Paris: Alexander Zverev survived a big scare in an evening marathon at the French Open on Saturday, as more rain delays kept defending champion Novak Djokovic waiting in the Roland Garros locker room before a potential milestone.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka overcame Paula Badosa in a testing clash between best friends, while Russian-born Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva won plenty of new admirers after she kept the flag flying for her adopted country.
Zverev provided the drama on Court Philippe Chatrier as the German fourth seed was dragged into a battle by Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor before prevailing 3-6 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-6 (10-3). "I always struggle against him. I don't like to play against him but all the credit to him for taking it all the way," Zverev said after avoiding what would have been his earliest loss in Paris since a first-round exit in 2017. "Incredible player and fighter until the end. The atmosphere today was unbelievable. I loved every second of it."
With Grigor Dimitrov's match against Zizou Bergs shifted to the main showcourt, Djokovic had to twiddle his thumbs ahead of his clash with Lorenzo Musetti, where the Serbian will target a 369th Grand Slam match win to equal Roger Federer atop the all-time list.
Sabalenka and Badosa put their friendship on the back burner in their seventh career meeting, which promised to go the distance after a tight first set where breaks of serve flowed freely.
But Belarusian Sabalenka, bidding to become the first woman since Serena Williams nine years ago to win the Australian Open and Roland Garros titles in the same season, stepped up with power, precision and guile to seal a 7-5 6-1 win. "On court we're opponents, but off it we're friends," said Sabalenka. "I just saw her right now, walking from her meeting, and she seems to be pissed a little bit."
CROWD FAVOURITE
After Corentin Moutet gave French supporters a Friday night to savour with victory over Sebastian Ofner, new crowd favourite Gracheva lit up a soggy day with a 7-5 6-3 win over Irina-Camelia Begu.
The last Frenchwoman left in the women's draw was treated to a rousing rendition of the national anthem "La Marseillaise" and she joined the fans in celebration. "I'll remember this moment until the end of my life," said a beaming Gracheva, who received her French passport in 2023 after living in the country for more than five years. "It means that everyone accepts me, that I'm home here."
While Gracheva was centre of attention in the afternoon, fellow Moscow-born player Elena Rybakina continued to fly under the radar as the fourth seed cruised past Elise Mertens 6-4 6-2.
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, the 21st seed, closed out a 6-4 6-2 6-1 victory over American Ben Shelton under the Suzanne Lenglen roof, as persistent rain delayed action on the outer courts.
When play resumed, Alex De Minaur completed a 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-3 win over Jan-Lennard Struff to become the first Australian man into the fourth round at Roland Garros since Lleyton Hewitt in 2007. It was the end of the road for Melbourne Park women's runner-up Zheng Qinwen, however, after the seventh seed lost 3-6 6-3 7-6(6) to Russian Elina Avanesyan.
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev battled past Tomas Machac 7-6(4) 7-5 1-6 6-4 and his 17-year-old compatriot Mirra Andreeva continued to impress with a 6-2 6-1 win over Peyton Stearns.
Victory made Andreeva the youngest player to reach the last 16 in Grand Slams on each surface since Anna Kournikova in 1998.
