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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\u2019s a set away from taking a set back against Djokovic \u2013 who, I think, is denied credit for his hairline on account of his 24 grand slam titles. I wonder which gives him greater joy.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another hold for Fonseca gives him 4-1 in the third, and he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Next on Lenglen: Casper Ruud (15) v Tommy Paul (24).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Svitolina is happy with how she played against a tricky opponent and pleased with her focus; she\u2019s really enjoying it. She tries to always bring the fight and consistency \u2013 Paris is almost like her home slam in a way \u2013 and in Ukraine it was the only tournament streamed, so she always dreamed of just playing in it, never mind all these great matches.<\/p>\n Asked to speak on French, she thanks people for their support \u2013 in English \u2013 saying it means so much, ending with a \u201cMerci beaucoup\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Elina Svitolina (7) beats Tamara Korpatsch 6-2 6-3<\/p>\n These days, these wins are routine for Svito, who meets Stearns or Bencic next.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Mensik is still running his last match out of his legs, down 0-4 \u2026 to a man dressed in a manner I\u2019ll show you as soon as I\u2019ve a full-length photo to do justice to the insipidity. In fairness to De Minaur, though, he\u2019s started like Christian Coleman.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019ve watched this week.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Naturellement, Djokovic raises another break point \u2026 extinguished with a service winner \u2026 then a lob catches him at net, his overhead is tame, and he\u2019s 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\u2019s beautiful to behold.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s attempted. Still, at deuce, he\u2019s still in with a chance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Yeah, Svito breaks back and holds for 6-2 2-2, as Fonseca agains gives it loads,Djokovic\u2019s 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 \u2026 and this time, Djokovic nets a backhand! What a moment for the youngster, who isn\u2019t out of this match yet; in the stands, his parents are up, and I can\u2019t for a second imagine what the feels like. As per the below, I\u2019m excited when my daughter successfully makes a salad dressing; Fonseca trails 0-2 but leads 2-0.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.55 EDT<\/p>\n Has Svitolina lost concentration? Not that I can talk, but after waltzing through the first set, she\u2019s now 0-2 down to Korpatsch in the second; on Court 14, De Jong leads Khachanov 7-5 3-2 on serve.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Next on Mathieu: Alex de Minaur (8) v Jakub Mensik (26).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n What a nice lad he seems, in total command of his intimidating talent. I\u2019m excited to see him again, and the pretenders are massing behind the big two \u2013 him, Fonseca and Kouame are going to give them all sorts over the next decade.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jodar is \u201csuper happy\u201d, saying it\u2019s a dream come true and he had to fight a lot \u2013 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\u2019s happy and proud, not so much of the win but of giving everything.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Finally, asked for something in French, he offers \u201cMerci\u201d and wishes PSG luck for tomorrow night\u2019s Champions League final.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Back on Chatrier, Djokovic is serving for set two, absorbing all that Fonseca chucks at him \u2013 and it\u2019s 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 \u2026 until a cameraman comes too close, the scolding immediate.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Rafael Jodar (27) beats Alex Michelsen 7-6(2) (5)6-7 4-6 6-3 6-3<\/p>\n 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\u2019t see him as a contender here, not yet, but he meets Carreno Busta next and you\u2019d back him to sort that one.<\/p>\n Spain’s Rafael Jodar celebrates winning. Photograph: St\u00e9phanie Lecocq\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.55 EDT<\/p>\n At 30-40, Jodar outlasts Michelsen in a sapping rally and, after four hours 15, he has match point\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Djokovic also holds for 5-3, having to strain but doing enough to keep Fonseca at arm\u2019s length; Svitolina secures the first set against Korpatsch, 6-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Djokovic, who seems to have creases ironed into his shorts \u2013 the Vauxhall Tigra would not be for him \u2013 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\u2019s a game away. Michelsen, though, competes like a madman, so there\u2019s plenty of work still to do.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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 \u2013 mad given this is his first five-setter \u2013 and there\u2019s something about him that reminds me of Juan Martin del Potro, I think the height and whipcrack forehand.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s still got too much for everyone on the tour bar the top two.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s still in the match, just about.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Down 30-40, Michelsen whacks a forehand and I think it\u2019s fractionally wide. The umpire comes for a look, up goes the finger, and Jodar leads 1-0 in the fifth. I\u2019m enjoying him a lot but, for what it\u2019s worth, I don\u2019t think he\u2019s ready to get by Zverev, his likely quarter-final opponent, should he make it there<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Fonseca holds well for 4-6 1-0 \u2013 and he also did a decent job in Licorice Pizza.<\/p>\n Photograph: Matthieu Mirville\/DPPI\/Shutterstock Photograph: Everett Collection Inc\/AlamyShare<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019m really interested to see how Fonesca does now he\u2019s sure he belongs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019t he do everything possible to force it, exploding into his groundstrokes until Djokovic nets. I don\u2019t think he can save the set from here, but that rally tells me he\u2019s starting to feel comfortable on court.