Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Back on 14, Khachanov has levelled against De Jong, two 7-5 sets going in opposite directions while, on Chatrier, another hold for Fonseca means he’s a set away from taking a set back against Djokovic – who, I think, is denied credit for his hairline on account of his 24 grand slam titles. I wonder which gives him greater joy.
Another hold for Fonseca gives him 4-1 in the third, and he’s really comfy out there now, inasmuch as anyone ever can be against the freak of nature stood opposite. Djokovic also holds to lead 6-4 6-4 4-2, while De Minaur has bagelled Mensik in their first set.
Next on Lenglen: Casper Ruud (15) v Tommy Paul (24).
Svitolina is happy with how she played against a tricky opponent and pleased with her focus; she’s really enjoying it. She tries to always bring the fight and consistency – Paris is almost like her home slam in a way – and in Ukraine it was the only tournament streamed, so she always dreamed of just playing in it, never mind all these great matches.
Asked to speak on French, she thanks people for their support – in English – saying it means so much, ending with a “Merci beaucoup”.
ShareElina Svitolina (7) beats Tamara Korpatsch 6-2 6-3
These days, these wins are routine for Svito, who meets Stearns or Bencic next.
Mensik is still running his last match out of his legs, down 0-4 … to a man dressed in a manner I’ll show you as soon as I’ve a full-length photo to do justice to the insipidity. In fairness to De Minaur, though, he’s started like Christian Coleman.
So Djokovic leads 6-4 6-4 0-3 and this match is maturing into a jazzer, the standard now probably the highest of any match I’ve watched this week.
Naturellement, Djokovic raises another break point … extinguished with a service winner … then a lob catches him at net, his overhead is tame, and he’s duly passed. Fonseca is being made to work for everything, and a drop so well disguised, Transfer would be proud, restores deuce. No matter: the Brazilian pushes through, outlasting The Goat in another wonderful rally to secure his consolidation, noising up the crowd en route back to his seat. Win or lose, this is everything he dreamed of, trading shots with the man in front of a jumping arena, and it’s beautiful to behold.
De Minaur and Mensik are under way, the latter having come through a fifth-set match tiebreak to get rid of Mariano Navone in the last round. Demon is the last person you want to play if your legs are heavy, and he breaks first up; meantime, Svitolina has righter herself, now up 6-2 4-2 on Korpatsch, and on Chatrier, Djokovic plays a brilliant break-back point, only to net one of the easier shots he’s attempted. Still, at deuce, he’s still in with a chance.
Yeah, Svito breaks back and holds for 6-2 2-2, as Fonseca agains gives it loads,Djokovic’s first service game of set three now up at around six minutes. And solid hitting from the back raises advantage for Fonseca, his third break point of the match, none taken so far … and this time, Djokovic nets a backhand! What a moment for the youngster, who isn’t out of this match yet; in the stands, his parents are up, and I can’t for a second imagine what the feels like. As per the below, I’m excited when my daughter successfully makes a salad dressing; Fonseca trails 0-2 but leads 2-0.
Updated at 11.55 EDT
Has Svitolina lost concentration? Not that I can talk, but after waltzing through the first set, she’s now 0-2 down to Korpatsch in the second; on Court 14, De Jong leads Khachanov 7-5 3-2 on serve.
Next on Mathieu: Alex de Minaur (8) v Jakub Mensik (26).
What a nice lad he seems, in total command of his intimidating talent. I’m excited to see him again, and the pretenders are massing behind the big two – him, Fonseca and Kouame are going to give them all sorts over the next decade.
Jodar is “super happy”, saying it’s a dream come true and he had to fight a lot – Michelsen, who was very generous at the end, competed well. He also thanks the crowd for their support, and says the main thing in this match was trying to be mentally there, fighting until the last point, and he’s happy and proud, not so much of the win but of giving everything.
In a slam, you have to play for longer, so you have to breathe well, try to recover in the changeovers, and not use a lot of energy during the match with celebrations; he felt the energy of the crowd during the whole match.
