(Photos: Zverev by si. robi, CC BY-SA 2.0; Jodar by Tensionado, CC0; Mensik by Hameltion, CC BY-SA 4.0; Fonseca by Hameltion, CC BY-SA 4.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.)
The Round of 16 at this year’s Roland Garros continues to write incredible stories! If we thought we had seen all the surprises, today proved us wrong. The young hopes of world tennis continue to take down the favorites, and we also witnessed a fantastic comeback in the Spanish derby.
Sensation of the Day: Mensik Eliminates Rublev!
The biggest shock of the day is definitely the exit of the sixth seed, Andrey Rublev. His executioner was the super-talented Czech Jakub Mensik.
Mensik opened the match brilliantly and took a 2-0 lead in sets. It seemed the Russian was on his knees, but Rublev showed character, won the next two sets (6-4, 6-2), and forced a deciding fifth set. However, when experience was expected to prevail, the young Czech maintained incredible composure, got the break, and won 6-3 in the fifth set, achieving one of the biggest victories of his career.
Jodar Survives Spanish Derby, Zverev Secure
The Spanish duel between young Rafael Jodar and the experienced Pablo Carreno-Busta brought real drama. Carreno-Busta dominated at the beginning and routinely took the first two sets (6-4, 6-4). However, Jodar refused to surrender. He found unreal energy, took control of the match, and made a spectacular comeback. He won the last three sets with a score of 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, proving he is an absolute hit of this tournament!
Unlike Rublev and Carreno-Busta, Alexander Zverev allowed no surprises. The German played a very secure match against the Dutchman Jesper De Jong. Although the first set was decided in a tie-break, Zverev dominated the rest of the way, sweeping the match 3-0 (7-6, 6-4, 6-1).
Fonseca Unstoppable: Ruud Falls Too!
The fairytale continues! The Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca, who shocked Novak Djokovic in the previous round, claimed another major scalp today. His victim was the Norwegian clay-court specialist, Casper Ruud.
The young Brazilian played in a trance, taking the first two sets (7-5, 7-6). Ruud managed to regroup and get back into the match by winning the third set (7-5), but Fonseca showed amazing maturity. He stepped on the gas in the fourth set, finishing the job with a convincing 6-2 to secure his spot in the quarterfinals (final score 3-1).
Round of 16 Results (Final)
Table of completed Round of 16 matches:
| Winner | Loser | Result (Sets) | Detailed Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mensik J. (CZE) | Rublev A. | 3-2 | 6-3, 7-6(8), 4-6, 2-6, 6-3 |
| Zverev A. (GER) | De Jong J. (NED) | 3-0 | 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1 |
| Jodar R. (ESP) | Carreno-Busta P. (ESP) | 3-2 | 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 |
| Fonseca J. (BRA) | Ruud C. (NOR) | 3-1 | 7-5, 7-6(10), 5-7, 6-2 |
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