New Delhi: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open 2025 as he laboured past Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in Round 3’s night session held at Court Philippe-Chatrier on Friday. Before this, the second-seeded Spaniard had never played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old player who had never been past the third round at any Grand Slam tournament.
During the second round, Dzumhur had hurt his knee after taking a fall and had a treatment for it on Friday on his right leg. It all happened during the changeover at 3-2 down in the third set against Alcaraz. He lay down on the ground as the trainer worked him on both legs for several minutes. As the crowd on the court waited, they did a Mexican wave and shouted “Olé”.
As he stood back, he received cheers when he made an improbable smash despite losing the balance, again when he claimed the third set, and did it once more when he broke the Spaniard in the opening game of the fourth set.
“I suffered quite a lot today. The first two sets were under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me,” Alcaraz said post-match. His third-set loss in the game means the four-time major winner has dropped two sets so far.
Alcaraz rises late
A turnaround looked to be happening as Alcaraz made clumsy and unforced errors, hitting the routine winners long or forcing major shots on his usually accurate forehand. At one point in the fourth set, Alcaraz even gave a frustrated look down at the clay after he sent a booming forehand way out. But the four-time Grand Slam singles champion shot back in the sixth and eighth games to serve for the match.
Still, Dzumhur was resilient as his face got red with continuous efforts, and it glistened with sweat. The Bosnian broke back to drag the suspense a little longer. Alcaraz eventually claimed victory on his second match point as Dzumhur bowed out with a smile and a lot of applause. “That’s why it’s difficult to win Grand Slams because you have to maintain your focus over three or four hours. I didn’t enjoy it too much,” Alcaraz added.
Shelton waiting for Alcaraz
Alcaraz’s third-round win has set him a meeting with the USA’s Ben Shelton (world no. 13) for the fourth round. The 22-year-old American beat Italy’s Matteo Gigante 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in his third-round battle at Court Simonne-Mathieu on Friday. Alcaraz, also 22, already leads 2-0 in career matches against Shelton, but they have never faced each other on clay.
After his victory against Gigante, Shelton said, “Playing the defending champion, round of 16, I’m guessing center court, that’s a pretty cool opportunity, pretty cool experience.”
Carlos Alcaraz won his third round clash at the Roland-Garros against Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur on Friday, to move into Round 4 where he will now meet USA’s Ben Shelton. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
