The round of 16 begins on Sunday in Paris.
On Friday, in what felt like a changing-of-the-guard moment, Joao Fonseca came back from two-sets-down to defeat Novak Djokovic, which guarantees we will crown a new Major champion in men’s singles. But who will that man be? And how will Fonseca rebound after the biggest win of his career, as well as the longest match the 19-year-old has ever played? On Sunday, he faces two-time runner-up Casper Ruud, who also survived a long five-setter on Friday.
Other men’s singles title contenders in action on Sunday include the highest seed remaining, Alexander Zverev, and another 19-year-old coming off a five-setter in the last round, Rafael Jodar.
Women’s singles on Day 8 also provides a few marquee matchups. Four-time champion Iga Swiatek plays recent Madrid champion Marta Kostyuk, and recent Rome champion Elina Svitolina takes on Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic.
Here’s a rundown of the most notable matches on Day 8 (in chronological order, all times local):
Marta Kostyuk (15) vs. Iga Swiatek (3) – 12:00pm on Court Philippe-Chatrier
Swiatek has not lost a set, and she’s now reached the second week in all eight of her Roland Garros appearances. Kostyuk came back from a set down in the second round, but otherwise has advanced comfortably. And she actually owns a much better winning percentage this season than Swiatek. However, Iga has claimed all their of their previous meetings in straights, and has averaged only two games lost per set against Marta.
Rafael Jodar (27) vs. Pablo Carreno Busta – Second on Court Suzanne-Lenglen
Jodar came back from two-sets-to-one down on Friday against Alex Michelsen, to achieve his first appearance in the second week of a Major. Carreno Busta is a two-time quarterfinalist in Paris, as well as a two-time semifinalist in New York, but this is his first time into the second week of a Major since 2022, as injuries have derailed the 34-year-old’s career. He’s dropped only one set through three rounds, which includes a straight-set upset over 12th-seeded Jiri Lehecka. This clash between two different generations of Spaniards is a first-time encounter.
Elina Svitolina (7) vs. Belinda Bencic (11) – Second on Court Philippe-Chatrier
It’s the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist versus the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist. Svitolina has recovered nicely after being pushed to a third-set tiebreak in the first round, winning her last four sets by scores of 6-0, 6-4, 6-2, and 6-3. The Rome champ is now on a nine-match winning streak, as she vies for her sixth career Roland Garros quarterfinal. Bencic is yet to drop a set, and this is surprisingly her best-ever result at Roland Garros.
Svitolina leads their head-to-head 4-2, and has won their last four matches, including earlier this season in Dubai.
Jesper de Jong (LL) vs. Alexander Zverev (2) – Not Before 3:30pm on Court Philippe-Chatrier
Zverev has lost one set on the way to his ninth consecutive appearance in the second week of Roland Garros. And the German is 7-1 in the fourth round of this event. As per OptaAce, de Jong is just the third lucky loser to reach the Roland Garros round of 16 in men’s singles during the Open Era. After ending Stan Wawrinka’s Roland Garros career in the first round, the 25-year-old Dutch upset Karen Khachanov in the last round. Zverev is 2-0 against de Jong, which includes a four-set victory a year ago at this same tournament.
Jakub Mensik (26) vs. Andrey Rublev (11) – Last on Court Suzanne-Lenglen
Rublev has dropped two sets thus far, as he looks to achieve his first Major quarterfinal in nearly two-and-a-half years, as he’s failed to return to that round after dropping to 0-10 in Major quarterfinals. In the second round, Mensik just barely outlasted Mariano Navone in a fifth-set tiebreak, falling to the court in a full-body cramp following match point. He came back on Friday to defeat the No.6 seed, Alex de Minaur, in four sets, despite losing the first set 6-0. This equals Mensik’s best Major result to date, after first reaching this round this past January in Melbourne.
Mensik has taken both previous meetings with Rublev, with both taking place back in 2024 on hard courts.
Casper Ruud (15) vs. Joao Fonseca (28) – Not Before 8:15pm on Court Philippe-Chatrier
Both of these men have already endured a pair of grueling five-setters. Ruud suffered from the heat during his first round, yet managed to beat Roman Safiullin in five. And on Friday night, he stormed back from two-sets-down to eliminate Tommy Paul. Fonseca has now staged comebacks from two-sets-down in two consecutive matches: the aforementioned match of the tournament against Djokovic, and a second-round contest against fellow 19-year-old Dino Prizmic. This is Fonseca’s first time into the second week of a Major.
These two men who thrive on clay courts have never played before. Ruud’s serving has vastly improved of late, which propelled his comeback in the last round. But Fonseca’s forehand will be the biggest shot on the court.
Sunday’s full Order of Play is here.
