Roland-Garros: Alcaraz pushed, but through in four over Dzumhur

The Spaniard was in full control for two-and-a-half sets before Dzumhur fought back

Carlos Alcaraz Roland-Garros 2025 © Julien Nouet / Tennis Majors
Roland Garros •Third round • Completed
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Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the second seed, edged out Bosnian Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the last 16 of Roland-Garros at Roland-Garros in Paris on Friday evening.

For two-and-a-half sets, Alcaraz was in full control of his third round match against No 69 Dzumhur. The title favourite played effortless, relaxed tennis, reeling off winners – including one 172 km/h forehand – to come within three games of booking his place in the second week.

When Dzumhur took a medical timeout partway through the third set, the question was more whether Alcaraz would prevail by retirement or straight-sets victory.

MTO sparks Dzumhur comeback

And then, his opponent flicked a switched. Following his injury treatment, Dzumhur adopted a much more aggressive style of play, hugging the baseline and out-Alcaraz-ing Alcaraz.

Suddenly, the match was pushed to a fourth set, and Dzumhur was up an early break.

This was not the typical Alcaraz dropped set early in a Grand Slam – it was less about the Spaniard going off the boil, and more about Dzumhur raising his own level.

Thursday in Paris saw a raft of two-sets-to-love comebacks – was Dzumhur going to extend that trend into Friday?

The Bosnian came painstakingly close, acquitting himself brilliantly. For more than an hour, he went toe-to-toe with the world’s best, consistently firing winners, sticking dropshots and finessing his way in front of an enthralled Philippe-Chatrier crowd.

Normality eventually resumed, with Alcaraz gritting his way back into the fourth and closing it out when he earned break points on Dzumhur’s serve in the 10th game.

Alcaraz: “I didn’t enjoy”

Afterwards, the world No 2 was remarkably candid about his time under the Parisian lights on Friday:

“Honestly, today I didn’t enjoy that much,” he said. “I suffer quite a lot today.”

“This is why doing a really good result in Grand Slams is so difficult.

“Today the first two sets I was in control. Playing great, feeling great. Then I think he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. For me I think I got down on my energy, it was really difficult to push myself. I had to fight, give everything I have inside.

“But I’m just proud to get the win at the end.”

Alcaraz will face American Ben Shelton, the No 13 seed, next.

In the previous rounds of the Roland-Garros 2025, the 22-year-old Spaniard won against Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri (6-3, 6-4, 6-2) and Hungarian Fabian Marozsan (6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2).

Dzumhur, ranked No 69, edged out Argentinian lucky loser Thiago Agustin Tirante (3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5) and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, the No 31 seed (7-6 (4), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4) earlier in the tournament.

Paris (Grand Slam), other third-round results (Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 56.352.000, most recent results first):

  • Filip Misolic vs. Novak Djokovic
  • Cameron Norrie vs. Jacob Fearnley
  • Joao Fonseca vs. Jack Draper
  • Andrey Rublev vs. Arthur Fils
  • Alexander Bublik vs. Henrique Rocha
  • Alexander Zverev vs. Flavio Cobolli
  • Jannik Sinner vs. Jiri Lehecka
  • Tallon Griekspoor vs. Ethan Quinn
  • Frances Tiafoe (15) beat Sebastian Korda (23): 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-4
  • Ben Shelton beat Matteo Gigante (Q): 6-3, 6-3, 6-4
  • Daniel Altmaier beat Hamad Medjedovic: 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
  • Holger Rune (10) beat Quentin Halys: 4-6, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2
  • Alexei Popyrin (25) beat Nuno Borges: 6-4, 7-6 (11), 7-6 (5)
  • Tommy Paul (12) beat Karen Khachanov (24): 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3
  • Lorenzo Musetti (8) beat Mariano Navone: 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2

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