Frances Tiafoe, who also reached the fourth round on Saturday, was one of the first players to congratulate Svajda.
“He went through some emotional stuff and obviously today was his dad’s birthday and he got it done. He’s a great player and a great person,” Tiafoe said. “That’s massive, just super happy for him.”
Zvajda has done remarkably well in 2026, dealing with grief as he blossoms on the court, achieving success that brings him closer to his father.
He made his top-100 debut in February after winning a Challenger title in his hometown.
Though he has hardly any clay-court experience, he has used his new-found confidence to gain success on the terre battue. Svajda entered this year’s draw with one career win at ATP level on clay, and he’s already quadrupled that by reaching the round of 16.
“I’m taking it all in for sure, but I know I can even go further if I believe in myself and play well,” the San Diego native said. “I’m just trying to stay present – day by day.”
What would his dad tell him if he were in Paris?
“Every time I step on the court, just enjoy it, and just believe in yourself, knowing that I can beat anyone on any given day, so I thought about that today on court – it’s incredible,” he said, eager to dive into the intense emotions that are swirling around him.