Carlos Alcaraz ranked third worldwide, edged past Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong in a gripping four-set match to advance to the third round of the French Open.
Alcaraz, a semi-finalist at last year’s Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion, claimed a 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 victory on Court Phillipe Chatrier. Facing de Jong, ranked 176th and in his second Grand Slam main draw, Alcaraz overcame five breaks of serve and 47 unforced errors to secure the win.
Alcaraz will next compete against Sebastian Korda, the 27th seed from the U.S., or South Korea’s Kwon Soon-woo, who will also be vying for a spot in the last 16.
“Every player poses a challenge,” Alcaraz remarked. He emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and peak performance in every round, regardless of the opponent’s ranking. He recognized de Jong’s potential to break into the top 100 due to his skill and determination.
The match began with Alcaraz breaking serve three times despite an early setback where he was broken. He then delivered a decisive blow in the second set after de Jong fended off eight break points.
However, Alcaraz’s performance dipped in the third set amid an arm injury concern, resulting in 15 unforced errors. He regained momentum in the fourth set, overcoming early breaks and closing the match with four consecutive game wins.
