PARIS/WASHINGTON, May 28, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
With a featured French Open second-round match on Court Philippe-Chatrier Wednesday evening, Alexander Zverev checked off a number of personal milestones following his 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Tomas Machac.
The World No. 3 from Germany took care of the 43rd-ranked Czech in one hour and 48 minutes, in which he dropped just seven points on his first serve and fired 19 aces. Zverev advanced to the third round at Roland-Garros for the 10th time – fourth-most among active players – and his 40 match wins places him behind Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka and ties him for third with Gael Monfils among active players.
The victory was also the 550th at tour-level for Zverev, which is fifth-most among active players. In addition, Zverev is the first man born since 1990 to achieve the feat as well as the third German man in the Open Era to reach the milestone following Boris Becker (713) and Tommy Haas (569).
Too solid, too strong 👊@AlexZverev powers past Machac in straight sets at Roland-Garros 🔥
Next up: Quentin Halys ⚔️🎾 pic.twitter.com/824DSzYuje
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2026
Zverev won 85 percent (40 of 47) of his first-serve points, struck 45 winners to 17 unforced errors, converted five of 11 break points and outpointed Machac 94-60 in their second career meeting. Next, he will face No. 90 Quentin Halys of France.
“I thought we both played really, really good. Tomas played really, really good, and unfortunately the injury stopped the match flow a little bit,” Zverev said during his on-court interview, noting Machac requiring a medical time out to take care of an injured left ankle.
“I’m happy to finish it in three sets,” Zverev added. “As a player, it’s always difficult when an opponent is injured. You still have a job to do, you still have to win the match, but I hope for Tomas that it is not too serious.”
Classy words from Sascha to his opponent tonight, Tomas 👏#RolandGarros @AlexZverev pic.twitter.com/ORJhCPgpJy
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2026
Late Wednesday:
Fonseca rallies past Prizmic, Djokovic next
In a battle of bright #NextGenATP stars, 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca battled past 20-year-old Dino Prizmic of Croatia, coming from down two-sets-to-none to pull out a 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 victory in three hours and 27 minutes on Court 14 Wednesday evening to advance to the third round at Roland-Garros. It was also his 50th tour-level victory.
For the 28th-seeded Fonseca, who won the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals title, it means he will face 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic in the third round on Friday. The three-time French Open champion from Serbia, who is seeded third, needed four sets to get past No. 74 Valentin Royer of France, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-3, on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the Wednesday afternoon session.
After securing match point, Fonseca’s face was filled with emotion. He became the first Brazilian since Thomaz Bellucci in 2010 and 2011 to reach the third round at Roland-Garros.
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“I just stepped on court thinking it was going to be a tough, tough battle,” Fonseca said during his post-match news conference. “I know his potential. He just won against Novak. He can be very solid. He has every groundstroke. He plays good on the surface.
“Playing against those guys for me, I mean, I just to try think as any other player. Of course, sometimes, it comes [with] a little bit of pressure and thinking, but I mean, I just think I’m going to play with those guys for, I don’t know, 10, 15 years.”
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Both Fonseca and the 72nd-ranked Prizmic put up big numbers: 42 winners and 38 unforced errors for Fonseca; 51 winners – including 13 aces – and 44 unforced errors for Prizmic. Fonseca converted six of seven break points and saved four of six break points. Fonseca outpointed Prizmic 140-115.
Fonseca said he looks for to the challenge of facing the 39-year-old Djokovic, who has won the French Open three times.
“There’s always a first time, so I just need to focus on what I need to do and not what he’s doing and what he’s capable of and what is his age,” Fonseca said. “I think that’s what I try to do well and what I did as well.”
“Playing Novak is a big pleasure” 🔥🎾
Joao Fonseca sets up a dream clash with Novak Djokovic in the Roland-Garros third round 🇧🇷🤝🇷🇸 pic.twitter.com/DsbDZQU5AY
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2026
Ruud still standing, beats Medjedovic
Two days after nearly being knocked out of the first round by 141st-ranked Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin, No. 15 seed Casper Ruud of Norway looked fully recovered during his 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 second-round victory of No. 58 Hamad Medjedovic of Serbia in an hour and 48 minutes on Court Suzanne-Lenglen Wednesday evening.
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“I was close to going home already,” Ruud said during his on-court interview. “But I’m still here.
“I had time to recover after a couple of days ago. I felt good on the court, and I feel after the first round I have nothing to lose. … Getting past that first round sometimes can be the key to having a good tournament.”
Ruud to R3 🔜#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/WrankQTxIP
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2026
Rudd hit 31 winners – 13 of them were aces – and converted four of nine break points. Despite surrendering 38 winners to Medjedovic, he took advantage of 40 unforced errors by the Serbian and outpointed him 100-79.
Next, Rudd will face No. 24 seed Tommy Paul of the United States, who advanced over No. 70 Lorenzo Sonego of Italy, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, in two hours and eight minutes on Court 7.
Wednesday’s Roland-Garros results
Thursday’s Roland-Garros order of play
By the numbers
Joao Fonseca became just the third teenager this century to come from two sets down to win a five-set match at the French Open, joining Roger Federer (2001) and Thanasi Kokkinakis (2015).
“Quotable …”
“Sometimes, it’s not only about the technique, or the powerful shots, or the consistency, but it’s also about the good maturity. … I think I’m just going to enjoy it.
“I mean, being in Roland-Garros, third round, for me it’s just a dream. I’m going to enjoy every moment playing against an idol, the GOAT of the sport.”
– No. 28 seed Joao Fonseca, 19, of Brazil, during his post-match news conference Wednesday evening, after advancing to the third round against World No. 4 and third seed Novak Djokovic.
