Zverev survives scare as Nadal racks up 300th win at French Open

Alexander Zverev produced an inspired turnaround from two sets down to defeat Sebastian Baez and reach the French Open third round on Wednesday.

The third seed was in danger of an early exit at Roland Garros, where 21-year-old debutant Baez made an inspired start on Chatrier.

The world number 36, who claimed his maiden ATP title at the Estoril Open last month, rose to the occasion by taking the opening two sets 6-2 6-4.

Zverev overturned such a deficit on two previous occasions in his career; doing so against Oscar Otte in round one of last year’s event, and Pablo Carreno Busta in the 2019 US Open semi-finals.

The German responded in dominant fashion as he dropped just three games to force a fifth set, which he shaded to prevail a 2-6 4-6 6-1 6-2 7-5 winner, and has now won eight of his nine matches in the French capital to have gone five.

Diego Schwartzman also recovered from two sets down; the 15th seed beating Jaume Munar 2-6 6-7(3) 6-2 6-2 6-2.

Meanwhile, sixth seed Carlos Alcaraz survived a scare to overcome compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1 6-7(7) 5-7 7-6(2) 6-4 in a mammoth clash that lasted four hours and 34 minutes.

There were no such problems for 13-time winner Rafael Nadal, who racked up the 300th Grand Slam victory of his career after putting Corentin Moutet to the sword 6-3 6-1 6-4.

Reigning champion Novak Djokovic also prevailed in straight sets against Alex Molcan, as did Felix Auger-Aliassime and Cam Norrie against Camilo Ugo Carabelli and Jason Kubler respectively.

Over in the Ladies’ draw, world number three Maria Sakkari – a semi-finalist at Roland Garros 12 months ago – was stunned 7-6(5) 7-6(4) by Karolina Muchova, who maintained her 100 per cent record against top-three opponents (four wins from four).

US Open champion Emma Raducanu also fell in the second round; going down 3-6 6-1 6-1 as an inspired Aliaksandra Sasnovich advanced to the last 32 in the French capital for the first time.

Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic beat Bianca Andreescu 6-2 6-4 and three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber overcame Elsa Jacquemot 6-1 7-6(2), while Victoria Azarenka was also a straight-sets winner against Andrea Petkovic.

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French Open 2022 Day Three Results

Wednesday May 25

Second Round

COURT PHILIPPE-CHATRIER
Angelique KERBER (GER) [21] 6-1 7-6(2) Elsa JACQUEMOT (FRA)
Alexander ZVEREV (GER) [3] 2-6 4-6 6-1 6-2 7-5 Sebastian BAEZ (ARG)
Belinda BENCIC (SUI) [14] 6-2 6-4 Bianca ANDREESCU (CAN)
Corentin MOUTET (FRA) 3-6 1-6 4-6 Rafael NADAL (ESP) [5]

COURT SUZANNE-LENGLEN
Aliaksandra SASNOVICH 3-6 6-1 6-1 Emma RADUCANU (GBR) [12]
Karolina MUCHOVA (CZE) 7-6(5) 7-6(4) Maria SAKKARI (GRE) [4]
Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB) [1] 6-2 6-3 7-6(4) Alex MOLCAN (SVK)
Sebastian KORDA (USA) [27] 7-6(5) 6-3 6-3 Richard GASQUET (FRA)

COURT SIMONNE-MATHIEU
John ISNER (USA) [23] 6-4 6-4 3-6 7-6(5) Gregoire BARRERE (FRA)
Coco GAUFF (USA) [18] 6-1 7-6(4) Alison VAN UYTVANCK (BEL)
Albert RAMOS-VINOLAS (ESP) 1-6 7-6(7) 7-5 6-7(2) 4-6 Carlos ALCARAZ (ESP) [6]
Camila OSORIO (COL) 3-6 3-6 Diane PARRY (FRA)

COURT 6
Olga DANILOVIC (SRB) 4-6 1-6 Jil TEICHMANN (SUI)[23]
Cameron NORRIE (GBR)[10] 6-3 6-4 6-3 Jason KUBLER (AUS)
Katerina SINIAKOVA (CZE) 3-6 2-6 Leylah FERNANDEZ (CAN)[17]
Botic VAN DE ZANDSCHULP (NED)[26] 6-4 7-6(2) 3-2 Ret. Fabio FOGNINI (ITA)

COURT 7
Felix AUGER-ALIASSIME (CAN)[9] 6-0 6-3 6-4 Camilo UGO CARABELLI (ARG)
Amanda ANISIMOVA (USA)[27] 6-4 6-1 Donna VEKIC (CRO)
Jaume MUNAR (ESP) 6-2 7-6(3) 2-6 2-6 2-6 Diego SCHWARTZMAN (ARG)[15]
Daria SAVILLE (AUS) 6-4 6-2 Petra KVITOVA (CZE)[32]

COURT 9
Aljaz BEDENE (SLO) 4-6 6-4 7-6(5) 6-4 Pablo CUEVAS (URU)
Alja TOMLJANOVIC (AUS) 4-6 7-6(5) 5-7 Varvara GRACHEVA

COURT 12
Borna GOJO (CRO) 6-7(5) 2-6 7-5 1-6 Filip KRAJINOVIC (SRB)
Marie BOUZKOVA (CZE) w/d-w/o Elise MERTENS (BEL)[31]

COURT 13
Hugo DELLIEN (BOL) 6-4 4-6 6-7(1) 3-6 Karen KHACHANOV[21]
Beatriz HADDAD MAIA (BRA) 4-6 4-6 Kaia KANEPI (EST)
Brandon NAKASHIMA (USA) 7-6(6) 6-4 6-2 Tallon GRIEKSPOOR (NED)
Magda LINETTE (POL) 3-6 2-6 Martina TREVISAN (ITA)

COURT 14
Victoria AZARENKA [15] 6-1 7-6(3) Andrea PETKOVIC (GER)
Bernabe ZAPATA MIRALLES (ESP) 3-6 6-2 6-2 6-3 Taylor FRITZ (USA)[13]
Sorana CIRSTEA (ROU)[26] 6-3 2-6 0-6 Sloane STEPHENS (USA)
Grigor DIMITROV (BUL)[18] 6-0 6-4 6-3 Borna CORIC (CRO)