Second round singles action begins on Wednesday in Paris.
Day 4 features the No.2 and No.3 seeds from both the men’s and women’s singles draws: Alexander Zverev, Elena Rybakina, Novak Djokovic, and Iga Swiatek. Plus, a pair of 19-year-old standouts play their second round matches: Rafael Jodar and Joao Fonseca.
Here’s a rundown of the most notable matches on Day 4 (in chronological order, all times local):
Sara Bejlek vs. Iga Swiatek (3) – 12:00pm on Court Philippe-Chatrier
Swiatek has advanced to the second week of this tournament in all seven of her prior appearances. The four-time champ dropped just three games in her opening round. Bejlek is a 20-year-old Czech who defeated Sloane Stephens on Sunday, which was just her second win at a Major. She was a surprise finalist earlier this year in Abu Dhabi as a qualifier, but injuries to her back and abdominal have hampered her play the last few months.
Yuliia Starodubtseva vs. Elena Rybakina (2) – Second on Court Suzanne-Lenglen
In her opening round, Rybakina dropped just four games, in the start of her campaign to advance beyond the Roland Garros quarterfinals for the first time. Starodubtseva is a 26-year-old Ukrainian who also lost just four games in the last round, as she vies to reach the third round for a second year in a row, which would equal her best result at a Major.
Joao Fonseca (28) vs. Dino Prizmic – Third on Court 14
On Sunday, Fonseca won a rather rowdy contest against France’s Luka Pavlovic in straight sets. Prizmic is a 20-year-old Croatian who has won 26 matches this year at all levels, with 19 of those victories coming on clay. After winning a Challenger title on this surface, he upset Ben Shelton in Madrid, then upset Novak Djokovic in Rome. Dino plays a lot like Novak, who was his idol growing up.
This will be the first of likely many career meetings between two of the ATP’s most promising newcomers.
James Duckworth vs. Rafael Jodar (27) – Third on Court 7
Jodar comfortably won his opening round, with the loss of only five games. On the same day, Duckworth benefitted from a mid-match retirement via Gabriel Diallo. Before that match, the 34-year-old Australian was previously 1-8 lifetime at Roland Garros.
Valentin Royer vs. Novak Djokovic (3) – Third on Court Philippe-Chatrier
Djokovic came back from a set down on Sunday night against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. That was the recently-turned-39-year-old’s first match win in two-and-a-half-months, in only his third event since reaching the Australian Open final in January. Royer is another Frenchman, who is 0-2 in the second round of Majors.
Tomas Machac vs. Alexander Zverev (2) – Not Before 8:15 on Philippe-Chatrier
Both of these players won their first round matches in straights. This is a rematch from two years ago at the same venue, when Zverev defeated Machac 6-3, 7-5 during the Paris Olympics.
Wednesday’s full Order of Play is here.
