Top seed Novak Djokovic continues his quest for the “Nole Slam”, while fourth seed Dominic Thiemand fifth seed Alexander Zverev look to move closer to their first Grand Slam title on Day 5 at Roland Garros. Eighth seed Juan Martin del Potro also headlines Thursday action.
Djokovic heads to Court Philippe-Chatrier to face Swiss Henri Laaksonen, who is competing in the second round in Paris for the first time. The Serbian got off to a hot start this fortnight with a straight-sets victory over Pole Hubert Hurkacz. Djokovic lifted his 33rd ATP Masters 1000 title this month at the Mutua Madrid Open (d. Tsitsipas) and finished runner-up at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia (l. to Nadal). Djokovic has never lost in the second round here (14-0) or before the quarter-finals since 2009.
Thiem opens up play on Court Philippe-Chatrier against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik. The Austrian was made to work in his four-set opening-round win over American wild card Tommy Paul. His season includes a title at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell (d. Medvedev) and his first Masters 1000 crown at the BNP Paribas Open (d. Federer). Bublik has won three ATP Challenger Tour titles this year.
Fifth seed Zverev takes on Swedish #NextGenATP qualifier Mikael Ymer, who won his maiden Grand Slam main draw match on Tuesday over Slovenian qualifier Blaz Rola. Zverev spent five sets and more than four hours on court in his first-round win on Tuesday over Aussie John Millman. The German has logged plenty of match time lately, saving two championship points to win his first title of the season last week at the Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open (d. Jarry).
Del Potro faces Japanese player Yoshihito Nishioka. The eighth seed won their only FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting this February at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com. Del Potro, who defeated Chilean Nicolas Jarry in his opening round, is competing in only his fourth tournament this year due to a right knee injury. He’s shown solid form on clay by holding two match points in his quarter-final loss in Rome to Djokovic. Nishioka defeated American Mackenzie McDonald in five sets on Tuesday for his maiden win in Paris.
Other notable matches on Thursday include ninth-seeded Fabio Fognini of Italy taking on Argentine Federico Delbonis and No. 13 seed Borna Coric of Croatia going up against South African Lloyd Harris.
