Day five at Roland Garros was action-packed, with twenty-seven matches across sixteen courts. More rain further delayed play, but all the matches were squeezed in. Of course, the top-seeded players were the ones to benefit from the two covered courts. Novak Djokovic, Sascha Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev progressed comfortably, the latter only having to complete two sets as Kecmanovic retired with an injury. The day’s best matches went to the Scandinavians, as Holger Rune and Casper Ruud progressed through tough five-setters. There were also three retirements: Kecmanovic, as mentioned, Nishikori against Shelton and somewhat bizarrely, Arthur Rinderknech, who looked as though he injured his foot when kicking an advertising hoarding during the fourth set and was forced to retire against Etcheverry. You can see the full results below.
Day Five French Open 2024 Round of 64 Results
Winner – Loser – Scoreline
Novak Djokovic (1) – Roberto Carballes Baena – 6-4, 6-1, 6-2
Alexander Zverev (4) – David Goffin – 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-2
Daniil Medvedev (5) – Miomir Kecmanovic – 6-1, 5-0, Retired
Casper Ruud (7) – Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (32) – 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Hubert Hurkacz (8) – Brandon Nakashima – 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(5)
Grigor Dimitrov (10) – Fabian Marozsan – 6-0, 6-3, 6-4
Alex De Minaur (11) – Jaume Munar – 7-5, 6-1, 6-4
Taylor Fritz (12) – Dusan Lajovic – 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Holger Rune (13) – Flavio Cobolli – 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 3-6, 7-6(7)
Tommy Paul (14) – Fabio Fognini – 6-1, 6-0, 6-2
Ben Shelton (15) – Kei Nishikori – 7-6(7), 6-4 Retired
Jozef Kovalik – Karen Khachanov (18) – 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
Francisco Cerundolo (27) – Filip Misolic – 6-2, 7-6(2), 6-0
Sebastian Korda (28) – Soonwoo Kwon – 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Tomas Martin Etcheverry (29) – Arthur Rinderknech – 3-6, 6-7(8), 6-1, 5-0 Retired
Lorenzo Musetti (30) – Gael Monfils – 7-5, 6-1, 6-4
Jan-Lennard Struff – Alexander Bublik – 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
Denis Shapovalov – Frances Tiafoe – 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
Thanasi Kokkinakis – Giulio Zeppieri – 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-2
Tomas Machac – Mariano Navone – 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 1-6, 6-1
Corentin Moutet – Alexander Shevchenko – 6-4, 6-2, 0-6, 6-3
Matteo Arnaldi – Alexandre Muller – 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
Zizou Bergs – Maximilian Marterer – 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3
Felix Auger Aliassime (21) – Henri Squire – 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2
Tallon Griekspoor – Luciano Darderi – 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-3
Zhizhen Zhang – Lorenzo Sonego – 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4
Zverev Grooves Past Goffin
Alexander Zverev built on his impressive victory over Rafael Nadal with a dominant performance against David Goffin to move into the last 32 in Paris. The fourth seed, who defeated the 14-time champion Nadal in straight sets in the first round, continued his aggressive play against Goffin. After a close first set, he found another gear to progress in two hours and 22 minutes, committing just five unforced errors in the second and facing no break points in the third. Goffin, a regular fixture in the Top 20 a few years ago, has declined recently and couldn’t match Zverev’s intensity and power. Since the draw came out, the tennis world was only talking about that match [against Nadal]. He won the tournament 14 times, so he deserves all the credit and respect and all the acknowledgements he gets. So after I beat him, I felt that I had already won the tournament, but in the end, it was only the first round. You have to focus for another two weeks entirely, and I am happy I had another two days off as I had to compose myself emotionally. I had to ground myself and get back to work and play good tennis. I am extremely happy with the level today. Zverev on his wins over Nadal & Goffin.
Djokovic Dominates Carballes-Baena
After a middle-of-the-road performance in his opener, the jury was still out on Novak Djokovic, but he found a better level in his second-round match, defeating Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. Djokovic broke serve to close out a tightly contested first set and then dominated the second, quickly establishing a 4-0 lead. From there, it was relatively plain sailing, and while you can’t say he’s at his best, he’s bagged two straight-set wins and as Federer once said, you can’t win a slam in the first week, but you can definitely lose it. His return of serve was also much improved compared to the match against Herbert. He won 55 per cent of return points and broke serve seven times. I’m glad I came through the opening [two] rounds in straight sets. Again, at the beginning, in the first set, I was challenged. He was playing very well, aggressive from the start. It took me a little bit of time to start swinging through the ball a bit more loose. Crucial break to clinch the first set. After that, the second and third set really went my way. I was dictating play and doing things the right way. I have to be content, of course it can always be better, matches are only going to get tougher. It’s enjoyable to feel and play this way at a Grand Slam. I haven’t had too many wins coming into Roland Garros, so I have to lower my expectations, but of course, I believe in myself and my capabilities. I know what I am capable of doing. I’ve done it many times in my career. Going far in a Grand Slam has always been the goal… I look forward to what’s coming up. Djokovic on his wins so far.
Rune Clears Cobolli Hurdle
Holger Rune narrowly escaped a second-round upset, overcoming Italian Flavio Cobolli after squandering a two-set lead. The 13th seed battled to a 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 3-6, 7-6(10-7) victory in a thrilling match on Court 14. Cobolli hit back after dropping the first two sets and then created a 5-0 lead in the final set tiebreak, only to see Rune buckle down, winning eight of the last nine points from 2-6 down to secure his win after three hours and 50 minutes. The tie-breaker difference was Rune’s choice to make a couple of extra balls with ‘moonball’ type shots that drew errors from Cobolli and his ability to return the Italian’s second serve, notably the backhand return winner at 0/5. Cobolli. Cobolli will feel disappointed after establishing such a lead, and he also missed three break points at 4-4 in the fifth set but remains one to watch and will probably move well inside the Top 50. Rune now faces lucky loser Jozef Kovalik, who staged his comeback from two sets down to defeat 18th seed Karen Khachanov 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. I just switched my brain off a little bit and just tried to go for my shots. Then I got a great contact on one return at 5-0 and gained some confidence. Actually, all of a sudden, it came into my mind a match when Roger [Federer] played Tennys Sandgren at the Australian Open when he also won in a five-set match tiebreak. It was kind of in my mind. I don’t know how it appeared; it just did. Roger is always very relaxed when he’s playing. I told myself, ‘OK, let’s try to relax.’ Then I started to hit my shots better, had more freedom, and got back on track. Rune on the tie break.
Other Matches of Note
Medvedev Moves On: Daniil Medvedev reached the third round at Roland Garros on Thursday after Miomir Kecmanovic retired during their match. Medvedev was firmly in control, leading 6-1, 5-0 in under an hour on Court Suzanne Lenglen when Kecmanovic stopped playing.
Dimitrov Mauls Marozsan: Tenth seed Grigor Dimitrov made short work of Fabian Marozsan on Thursday, securing a straight-set 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 victory to reach the third round. His game style looked like kryptonite for the Hungarian, and he could not handle Grigor’s ball despite several rain delays.
Hurkacz Negates Nakashima: A weather-interrupted match saw Hubert Hurkacz defeat American Brandon Nakashima 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(5). Initially halted at 5-6 in the first set on Wednesday, the match resumed Thursday with Nakashima taking the first set in a tiebreak, but Hurkacz bounced back, dominating the second set and then, after a two-hour suspension at 5-5 in the fourth set, winning the fourth set tiebreak.
Shelton Sends Home Injured Nishikori: I doubted Nishikori would recover
