in the 3rd round. The quarter-finalist from 2020 and 2022 against Lorenzo Sonego seemed well on the way to an easy three-set victory. But after the 2:0 set lead and a 6:0 in the 2nd round, not much worked for the Russians. Sonego made the perfect turn after 3:42 hours of play. Before the 25-year-old Rublew, his compatriot Daniil Medvedev, the Italian Jannik Sinner and the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime had already been eliminated from the first 10 players on the seed list at the French Open.

Legend:

Nothing but trouble

Andrei Rublev has already been eliminated from the French Open.

imago images/Panoramic

Wawrinka conqueror Kokkinakis outside

Sonego’s next opponent is another Russian: Karen Chatschanow only with difficulty prevented a 5th set against Wawrinka conqueror Thanasi Kokkinakis (ATP 108). The eleventh in the world rankings had won the first two sets against the Australian wildcard holder 6: 4, 6: 1. But then Kokkinakis, who had previously looked battered, turned up and secured round 3. In the 4th set, the Australian had a set ball, but Khachanov saved himself in the tie-breaker. There the favorite fell behind with 1: 4, before after 3:42 hours he brought the 6: 4, 6: 1, 3: 6, 7: 6 (7: 5) victory to dry land.

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