Defending champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the French Open on Wednesday and Alexander Zverev returned after two sets to save match points, but Maria Sakari became the fifth female top-10 seed to be eliminated.
Djokovic worked comfortably against a player coached by his longtime former coach Marian Vajda, beating Slovakia’s Alex Molcan, the world number one, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4). The person who inspired the most of his 20 Grand Slam titles.
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“It was a real pleasure to play on the court Suzanne Lenglen. I don’t have much chance to play here.
“I could feel the support. It was tough today with lots of wind blowing in different directions.
“So I had to stay focused and have patience.”
The top seed will continue his bid for a third Roland Garros crown against Slovenia’s Aljaz Baden in the last 32.
Third seed and 2021 semifinalist Zverev bounced back from the brink to avoid a major defeat in three years against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez.
Zverev defeated Bez 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 after three hours and 36 minutes. He will play American Brandon Nakashima for a place in the last 16.
“There’s not much you can do, you just have to find a way,” said Zverev, who defended a match point in the final set, serving at 4-5.
“The greats – Roger (Federer), Rafa (Nadal), Djokovic – always find a way out in the most difficult moments.”
This was the third comeback in Zverev’s career by a margin of two sets. He was 2-0 behind his fellow German Oscar Otte at Roland Garros a year ago and reached the last four.
However, Greek fourth seed Sakkari crashed out after losing 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4) to Czech world number 81 Karolina Muchova.
Sakkari was one point away from reaching the final at Roland Garros last year.
Their defeat left the women’s draw without four of the top six as they chased defending champions Barbora Krejcikova, Annette Kontaveit and Ons Jabeur through the exit.
Muchova will next face 27th seed Amanda Anisimova, who made it to the last four in Paris three years ago.
“It’s very special, he’s an amazing player. It was a big fight, a little test and challenge for me and I’m glad I took it the way I did,” Muchova said.
– Nadal, Alcaraz in action –
Former Grand Slam champions Angelique Kerber and Victoria Azarenka also reached the third round.
Kerber, who won her first clay title in six years on the eve of the French Open, beat French wildcard and 2020 junior champion Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) as she seeks the only Grand Slam missing from her . collection.
The German 21st seed will now take on Belarus’s Aliaksandra Sasnovi, who defeated US Open champion Emma Radukanu 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.
“I think last week was really important for me to win the title,” former number one Kerber said of his Strasbourg win.
“I was very confident. It feels good to be back here and I hope I can still play a few more matches.
Two-time Australian Open winner Azarenka defeated 2014 Roland Garros semifinalist Andrea Petkovic 6-1, 7-6 (7/3). She meets Swiss 23rd seed Jill Teichmann for a spot in the fourth round.
Chasing a 14th French Open title, Rafael Nadal will face French wildcard Corentin Moutet in the evening session. Moutet knocked out 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in the first round.
Nadal started the year with a winning run of 20 matches, capturing a second Australian Open title, claiming a record 21st Grand Slam and surpassing Djokovic and Roger Federer.
The 35-year-old has a record 106 wins at the French Open and just three losses since his 2005 title win, but he is without a title on clay this season after dealing with rib and leg injuries.
Carlos Alcaraz, 19, is attempting to become just the eighth teenager to capture a major men’s title, and has been widely tipped to break Djokovic and Nadal’s hold.
Alcarz, the tour’s leading player with a season-leading four titles in 2022, faces fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas for a place in the last 32
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