Finally, asked for something in French, he offers “Merci” and wishes PSG luck for tomorrow night’s Champions League final.
Back on Chatrier, Djokovic is serving for set two, absorbing all that Fonseca chucks at him – and it’s a lot. At 30-15, they hit from the back then, when the youngster ups the pace, Djokovic digs one out, then races in to punish a backhand winner cross-court. and from there, he serves out to lead 6-4 6-4, the good vibes consuming … until a cameraman comes too close, the scolding immediate.
ShareRafael Jodar (27) beats Alex Michelsen 7-6(2) (5)6-7 4-6 6-3 6-3
Rafael Jodar is proper. The ability to up his level, as he did in set four, is special, so too his power, especially off that fearsome backhand. I don’t see him as a contender here, not yet, but he meets Carreno Busta next and you’d back him to sort that one.
Spain’s Rafael Jodar celebrates winning. Photograph: Stéphanie Lecocq/ReutersShare
Updated at 11.55 EDT
At 30-40, Jodar outlasts Michelsen in a sapping rally and, after four hours 15, he has match point…
Djokovic also holds for 5-3, having to strain but doing enough to keep Fonseca at arm’s length; Svitolina secures the first set against Korpatsch, 6-2.
Djokovic, who seems to have creases ironed into his shorts – the Vauxhall Tigra would not be for him – saves break-back point as Jodar cracks a sensational backhand winner, inside-out to break the sideline, and at 5-3 in the fifth, he’s a game away. Michelsen, though, competes like a madman, so there’s plenty of work still to do.
On Lenglen, Svitolina is serving for the set, up 5-2 on Korpatsch, while on Mathieu, Jodar has break point, another coruscating backhand doing the job. He still looks really fresh – mad given this is his first five-setter – and there’s something about him that reminds me of Juan Martin del Potro, I think the height and whipcrack forehand.
On 14, De Jong has taken the first set off Khachanov 7-5; on Chatrier, Djokovic has broken Fonseca, his consolidation giving him a 4-2 lead in the second. He’s still got too much for everyone on the tour bar the top two.
Amazing conduct from Michelsen, who sprints in to flick back a drop from just in front of the net, then charges back to retrieve a lob, then hares back to net to put away a stop-volley. And he parlays that buzz into two break points, drills a return on to the tootsies, and somehow, the injured man is back in a match that was almost gone just two games ago! What a contest this is, now level at 3-3 in the fifth as the clock ticks over the four-hour mark.
Jodar has a helluva backhand, a belter on the stretch and down the line putting Michelsen under pressure on serve. But he saves double-break point, secures his hold, and at 3-2 down in the fifth, with a break, he’s still in the match, just about.
It’s a proper contest on Chatrier now, Fonseca up 2-1 in set two but Djokovic serving at 30-15, and what a point he wins. The Brazilian ought really to finish it before it gets incredible, but he lays a drop, then loses the incredible net-exchange that follows, Djokovic stretching to save himself, saluting the crowd before securing his hold for 6-4 2-2.
Down 30-40, Michelsen whacks a forehand and I think it’s fractionally wide. The umpire comes for a look, up goes the finger, and Jodar leads 1-0 in the fifth. I’m enjoying him a lot but, for what it’s worth, I don’t think he’s ready to get by Zverev, his likely quarter-final opponent, should he make it there
Fonseca holds well for 4-6 1-0 – and he also did a decent job in Licorice Pizza.
Photograph: Matthieu Mirville/DPPI/Shutterstock Photograph: Everett Collection Inc/AlamyShare
Both Djokovic and Jodar do the necessary, the former taking further treatment and the latter semi-shoving a ballgirl out of the road in the process of leaving court while gesticulating to his box. Jodar has to be a strong favourite to close out the match from here, but I’m really interested to see how Fonesca does now he’s sure he belongs.
