Zverev Survives Halys Scare to Reach French Open Last 16
Alexander Zverev concluded a dramatic day at the French Open late Friday, securing a 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 victory over local competitor Quentin Halys. The win propels the German into the suddenly less crowded final 16 of the tournament.
Zverev managed to break Halys’s serve in the opening game of each of the four sets, building a significant advantage in the first two. However, as the draw has opened up, Zverev experienced a dip in performance during the third set. Fueled by the energy of the late-night crowd, the 90th-ranked Halys, a resident of the Roland Garros neighborhood, mounted a comeback. As the clock struck midnight, Halys forced a decisive fourth set.
In the fourth set, Zverev quickly established a 3-0 lead. He then sealed the match in a lengthy eighth game, concluding the contest after three hours and 10 minutes.
Zverev Reflects on Match and Draw
“I knew I just had to stay with my game and I’m going to get my chances and in the fourth set I did,” Zverev stated after the match. “I’m very happy I could finish it at 1am not 3am.”
At 29 years old and ranked third globally, Zverev is seeded second at Roland Garros due to the withdrawal of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. He became the highest-ranked remaining male player after Jannik Sinner’s earlier loss.
Zverev’s late-night encounter followed a thrilling five-set comeback victory by 19-year-old Joao Fonseca over Novak Djokovic. At the start of the evening’s play, the cumulative Grand Slam singles titles among the remaining men stood at 24, all held by the 39-year-old Djokovic.
Looking ahead in the draw, only Zverev and Casper Ruud have previously reached a Grand Slam final, each having lost three. Zverev is scheduled to face Dutchman Jesper de Jong in the next round. De Jong, ranked 106th, achieved a significant upset by defeating 13th seed Karen Khachanov in a five-set match.
“I hope to give myself the chance to win all the matches I play,” Zverev commented regarding his aspirations for the remainder of the tournament.
