Zverev stays calm to win from match point down

For the second time in three days Alexander Zverev found himself two-sets-to-one down at the French Open and his poor run at the Grand Slams looked set to continue as he put his nearest and dearest through the wringer for more than three hours.

So when it seemed like the German was about to bow out at Roland Garros as he stood match point down at 4-5, 30-40 in the fifth set of his third-round tussle with Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, what kind of turmoil was buzzing through his mind?

“None. Mainly I was thinking what I was going to have for lunch,” said a deadpan Zverev after completing his 6-2 3-6 4-6 7-6(3) 7-5 great escape.

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“When you’re down a match point, you’re not thinking, ‘Oh, how am I going to turn this match around?’ You’re trying to win that exact point to be able to continue the match. That’s what’s going on in your head.”

Staying in the moment, rather then getting tangled up in possible scenarios that may crop up during the nerve-shredding battle, allowed Zverev to get over some humps on Friday.

For the first time at a Grand Slam he beat a top-50 player. For the first time at the French Open he reached the fourth round.

For the first time in his career he won a contest on the main Court Philippe Chatrier.

“It was a very tight match. It’s normal there were a lot of nerves involved. In that moment, it’s all about finding a way,” said the second seed, who was also taken the distance by Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic in the second round.

“Even if you’re not playing your best, it’s all about finding a way to win and finding the right solution to the right moment.

“I’m trying to win matches. If it takes me three sets, great. If it takes me five sets, that’s also great,” added the 21-year-old who now has a 6-5 win-loss record in five setters.

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“I’m trying to win. That’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter how long it goes.

“It doesn’t matter how much time I’ll spend on court. It doesn’t matter if it goes 9-7 in the fifth or it goes 6-1 6-1 6-2. I’m in the next round and that’s all that matters.”

With only one fourth-round appearance to show for his 11 previous visits to the majors, the two five-set thrillers he has survived in Paris might turn into his coming-of-age moment.

“It was important to see for myself that I can win back-to-back five-set matches and both very difficult physical matches,” he said.

“So this gives me a lot of confidence. It was an important point to prove to myself as well.”

Dimitrov out, Djokovic battles on

Fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov was unable improve on his modest record at Roland Garros as he was beaten in straight sets by Fernando Verdasco.

The Spaniard, seeded 30th, won 7-6(4) 6-2 6-4 after saving four set points in the opener, and goes through to the last 16 for the seventh time – having never managed to make the quarterfinals.

"He's not going to hand you the win. You have to deserve it."@DjokerNole dug deep to earn his place in the fourth round, where he'll face Fernando Verdasco. Recap & Highlights: https://t.co/7H5Ur2db1t #RG18 pic.twitter.com/jxgGh29mIy

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2018

Former champion Novak Djokovic came through a tough contest against Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 6-7 (6) 7-6 (4) 6-2.

The Serb, seeded seven places lower than Bautista Agut at No.20, smashed his racquet in fury at one stage but prevailed after a gruelling three hours and 48 minutes.

“It was a magnificent four hours of tennis, I’m very tired but delighted to come through,” said the 2016 champion.

“He plays with so much consistency you have to have patience.”

Seventh seed Dominic Thiem and 19th seed Kei Nishikori also made it through to round four, but 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta was beaten 2-6 7-6(5) 6-3 6-1 by Italy’s world No.72 Marco Cecchinato.