Zverev credits Federer advice after five-set win in Paris

Second seed Alexander Zverev gave credit to advice from Roger Federer after fighting back to avoid a second-round loss at the French Open.

The German trailed by two sets to one before recovering to beat Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 2-6 7-5 4-6 6-1 6-2 on court one.

He was not the only leading player pushed to the limit on day four, with fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov and 19th seed Kei Nishikori also needing five sets to prevail.

Former champion Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, made solid progress with a 7-6(1) 6-4 6-4 win over Spain’s Jaume Munar.

Seventh seed Dominic Thiem led teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2 2-6 6-4 when play was suspended because of darkness.

ANALYSIS: Men’s and women’s title predictions

Zverev has yet to get past the fourth round at a Grand Slam tournament – a fact he is repeatedly asked about – despite stellar performances elsewhere that have seen him rise to No.3 in the world rankings.

An unbeaten sweep through Munich and Madrid followed by an impressive showing against Rafael Nadal in the Rome final suggested the 21-year-old is ready to challenge at Roland Garros, but another major disappointment loomed large as Lajovic pushed him all the way on the atmospheric ‘bull ring’ court.

"Where you from, buddy?"

Alexander Zverev makes a new friend ????#RG18 pic.twitter.com/LFZzC8Nygf

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2018

Zverev later revealed that some supportive words from Roger Federer after a previous Grand Slam disappointment had helped keep his situation in perspective.

“He told me a story about how he never made it past quarters until he was, what, 23 years old or something like that. So I still have a little bit of time,” said the German.

“Hearing that from the greatest player of all time is comforting because you always think, ‘Oh, if I’m not going to win this one, I’m never going to win one.’

“Just hearing that, just knowing that it’s all okay, it’s not the end of the world. Obviously that was a long time ago and I played great tennis since then. Maybe I have to give credit to him.”

Federer actually won the first of his 20 Grand Slam titles to date as a 21-year-old at Wimbledon in 2003, but the point stands that Zverev remains on schedule to challenge for the game’s biggest prizes.

The concern has been that he has not made significant steps through the draw in the best-of-five format, and his efforts in the fourth and fifth sets against Lajovic will provide encouragement.

Zverev had earlier been reduced to racquet-smashing frustration after he dropped serve twice in the first set, and double-faulted to fall behind in the third.

“Everybody tries to make a bigger story out of it than it is,” he said of his Grand Slam record.

“I have had great success on the ATP Tour, won three Masters, made two other finals this year.

“I’m not worried. I know if I’m doing the right things and if I do the right work I’ll win those long matches, and the success will come itself.”

Zverev goes on to face 26th seed Damir Dzumhur for a apace in the fourth round.

Dimitrov faces underarm serves in thriller

In a match that lasted four hours and 19 minutes on the new court 18, and saw Jared Donaldson reduced to underarm serving because of cramp, Dimitrov eventually came through to equal his best performance at Roland Garros.

The Bulgarian might be seeded fourth but in seven previous visits to the French Open, he had never made it past the third round.

Another early departure appeared imminent as Donaldson, the world No.51, took the first and third sets before Dimitrov finally prevailed 6-7(7) 6-4 4-6 6-4 10-8, with the American struggling to move in the closing stages.

Nishikori is a two-time quarterfinalist in Paris but returning from injury, and Frenchman Benoit Paire almost took advantage before succumbing 6-3 2-6 4-6 6-2 6-3 on Philippe-Chatrier Court.

Tomas Berdych, seeded 17th, was a high-profile casualty, going down in five to France’s Jeremy Chardy, while another home player, Gilles Simon, upset American 12th seed Sam Querrey in four.

Djokovic will next face 13th seed Roberto Bautista Agut, a straight-sets winner over Santiago Giraldo, while eighth seed David Goffin, crowd favourite Gael Monfils and 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta all went through with few problems.