Carlos Alcaraz of Spain performs a forehand in opposition to Jesper De Jong of the Netherlands within the Males’s Singles second spherical match throughout Day 4 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on Might 29, 2024 in Paris, France.
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Photographs
Carlos Alcaraz’s forehand was giving him a tough time on the French Open. So was the 176th-ranked qualifier throughout the web. After ceding the third set and trailing by a break within the fourth, Alcaraz wanted to get in gear — and he did, taking the final 5 video games to beat Jesper de Jong 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 Wednesday within the second spherical.
Heavy rain from early within the day brought about the postponement of 23 singles matches, so Alcaraz was fortunate to get the prospect to compete, and advance, below the retractable roof at Court docket Philippe Chatrier.
Nonetheless, he couldn’t fairly shake de Jong, a 23-year-old from the Netherlands with a flashy recreation who was collaborating in simply his second Grand Slam major draw. Alcaraz, a former No. 1 who’s seeded No. 3, has received two main championships and continues to be simply 21.
However Alcaraz has been coping with a bothersome proper arm that restricted his preparation for Roland Garros and, he stated, made him afraid to hit his massive forehand with full power. He has been carrying a white sleeve on that forearm and did so once more Wednesday; maybe it helped issues, though he ended up with 26 unforced errors on the forehand aspect, greater than half of his 47 whole miscues.
So whereas he often takes delight in being an entertainer, and never simply an athlete, he wanted to recalibrate {that a} bit.
“I noticed that I have to overlook about placing on a present. … It was troublesome for me immediately,” Alcaraz stated. “I used to be in hassle slightly bit, however actually completely happy to do it on the finish.”
Solely, nonetheless, after de Jong turned the lowest-ranked man to win a set in opposition to Alcaraz at a serious event, then broke to go forward 2-1 within the fourth. Alcaraz wouldn’t drop a recreation the remainder of the best way within the 3-hour, 9-minute match.
“I choose to not spend not an excessive amount of time on the court docket,” stated Alcaraz, who eliminated his arm sleeve and donned a black windbreaker as de Jong exited towards the locker room to a standing ovation. “However each match is totally different.”
Showers halted play on the surface courts after about 45 minutes at the start of the day. Solely Chatrier and Court docket Suzanne Lenglen will be lined, so matches at solely these two locations had been in a position to proceed.
The winners included Sofia Kenin, the champion on the Australian Open in 2020 and runner-up on the French Open later that 12 months; and a pair of two-time main finalists, Ons Jabeur and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Jabeur superior to the third spherical by defeating Camila Osorio 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, and Tsitsipas moved on with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4 victory over Daniel Altmaier.
Kenin arrived on the French Open with only a 4-13 file this season and now’s into the third spherical at Roland Garros after eliminating Twenty first-seeded Caroline Garcia of France 6-3, 6-3.
“Her recreation annihilates my sturdy factors. She takes the ball early. She modifies instructions. She returns fairly effectively,” Garcia stated. “That really makes her troublesome to outplay.”
Kenin is a 25-year-old primarily based in Florida whose profession was knocked off monitor by a collection of well being points. She’s now at No. 56 within the rankings after as soon as being as excessive as No. 4, and he or she hadn’t even participated within the French Open since 2021.
“I imply, I really like pink clay. I really feel prefer it fits my recreation. I attempt to use it to my benefit, and I really like the courts right here. Particularly enjoying on Philippe Chatrier was much more particular and memorable. I really feel like I’m tremendous comfy on that court docket,” Kenin stated. “I’ve bought some wonderful reminiscences there, so I attempt to use that to my benefit.”
Through the years, she dealt at varied instances with a lingering foot damage, a bout with COVID-19 and a proper ankle drawback.
Her outcomes on the sport’s most necessary occasions haven’t been as much as her requirements: She bowed out within the first or second spherical at six of the previous seven Grand Slam tournaments. And Kenin hadn’t performed notably effectively wherever this 12 months, with seven losses in opening matches.
“That is the place the place you need the whole lot to come back collectively,” she stated. “Firstly of the 12 months, I wasn’t enjoying as I’m enjoying proper now. I really feel like I’m positively extra fitter, doing the fitting issues from my finish: health, weight loss program, the whole lot. Clearly it’s paying off.”
