French Open 2024 Day 3 Recap

Day three on the French Open noticed Novak Djokovic kick off his title defence bid with a straight-sets win over Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the course of the night time session on Court docket Philippe-Chatrier.

Additionally in motion was final yr’s runner-up, Casper Ruud, who began impressively in opposition to qualifier Meligeni Alves. Given the openness of the draw, he’ll have excessive expectations, particularly after his Barcelona and Geneva titles.

Alex de Minaur additionally laid down a marker with a demolition job in opposition to Alex Michelsen. The Aussie hasn’t made it previous the second spherical in Paris, however he’s certainly one of this season’s kind gamers and has dropped simply three video games.

You’ll be able to see all the outcomes from day three beneath, which concludes the opening spherical in Paris.

Day Three French Open 2024 Spherical of 128 Outcomes

Ruud Routines Meligeni Alves

On Tuesday, Casper Ruud kicked off his Roland Garros marketing campaign with a routine 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win over Brazilian Felipe Meligeni Alves.

Ruud has taken residence the runners-up trophy in Paris two years in a row, and he appears to be a robust contender to go one higher this yr. He has captured a tour-leading 36 wins this season, together with titles in Barcelona and Geneva.

Heading in, I didn’t see the Brazilian qualifier posing too many issues, and that’s the way it panned out. Ruud was too stable, profitable 80 per cent behind his first serve and going through only one break level within the one-hour, 55-minute match.

I feel it was a fairly regular degree throughout, from the start to the top. Clearly a bit nervous coming in, primarily based on the 2 earlier years right here. Undoubtedly plenty of factors at stake and plenty of issues I wish to obtain right here. A bit nervous, however I’m very proud of immediately’s win. Ruud on his win.

Djokovic Pips Pierre-Hugues Herbert

Novak Djokovic continues to be looking for his finest tennis, however he’s by to the second spherical at Roland Garros, overcoming a spirited problem from the house favorite Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-4.

Heading in, I believed Herbert would battle to select up greater than 6 or 7 video games, however he performed above his station, utilizing his spinny serves and contact play to check Djokovic, significantly within the second set.

Nevertheless, the world No. 1 held agency in the course of the essential second set tie-break, utilizing a drop shot-volley combo to achieve a 3-0 lead and ultimately securing the set as Herbert’s baseline recreation faltered.

Djokovic additionally remained stable on serve, profitable 84 per cent of first-serve factors and 73 per cent of second-serve factors. And solely confronted one break level, which, though Herbert transformed, wasn’t match-critical.

Whereas Herbert is a little bit of a pillow puncher at this degree (this was his first Grand Slam singles match since 2021), he’s a difficult opponent as he’ll serve & volley and has nice hand expertise, which stored Djokovic off steadiness for big elements of the match.

He additionally has a little bit of a singular model of serving supply, hitting with a ton of spin, and Novak struggled to get his return recreation going; he seemed to be stretched and never well-balanced, in order that might be one thing to regulate as Carballes-Baena is a stable clay courter in spherical 2.

Different Matches of Notice

De Minaur Destroys Michelsen: The Australian crushed World No. 60 Alex Michaelsen 6-1, 6-0, 6-2 in simply an hour and 48 minutes, and he appears a surefire guess to document his finest efficiency in Paris.

Fritz Flips Coria: Taylor Fritz superior to the second spherical, becoming a member of 5 different People, defeating Federico Coria 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. The twelfth seed showcased spectacular baseline hitting, securing the win in two hours and 28 minutes on Court docket 9.

Flavio Cobolli Maintains Kind: Flavio Cobolli is within the second spherical of Roland Garros for the primary time in his profession. After a formidable run in Geneva culminating in a semi-final loss to Casper Ruud, the Italian defeated Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic, the 2023 Subsequent Gen Finals champion, in 4 units. He awaits a second-round match in opposition to Holger Rune, who beat Dan Evans.

French Open 2024 Day 4 Spherical of 64 Matches