Carlos Alcaraz has been making steady progress at Roland Garros and recently advanced to the tournament’s fourth round after defeating Damir Dzumhur in four sets. With this win, the Spanish sensation inches closer to matching a milestone previously set by the legendary Rafael Nadal at the French Open.
With his latest win, the four-time Grand Slam champion is now just four victories away from defending the Major he claimed last year. Alcaraz is seeking to become the first man to defend the French Open title successfully since Rafael Nadal achieved the feat in 2019-2020.
Nadal’s iconic run saw him win the 2019 edition by defeating Dominic Thiem in the final, and he followed it up with a triumph over Novak Djokovic in 2020 to capture his record 13th Roland Garros title.
Alcaraz faced a challenging test against the Bosnian Dzumhur, who caught the Spaniard off guard by taking the third set and putting him under pressure in the fourth. However, the 22-year-old rallied, overcoming an early service break to seal his place in the next round.
This victory marked another milestone for Alcaraz, who has now reached at least the fourth round in 11 of his last 12 Grand Slam appearances, with his only early exit coming at last year’s U.S. Open, where he lost in the second round to Botic van de Zandschulp.
Alcaraz reflects on his victory
Although Alcaraz dominated the opening two sets, Dzumhur raised his level in the third, taking the set and gaining momentum in the fourth with an early break. Alcaraz managed to regroup and power through for the win.
“I didn’t enjoy it too much,” Alcaraz admitted. “I suffered quite a lot, but I’m happy to have played a good match with Damir. That’s why it’s difficult to win Grand Slams because you have to maintain your focus over three or four hours”.
“The first two sets were under control, and then he decided to play deeper and more aggressively,” he continued. “My energy went down, and it was hard to push, but I had to give everything I had inside. I’m proud to get the win in the end“.
What’s next for Alcaraz?
The 22-year-old now heads to the Round of 16 at Roland Garros, securing his 21st win at the French Open—the most he’s achieved at any tournament, surpassing his 20 victories at Indian Wells. Up next, Alcaraz faces a tough challenge in World No.13 Ben Shelton on Sunday, June 1. The matchup promises to deliver an exciting showdown for tennis fans.