Roland Garros 2026 Men’s Day 8

Alexander Zverev stayed on track for a possible fourth Grand Slam final as the highest seed remaining in the men’s draw at the French Open moved efficiently into the quarter-finals on Sunday.

The German who has finished runner-up at the Australian and US Open plus Roland Garros, defeated qualifying lucky loser Jesper de Jong 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-1.

With this week’s second-round losses by world No. 1 and top seed Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic, Zverev could have one of his best chances at lifting a major trophy.

The 29-year-old reached  his eighth Roland Garros quarter-final as he beat his Dutch opponent on de Jong’s 26th birthday.

He needed a tiebreak to secure the opening set but picked up momentum before crushing it in the third set to get off court in a relatively quick two and a quarter hours.

“I had some early difficulties but he started well,” the winner said. “But once I found my rhythm I felt comfortable on the court. 

“That is important for my game. It’s (his game) is there, I just have to show it on the match court.”

With the recent 10-day heatwave now gone, temperatures dropped into the mid-20s Celsius, which should make for more comfortable conditions.

But Zverev is not so sure: “To be honest, I like the heat, I prefer it. My ball flies a lot faster through the air and opponents struggle a bit more.

“I also spend a lot of time in Florida so I’m used to the heat. But we have to make the best of it, things can change within one day.”

Zverev will bid for the semi-finals in a matchup against Rafael Jodar, the prodigy who won an all-Spanish fourth-rounder 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 over Pablo Carreno Busta.

The fightback took nearly three and three-quarter hours and put the 19-year-old into his first last-eight spot in only his second Grand Slam appearance.

He has reached the last eight here for a sixth straight year.

Jodar, ranked No. 707 a year ago, is the fifth man this century to reach the quarters in his main draw debut at the event.

The youngster made a 4-1 start in the opening set but soon found himself in a five-set dogfight against a 34-year-old dealing with a shoulder injury.

The winner of a clay title in March has now taken victory in 19 of his last 22 matches.

“He’s young and incredibly talented,” Zverev said of his next opponent. “He came onto the clay scene in two months.

“He will be a difficult challenge but I’ll be ready for it.”

Main photo:- Favourite Alexander Zverev wins third round match – by ATPTour.com