Former champion Novak Djokovic claimed a hardfought 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 victory over a grieving Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday to book his spot in the French Open fourth round.
The 31-year-old former world number one struggled at times on Suzanne Lenglen court, but eventually came through the four-set battle in three hours and 48 minutes with 13th seed Bautista Agut.
He has now made the last 16 of a Slam for the 43rd time, tying Jimmy Connors on the all-time list.
Bautista Agut was playing in Paris despite the death of his mother last week.
Djokovic, seeded 20 after struggling to find his best form since returning from an elbow injury, will take on Fernando Verdasco for a last-eight place after the Spaniard knocked out fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov.
The Serbian has also reached the second week at Roland Garros for the last nine years in a row.
Zverev survives another five-setter
German second seed Alexander Zverev saved a match point and survived a second successive French Open scare on Friday, coming back to defeat Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur in five sets to reach the fourth round for the first time.
World number 29 Dzumhur also served for the match in the fourth set, but Zverev clung on and battled to a 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 victory.
Zverev, 21, who is seen as the main threat to Rafael Nadal’s expected coronation as champion for an 11th time, endured a nightmare outing on Court Philippe Chatrier before claiming victory after almost four hours of play.
He hit 73 unforced errors, dropped serve eight times and served up seven double faults.
He had to save a match point in the 10th game of the decider before breaking and holding to make the last 16 for the first time where he will face either French 15th seed Lucas Pouille or Russia’s Karen Khachanov.
“It was an amazing, high level match,” said Zverev.
“It was the first time I have won on this court and I hope there are many more to come.”
Zverev, who also had to fight back from two sets to one down in the second round against Serbian Dusan Lajovic, is looking to become the first German man to win the title since 1937.
But he has never reached a Grand Slam quarter-final, although the longer best-of-five format has worked twice in his favour now at Roland Garros.
Verdasco knocks out Dimitrov
Fourth seed Dimitrov was knocked out by Fernando Verdasco, with the Spaniard winning 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-4 in his 350th clay-court match.
Bulgarian Dimitrov, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, has still never reached the second week at Roland Garros in eight attempts.
“You have to draw the line and, you know, look for the next chapter,” said the world number five.
“Also, in tennis you never know one week can always turn things around for you. It’s been proven to work in the past.”
The 34-year-old Verdasco will next face either his compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut or former champion Novak Djokovic for a quarter-final spot.
It is the seventh time the world number 35 has reached the French Open fourth round, but it is the only Grand Slam tournament where he is yet to make the last eight.
Japan’s Kei Nishikori made short work of home hope Gilles Simon as he cruised into the fourth round for the fifth time.
The 28-year-old, seeded 19 in his first Grand Slam since Wimbledon last year after struggling with a wrist injury, saw off Simon 6-3, 6-1, 6-3
Results: Men’s singles 3rd round
Marco Cecchinato (ITA) bt Pablo Carreño-Busta (ESP x10) 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-1
Novak Djokovic (SRB x20) bt Roberto Bautista (ESP x13) 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2
Fernando Verdasco (ESP x30) bt Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x4) 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-4
Dominic Thiem (AUT x7) bt Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2
Kei Nishikori (JPN x19) bt Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-3, 6-1, 6-3
Alexander Zverev (GER x2) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH x26) 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5
With AFP inputs
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