Title Tennis Star Alcaraz Exerts Effort to Advance in French Open Quarterfinals
In the evening session of the French Open on Friday, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz battled past Damir Dzumhur to advance to the fourth round. The contest ended in a four-set victory for the second-seeded Spanish player, 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, had never faced Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian, in competition before. Dzumhur, who had never progressed beyond the third round at any major tournament, suffered a fall earlier in the tournament that left him with a left knee injury. On Friday, he received on-court medical attention during the third set as he trailed 3-2.
Despite a seemingly comfortable start for Alcaraz, the match proved challenging. "I suffered quite a lot today," Alcaraz admitted. Dzumhur showed resilience, producing impressive shots even when off balance. The crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier offered support with a Mexican wave and shouts of "Olé" during the tense contest.
In the final stages of the match, Alcaraz seemed to struggle, committing unforced errors and appearing visibly frustrated. However, he managed to break back in the sixth and eighth games to close in on victory. Dzumhur valiantly fought back, but Alcaraz eventually clinched the win on his second match point.
The defending champion will face No. 13 Ben Shelton in the fourth round. While Alcaraz has beaten Shelton in both of their previous encounters without dropping a set, these meetings took place in 2024 rather than the current tournament. The two 22-year-old players have yet to meet on clay.
Shelton expressed excitement about the prospect of facing the defending champion on center court in the fourth round. "Playing the defending champion, round of 16, I'm guessing center court, that's a pretty cool opportunity, pretty cool experience," Shelton said.
In Toronto, news outlets reported on Shelton's comments, expressing excitement about his upcoming tennis match against Alcaraz. The court where the encounter will take place is anticipated to be bustling with sports fans, cheering for their favorite player. With the win against Dzumhur, Alcaraz showcased his resilience on the court, a trait that sports analysts believe will serve him well against Shelton.
