Zverev sees off Nakashima as Djokovic and Nadal cruise at Roland Garros

Alexander Zverev progressed to the French Open fourth round for a fifth successive year after beating Brandon Nakashima in straight sets on Friday.

Zverev was given a scare by Sebastian Baez in the second round; the third seed forced to recover from two sets down to deny the Argentine.

However, he built on the momentum of that comeback against Roland Garros debutant Nakashima.

The German hit 18 aces on the way to a 7-6(2) 6-3 7-6(5) victory over the world number 75.

Next up for Zverev is world number 131 Bernabe Zapata Miralles, who added to his scalp of 13th seed Taylor Fritz by denying an American in John Isner to reach the last 16 at a Slam for the first time.

Meanwhile, 13-time champion Rafael Nadal won 87 per cent of his points on first serve as he made it nine sets without reply in a commanding 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory over Botic Van De Zandschlup.

The Spaniard will play Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round, where the ninth seed shall appear for the first time at Roland Garros after beating Filip Krajinovic in straight sets.

Reigning champion Novak Djokovic also made it nine consecutive sets after sweeping world number 195 Aljaz Bedene aside 6-3 6-3 6-2; setting up a clash with Diego Schwartzman after the 15th seed overcame Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 6-1 6-2.

Carlos Alcaraz secured his maiden last-16 appearance in the French capital with a straight-sets victory over Sebastian Korda. The sixth seed will face Karen Khachanov, who booked his place in round four for the fifth time in six years after denying Cam Norrie.

In the ladies’ draw, 18-year-old Coco Gauff made it six sets without reply as she overcame veteran Kaia Kanepi 6-3 6-4 to set up a last-16 clash with Elise Mertens.

Jil Teichmann is through to round four at a Slam for the first time after denying Victoria Azarenka in a tie-break. The Swiss’ reward is a date with 2018 runner-up Sloane Stephens, who ended the hopes of home favourite Diane Parry 6-2 6-3.

Leylah Fernandez became the first Canadian female player to reach the last 16 at Roland Garros in eight years after beating Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic 7-5 3-6 7-5.

The US Open runner-up will play Amanda Anisimova after the 2019 semi-finalist defeated Karolina Muchova, who was forced to retire through injury during the third set of their clash.

After defeating Emma Raducanu in round two, Aliaksandra Sasnovich put Angelique Kerber to the sword in straight sets for her maiden fourth-round appearance in the French capital.

Next up for her is Rabat champion Martina Trevisan, who became the first Italian woman to record eight successive victories since Francesca Schiavone (2017) after seeing off Daria Saville 6-3 6-4.

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French Open 2022 Day Six Results

Friday May 27

Third Round

COURT PHILIPPE-CHATRIER
Belinda BENCIC (SUI) [14] 5-7 6-3 5-7 Leylah FERNANDEZ (CAN) [17]
Novak DJOKOVIC (SER) [1] 6-3 6-3 6-2 Aljaz BEDENE (SLOV)
Sloane STEPHENS (USA) 6-2 6-3 Diane PARRY (FRA)
Sebastian KORDA (USA) [27] 4-6 4-6 2-6 Carlos ALCARAZ (ESP) [6]

COURT SUZANNE-LENGLEN
Amanda ANISIMOVA (USA) [27] 6-7(7) 6-2 3-0 Ret. Karolina MUCHOVA (CZE)
Coco GAUFF (USA) [18] 6-3 6-4 Kaia KANEPI (EST)
Botic VAN DE ZANDSCHLUP (NED) [26] 3-6 2-6 4-6 Rafael NADAL (ESP) [5]
Alexander ZVEREV (GER) [3] 7-6(2) 6-3 7-6(5) Brandon NAKASHIMA (USA)

COURT SIMONE-MATHIEU
Grigor DIMITROV (BUL) [18] 3-6 1-6 2-6 Diego SCHWARTZMAN (ARG) [15]
Angelique KERBER (GER) [21] 4-6 6-7(5) Aliaksandra SASNOVICH
Victoria AZARENKA [15] 6-4 5-7 6-7(6) Jil TEICHMANN (SUI) [23]
Cam NORRIE (GBR) [10] 2-6 5-7 7-5 4-6 Karen KHACHANOV [21]

COURT 7
Varvara GRACHEVA 2-6 3-6 Elise MERTENS (BEL) [31]
John ISNER (USA) [23] 4-6 6-3 4-6 7-6(5) 3-6 Bernabe ZAPATA MIRALLES (ESP)

COURT 14
Martina TREVISAN (ITA) 6-3 6-4 Daria SAVILLE (AUS)
Felix AUGER-ALIASSIME (CAN) [9] 7-6(3) 7-6(2) 7-5 Filip KRAJINOVIC (SRB)