Paris – Roland-Garros heats up on Saturday, as another balmy day – temps around 85 – brings with it several scorching third-round matches. Here’s what we’ll be watching.
See the full order of play here
Fonseca mania vs Draper delirium
Men’s tennis fans might want to settle in to watch a matchup that could feature late in draws for the next decade or so. Joao Fonseca, the 18-year-old wunderkind that has entered the conversation like a tidal wave, against Jack Draper, a player who is approaching the peak of his powers and figures to be inside the Top-5 for many years to come.
They will play the third match on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
Draper shellacked Fonseca at Indian Wells, en route to his biggest title to date in March, but Fonseca is a clay warrior above all, and he’ll be excited to take another crack at the impervious Brit, who looks more and more like a future major champion with each passing match.
How special was Draper’s four-set win over Gael Monfils on Thursday night in Paris. The 23-year-old withstood all of the Frenchman’s punches and emphatically finished the match in four before the roof blew off Chatrier, while Fonseca was busy becoming the youngest male player in Roland-Garros history to make it through the first two rounds without dropping a single set.
The stage is set for an incredible affair. Bring it on.
Badosa looking primed
On the women’s side we turn our attention to Paula Badosa, who has been so resilient through two rounds in Paris, winning twice from a set down. Those two victories – especially her pulsating first-round win over Naomi Osaka – remind us that the Spaniard is a Top-10 player at the very least when she is pain-free. So far, so good this week – a third-round encounter with Australia’s Daria Kasatkina awaits, as the newly minted Australian meets Badosa for the seventh time, and second at a major.
They will meet first on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
Popcorn and more
We’ll be watching American Hailey Baptiste, who plays in the third round at a major for the first time against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Baptiste, who has Frances Tiafoe’s brother Franklin as part of her team, is playing at a career-high ranking and showing great tennis on the clay.
On the men’s side there are several epic tussles, including French favorite Arthur Fils against Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner vs Jiri Lehecka.
Then there is the 24-time Grand Slam champion riding a six-match winning streak into his third-round clash with Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic. Djokovic has yet to lose since turning 38. Djokovic made it clear that he'd rather be off early to watch Saturday night's Champions' League final between PSG and Milan Inter, but he drew the short stick and will play the night session.