French Open Highlights: Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic clinched straight set wins in the third round at the French Open 2023 on Friday, 3rd June 2023. Alcaraz defeated Denis Shapovalov. Novak Djokovic meanwhile sailed past Davidovich Fokina with a 7-6, 7-6, 6-2 win . Elise Mertens clinched an upset win as she defeated Jessica Pegula in straight sets. Second seed Aryna Sabalenka meanwhile sailed past Kamilla Rakhimova in straight sets. Follow French Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Men’s Singles
Novak Djokovic BEAT Alejandro Davidovich Fokina – 7-6, 7-6, 6-2
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Diego Schwartzman – IN PROGRESS
Carlos Alcaraz vs Denis Shapovalov – 11.45 PM
Women’s Singles
Aryna Sabalenka BEAT Kamilla Rakhimova – 6-2, 6-2
Jessica Pegula LOST TO Elise Mertens – 1-6, 3-6
Novak Djokovic vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Novak Djokovic’s French Open campaign has so far been smooth sailing. The third seed clinched straight set wins against Aleksander Kovacevic and Marton Fucsovics in the first two rounds. He next faces a test as his opponent in the third round will be Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
The Spaniard is the 29th seed. He began his campaign with a four set win against Arthur Fils. He bettered the show as he dominated in the second round against Luca van Assche and sealed a straight set win.
When both the players met recently at the Monte Carlo Masters last year, Fokina defeated the Serbiab in straight sets. He will look to repeat a similar performance in the upcoming contest.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Diego Schwartzman
Stefanos Tsitsipas was challenged in the first round by Jiri Vesely. The Greek dropped a set and had to clinch a victory by sealing the fourth set in a tie-breaker and advanced to the second round. In the second round, he came back with a straight set win against Roberto Carballes Baena. The fifth seed next faces Diego Schwartzman.
Schwartzman began his campaign by clinching a five-setter against 32nd seed Zapatta Miralles. Schwartzman lost the first two sets in the contest. In the second round, Schwartzman was at his best as he brushed aside Nuno Borges in straight sets.
Tsitsipas leads the head-to-head record 4-2 against the Argentine. They last met at the Laver Cup last year and Tsitsipas sealed a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 victory.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Denis Shapovalov
Carlos Alcaraz will be in action at Court Philippe Chatrier late in the night. The top seed will face 26th seed Denis Shapovalov for a spot in the pre-quarterfinal.
Alcaraz began his campaign with dominating 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 win against Flavio Cobolli. In the second round he faced Japan’s Taro Daniel and dropped a set before clinching a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Denis Shapovalov was pushed in the first set as he had to play a five-setter to defeat Brandon Nakashima. In the second round he met Matteo Arnaldi and dropped a set before clinching a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win. He will be facing Alcaraz for the first time in his career.
Women’s Singles
Aryna Sabalenka vs Kamilla Rakhimova
Aryna Sabalenka has been at her dominating best in the tournament so far. She sailed past Marta Kostyuk with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the first round. In the second round, she defeated Iryna Shymanovich 7-5, 6-2. She next faces unseeded Kamilla Rakhimova.
21-year old Rakhimova will be in action in her first-ever third round contest at the French Open. The Russian defeated Sara Bejlek 6-0, 6-3 in the first round. She went on to clinch her maiden victory in the second round in the tournament by sailing past Magdalena Frech in straight sets. She now faces a big challenge against the second seeded Sabalenka, who enters the contest as the favourite.
Jessica Pegula vs Elise Mertens
Third seed Jessica made it to the third round after receiving a walkover from Camilia Giorgi, who retired from the contest due to an injury. Pegula is now eyeing her career’s second fourth round berth in the clay court major. The American began her campaign with a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Danielle Collins.
28th seed Elise Mertens clinched straight set wins in both her matches so far. She defeated Viktoria Hruncakova and Maria Osorio Serrano in straight sets in the first two rounds.
French Open Highlights: Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic clinch straight set wins, Jessica Pegula bows out from 3rd round
Editors pick