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Receiving at 1-2 3-2 30-all, Jodar goes down the line with a backhand that\u2019s going wide \u2026 until it clips the net and lands in. He then hammers a forehand winner, with Michelsen caught at the net, and he\u2019s been very good in this set, the break fully earned. But can he consolidate?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n For those unfamiliar with the German, she\u2019s been in the news this week:<\/p>\n Allow Instagram content?<\/p>\n 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’.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.32 EDT<\/p>\n Next on Lenglen: Elina Svitolina (7) v Tamara Korpatsch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I meant to note earlier, Cirstea demolished Sierra 6-0 6-0 \u2013 ouch \u2013 and meets Wang, a qualifier, next. That means Khachanov and De Jong are under way, the Dutchman up 1-0.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Be careful what you wish for. Fonseca was desperate to know what it\u2019s 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\u2019s not quite ready to beat the best ever at a major \u2013 especially with Sinner and Alcaraz out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Teichmann speaks in French and no translation is forthcoming; in the absence of de toute fa\u00e7on j\u2019aime la sp\u00e9l\u00e9ologie or pour aller \u00e0 la gare, I\u2019m afraid I\u2019m unable to translate, but she\u2019s 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 \u2013 though one who didn\u2019t produce close to her best level. I\u2019ll be shocked if she beats Andreeva, but I\u2019d never have picked her to win today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Jil Teichmann beats Karol\u00edna Muchov\u00e1 (10) 6-1 7-5<\/p>\n Another loose backhand from Muchova and Teichman drops to her knees, laughing at the hilarity of it all. She\u2019s into round four, where she\u2019ll face Mirra Andreeva; she\u2019s come a long way.<\/p>\n Allow Instagram content?<\/p>\n 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’.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n From 30-0, Muchova closes to 30-all, but a backhand swiped wide has her hitting her racket, match-point down\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re away on Chatrier. Fonseca \u2013 who was desperate to be drawn against Djokovic and have playing the greatest in his life \u2013 saves a break point with a fine backhand down the line \u2026 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.<\/p>\n Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action against Brazil’s Joao Fonseca. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.28 EDT<\/p>\n Teichmann does indeed hold, but I think Muchova has it in her to stay even and not become discouraged, but from 40-0, she\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026and he does! He ought really to have gone down 2-0, but instead he\u2019s up 2-1; I doubt even the cap hair he reveals when changing his top can upset him.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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 \u2013 but can she hold for 5-5? Meantime, Michelsen is at 30-15 trying to serve out the third set against Jodar\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019ll feel like he\u2019s a great chance of winning one of the next two.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Next on Chatrier: Jo\u00e3o Fonseca (28) v Novak Djokovic (3).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Andreeva says that it\u2019s always difficult against Bouzkova \u2013 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.<\/p>\n She likes it when it\u2019s hot and the ball bounces more \u2013 she can give a good shape on it \u2013 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\u2019d have to win in adverse circumstances.<\/p>\n Otherwise, she\u2019s sure her coach, Conchita Martinez, will have notes, and they\u2019ll try to adapt her game to whoever the next opponent is.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Mirra Andreeva (8) beats Marie Bouzkova (27) 6-4 6-2<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I should also note that Michelsen and Jodar are wearing identical outfits, the latter having changed to a blue cap.<\/p>\n Photograph: Clive Brunskill\/Getty Images Photograph: Clive Brunskill\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n I can confirm that the aforementioned salad dressing stained the worktops. Happily, the aforementioned 12-year-old then coated them \u2013 the worktops, not the salad dressing \u2013 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\u2019s been broken thrice on the spin, trailing 3-0 in the third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Now then. Jodar leaves the court between sets, returns, and is broken. we\u2019ll see how he responds, but Coach Calv is high on him: \u201cHe\u2019s class. Huge hitter. Very composed for his age. He could go very deep here.\u201d<\/p>\n The composure is very apparent \u2013 he backs himself, and not in a foolish, youthful way, but because he trusts himself.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On Lenglen, it\u2019s going as we thought it might, Teichmann\u2019s streak expiring as Muchova improves to trail 1-6 2-0; Andreeva leads Bouzkova 6-4 2-0.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n My 12-year-old disturbs me to talk the salad dressing she\u2019s just made \u2013 yes, I have disowned her \u2013 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 \u2026 but he nets! Real talk, I don\u2019t 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\u2019s saluting his box having levelled the match at a set apiece.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Andreeva breaks Bouzkova immediately at the start of set two, and she\u2019s on the surge now; part of her development has been taking control of matches when she\u2019s in the ascendancy \u2013 the ability to up it when necessary \u2013 and that\u2019s what we\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n Mirra Andreeva fires off a forehand return to Marie Bouzkova. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.17 EDT<\/p>\n Michelsen is a gamer, making 30-all, then, when Jodar goes for his big second serve again, this time he misses \u2026 and a second double, the second serve of which is butchered, the ball never threatening to bounce in the box, means we\u2019re back on serve with a second breaker upon us.<\/p>\n