Both Michelsen and Fonseca hold, forcing Jodar and Djokovic respectively to serve out their first and fourth sets; on Lenglen, Svitolina breaks Korpatsch then consolidates for 2-0 in the first.
But before we can continue, Michelsen summons the trainer to look at his back, which diverts my attention to Fonseca, who has a point to claw back a break. And doesn’t he do everything possible to force it, exploding into his groundstrokes until Djokovic nets. I don’t think he can save the set from here, but that rally tells me he’s starting to feel comfortable on court.
He has to fight to and through deuce to get there, but Fonseca holds for 5-2, forcing Djokovic to serve for the first set; Jodar does endorse the break, so also leads 5-2, a game away from forcing the decider we deserve.
Receiving at 1-2 3-2 30-all, Jodar goes down the line with a backhand that’s going wide … until it clips the net and lands in. He then hammers a forehand winner, with Michelsen caught at the net, and he’s been very good in this set, the break fully earned. But can he consolidate?
For those unfamiliar with the German, she’s been in the news this week:
Allow Instagram content?
This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.
Updated at 10.32 EDT
Next on Lenglen: Elina Svitolina (7) v Tamara Korpatsch.
I meant to note earlier, Cirstea demolished Sierra 6-0 6-0 – ouch – and meets Wang, a qualifier, next. That means Khachanov and De Jong are under way, the Dutchman up 1-0.
Be careful what you wish for. Fonseca was desperate to know what it’s like to play Djokovic and now hew does, down 4-1 and two breaks. He does, though, have time to settle into the match, but needing five sets to beat Prizmic suggests he’s not quite ready to beat the best ever at a major – especially with Sinner and Alcaraz out.
Teichmann speaks in French and no translation is forthcoming; in the absence of de toute façon j’aime la spéléologie or pour aller à la gare, I’m afraid I’m unable to translate, but she’s dead happy and rightly so. For a set, she played pretty much ass well as she can, then when her streak cooled, stayed calm as pressure rose, retrieving two breaks to beat a superb opponent – though one who didn’t produce close to her best level. I’ll be shocked if she beats Andreeva, but I’d never have picked her to win today.
ShareJil Teichmann beats Karolína Muchová (10) 6-1 7-5
Another loose backhand from Muchova and Teichman drops to her knees, laughing at the hilarity of it all. She’s into round four, where she’ll face Mirra Andreeva; she’s come a long way.
Allow Instagram content?
This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.
From 30-0, Muchova closes to 30-all, but a backhand swiped wide has her hitting her racket, match-point down…
We’re away on Chatrier. Fonseca – who was desperate to be drawn against Djokovic and have playing the greatest in his life – saves a break point with a fine backhand down the line … but there are two of them and he cedes the second, as consecutive unforced errors from Muchova donate Teichmann what might be the decisive break. At 6-1 6-5, the Swiss will now serve for the match.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action against Brazil’s Joao Fonseca. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/ReutersShare
Updated at 10.28 EDT
Teichmann does indeed hold, but I think Muchova has it in her to stay even and not become discouraged, but from 40-0, she’s suddenly under pressure at 40-30, a couple of errors upping the pressure. And a forehand into the net means deuce; might the match be here?
…and he does! He ought really to have gone down 2-0, but instead he’s up 2-1; I doubt even the cap hair he reveals when changing his top can upset him.
Teichmann sticks Muchova on the bike, as you would against someone with a leg situation, dancing a little jig when a drop brings her 0-30. And though, at 15-40, she goes long, an inside-out backhand on to the sideline seals the break-back – but can she hold for 5-5? Meantime, Michelsen is at 30-15 trying to serve out the third set against Jodar…
Teichmann holds, so Muchova must serve for a decider at 1-6 5-3; Michelsen holds against Jodar for 1-1 5-3, and if he can close out the set, he’ll feel like he’s a great chance of winning one of the next two.
Cirstea leads Sierra, who beat Paolini in round two, 6-0 3-0; Muchova takes a medical timeout to address an issue with her right leg, having had one of her breaks taken back, Teichmann leadig her 6-1 2-5, and off we go again.
