For the second time in three years, the USA's Sebastian Korda and Carlos Alcaraz will clash racquets in the French Open third round, this time on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Friday's night session. Both seeds came through four-set affairs in their second round-ties, as Korda battled his way past South Korea's Kwon Soon-woo , while Alcaraz sent Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong packing. © Reuters Men's 27th seed Korda shall long possess fond memories of Roland-Garros, where he reached the fourth round in his very first appearance at any Grand Slam in 2020, before making it all the way to the quarter-finals at the 2023 Australian Open.
Still just 23 years of age, the 6ft 5in American has been a somewhat familiar face in ATP Tour finals - competing in six such events but only prevailing in one at the 2021 Emilia-Romagna Open - but he has laid down a couple of early markers in Paris so far. After sending one of the many French wildcards - Harold Mayot - packing in straight sets, Korda survived a third-set capitulation against Soon-woo, getting the job done 6-4 6-4 1-6 6-3 against the world number 494 on Friday morning. Making use of his intimidating power and physical frame, the 27th seed came up with 13 aces and converted six points against his Korean foe to reach the third round, although he has suffered disappointment after disappointment at this stage of various tournaments in 2024.
Indeed, Korda's Australian Open run in January ended in round three, while four of his five Maste.
