Preview: Alcaraz Faces Shapovalov, Djokovic & Tsitsipas In Action

Third-round action commences on Friday at Roland Garros, where Top 5 stars Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas continue their title quests at the clay-court major.

ATPTour.com previews some of the best third-round matchups to watch in the top half of the singles draw on Day 6 in Paris.

[1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs. [26] Denis Shapovalov (CAN)

Top seed Alcaraz found his range during his opening two matches, defeating Flavio Cobolli in straight sets before he moved past Taro Daniel in four. Chasing his second major title this fortnight, the 20-year-old will face his toughest test yet when he takes on the 26th Denis Shapovalov for the first time.

Possessing an explosive game, the Canadian has the ability to hit through Alcaraz, who will look to use his variety to disrupt the 24-year-old. Shapovalov struck a combined 88 winners in his victories against Brandon Nakashima and Matteo Arnaldi earlier this week to reach the third round in Paris for the first time. He was full of praise for Alcaraz when asked about the Spaniard ahead of their meeting.

“I'm a huge, huge fan of his,” Shapovalov said. “He's super humble for achieving what he has at such a young age. You can see how much he enjoys being on the court and the situations that are coming to him. He is not in an easy spot being No. 1 and so young and with so much noise around him. I really look up to him.”

Alcaraz, who advanced to the quarter-finals last year, takes a 32-3 season record into the Court Philippe-Chatrier night session match.

[3] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. [29] Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)

Djokovic has not put a foot wrong in his chase for a record 23rd major title in Paris so far, defeating Aleksandar Kovacevic and Marton Fucsovics in straight sets. Next up is Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who stunned the World No. 3 on clay in Monte-Carlo last year.

Djokovic will be required to absorb Davidovich Fokina’s firepower on Court Philippe-Chatrier if he is to continue his title pursuit in Paris, where he has triumphed in 2016 and 2021. The 36-year-old Serbian is chasing a double prize at Roland Garros, where a title run would lift him back to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

The focus will be fully on Davidovich Fokina for now, though, with Djokovic taking a 2-1 ATP Head2Head series lead into the clash.

[BREAK POINT]

[5] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. Diego Schwartzman (ARG)

Former finalist Tsitsipas will renew his rivalry with Diego Schwartzman when they meet in the third round. The Greek, who lost in the title match against Djokovic in 2021, leads Schwartzman 4-2 in their ATP Head2Head series, but the Argentine heads into the match with confidence.

The 30-year-old Schwartzman arrived in Paris holding a 5-14 record on the season, but the 2020 semi-finalist has re-found his level this week, defeating Bernabe Zapata Miralles and Nuno Borges. Tsitsipas, who is seeking his maiden major title and first crown of the season, will aim to end Schwartzman’s resurgence on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

Also In Action…

Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev also take to court on Friday, facing Thanasi Kokkinakis and Lorenzo Sonego, respectively. Australian Kokkinakis earned his first five-set victory since 2015 when he clawed past Stan Wawrinka in a Roland Garros second-round epic.

The 14th seed Cameron Norrie plays 17th seed Lorenzo Musetti on Court Simonne-Mathieu, while 13th seed Hubert Hurkacz takes on Juan Pablo Varillas.