Next on Chatrier: João Fonseca (28) v Novak Djokovic (3).
Andreeva says that it’s always difficult against Bouzkova – you really have to work the points to win them. She was happy to win the first set despite not playing that well, and happy she was aggressive throughout the match.
She likes it when it’s hot and the ball bounces more – she can give a good shape on it – but when she asked Rublev to finish his last match quickly so she could get the conditions she wanted, he said no, he was going to take it slowly, presumably so she’d have to win in adverse circumstances.
Otherwise, she’s sure her coach, Conchita Martinez, will have notes, and they’ll try to adapt her game to whoever the next opponent is.
ShareMirra Andreeva (8) beats Marie Bouzkova (27) 6-4 6-2
Andreeva is getting to that point where her basic level of performance is good enough to beat almost everyone; next for her comes Teichmann or Muchova.
Andreeva breaks Bouzkova again and at 6-4 5-2 is serving for the match; Jodar retrieves a break to trail Michelsen 3-1 in the third; and Muchova is all over Teichmann now at 1-6 5-1, a second break telling us that class is overriding form.
I should also note that Michelsen and Jodar are wearing identical outfits, the latter having changed to a blue cap.
Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesShare
I can confirm that the aforementioned salad dressing stained the worktops. Happily, the aforementioned 12-year-old then coated them – the worktops, not the salad dressing – in Cif, so that is now all over my hands. Anyhow, Jodar directs a backhand down the line but just wide, and suddenly, from serving for a 2-0 lead, he’s been broken thrice on the spin, trailing 3-0 in the third.
It takes him a while, but Michelsen endorses his break for 1-1 2-0, as Muchova preserves hers by holding from 0-40 down. She leads 4-1 in the second having lost the first 6-1, and on Chatrier, Andreeva is nearly there, leading Bouzkova 6-4 4-2.
Now then. Jodar leaves the court between sets, returns, and is broken. we’ll see how he responds, but Coach Calv is high on him: “He’s class. Huge hitter. Very composed for his age. He could go very deep here.”
The composure is very apparent – he backs himself, and not in a foolish, youthful way, but because he trusts himself.
On Lenglen, it’s going as we thought it might, Teichmann’s streak expiring as Muchova improves to trail 1-6 2-0; Andreeva leads Bouzkova 6-4 2-0.
My 12-year-old disturbs me to talk the salad dressing she’s just made – yes, I have disowned her – and Michelsen makes 6-4, but a big serve from Jodar amps up the pressure at 6-5. And brutal hitting from the Spaniard opens the opportunity to finish the rally with a mid-court forehand … but he nets! Real talk, I don’t think losing this set will affect the outcome, because Michelsen needs that kind of error to win and I doubt he gets enough of them, but for now, he’s saluting his box having levelled the match at a set apiece.
Andreeva breaks Bouzkova immediately at the start of set two, and she’s on the surge now; part of her development has been taking control of matches when she’s in the ascendancy – the ability to up it when necessary – and that’s what we’re seeing here. Elsewhere, Muchova is made to fight for it, but she holds at the start of set two to trail Teichmann 1-6 1-0, while Michelsen has the mini-break against Jodar, up 4-3.
Mirra Andreeva fires off a forehand return to Marie Bouzkova. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/ReutersShare
Updated at 09.17 EDT
Michelsen is a gamer, making 30-all, then, when Jodar goes for his big second serve again, this time he misses … and a second double, the second serve of which is butchered, the ball never threatening to bounce in the box, means we’re back on serve with a second breaker upon us.
Yeah, Rafael Jodar is forrreal. Michelsen facilitates him with a pair of unforced errors but then, up 30-40, he races way out of court on the backhand side and smites a winner down the line and at the ankles to secure a break. He’ll now serve for the second set and a 2-0 lead at 7-6 6-5.
Updated at 09.02 EDT