Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, No. 3 Novak Djokovic and No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas made quick work of their opponents to advance into the third round of the French Open in Paris on Wednesday.
Alcaraz lost just one set to Japan’s Taro Daniel in an otherwise dominant 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory in second-round action at Roland Garros.
Djokovic topped Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 7-6 (2), 6-0, 6-3, and Tsitsipas ousted Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Alcaraz hit 47 winners overall compared to just 11 for Daniel but 12 unforced errors in the second set extended the top seed’s day a bit. He won the match in two hours, 25 minutes.
“Taro was playing great. He is a really tough player and this year he has won matches against great players,” Alcaraz said. “The conditions were tough and it was really, really tough, but you have to adjust your game as best as you can. I was really focused on every shot. I played a great level and happy with the win.”
Djokovic converted eight of 12 break chances while Fucsovics could cash in on only three of his 12 opportunities.
Tsitsipas, meanwhile, reached the third round of the French Open for the fifth consecutive year while looking for his first grand slam title. Tsitsipas laced six aces and won 77 percent of his first serves in the win.
“I like the bounces and the way the ball (moves) when it is sunny like this,” Tsitsipas said afterward. “There were a few instances this year where it rained a little bit and did not suit me as much, but I really enjoy sunny days like this.”
Andrey Rublev, seeded seventh, took out France’s Corentin Moutet 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, while fellow Russian Karen Khachanov, the 11th seed, made quick work of Radu Albot of Moldova 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. No. 13 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland defeated Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (13), 7-6 (5), 6-4 in a marathon lasting nearly five hours.
No. 14 Cameron Norrie of Great Britain cruised past Frenchman Lucas Pouille 6-1, 6-3, 6-3. No. 26 Denis Shapovalov of Canada ousted Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Shapovalov gets Alcaraz in the third round.
In early action, Sebastian Korda was the only seeded player to fall. The 24th-seeded Korda fell to Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-4.
Other winners included Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, Italians Lorenzo Sonego and Fabio Fognini, and Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, who will play Tsitsipas in the third round.
–Field Level Media
