Round three at Roland Garros was epic. What will round four do for an encore?
Joao Fonseca was one of many who played a five-setter in the last 32, and he will be back in action on Sunday following his huge win over Novak Djokovic. Casper Ruud is standing in Fonseca’s way of the quarterfinals.
Here are my picks for two of Sunday’s best matchups.
(15) Casper Ruud vs. (28) Joao Fonseca
Saying that each man is already on his second life in Paris probably wouldn’t be accurate. It’s more like a third life, at least. Ruud appeared to be on his way out amidst scorching-hot conditions in the opening round. Somehow, though, the two-time FO runner-up outlasted Roman Safiullin 6-2, 7-6(5), 5-7, 0-6, 6-2 in three hours and 56 minutes. After making quick work of Hamad Medjedovic, Ruud saved two match points in the fourth set against Tommy Paul and ended up prevailing 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(4), 7-5 in four hours and 43 minutes. Not to be outdone, Fonseca has twice come back from two sets down. The 19-year-old defeated Dino Prizmic 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 in round two and then toppled Novak Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in four hours and 53 minutes.
This marks the first meeting between Ruud and Fonseca. In these conditions, it should be a matchup that favors the Brazilian. This is the night-session match on Court Philippe Chatrier, and temperatures throughout Sunday will finally be cooler. That means slower, lower-bouncing conditions — which really isn’t ideal for Ruud. Fonseca has the firepower to hit through any conditions with any shot; Ruud cannot — except with his forehand. It will be the youngster dictating play for the most part, though, and that means a steady diet of torpedo forehands will be peppering the Ruud backhand. Unless the Norwegian can avoid those patterns, it will be a difficult day at the office for him. Ruud obviously has a chance, especially if he drags it on long enough to make Fonseca feel two five-setters in his legs. The bottom line, though, is that the match is on Fonseca’s racket. If he plays well, he will win.
Pick: Fonseca in 4
(26) Jakub Mensik vs. (11) Andrey Rublev
Rublev played two four-setters and then battled past Nuno Borges 7-5, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) on Friday. The Russian is playing well, but he isn’t blowing people off the court. It’s a similar story for Mensik. The Czech outlasted Mariano Navone 13-11 in a fifth-set tiebreaker before battling back from that absolute marathon to beat Alex de Minaur in four sets.
In two previous head-to-head meetings, Mensik has won a pair of close ones (Doha 2024 and Shanghai 2024). Another competitive contest should be in the cards, but it’s one in which Rublev should be able to turn the tide. Although both guys are all-court players, clay is probably a little bit more advantageous for Rublev. And Mensik may have recovered impressively following his grueling struggle with Navone, but you know it’s still there in his legs. Rublev would likely have the edge if this turns into another physical fight.
Pick: Rublev in 5
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on Twitter at @Dimonator.