Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic Advance to 2023 French Open Fourth Round

• Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic reached the fourth round of the 2023 French Open
• They won their respective third-round matches in straight sets on Friday
• Alcaraz and Djokovic are in the same half of the draw and could meet in the semifinals

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are moving on to the fourth round of the 2023 French Open.

The two tennis stars stamped their class on Friday, winning their respective matches in straight sets.

Alcaraz claimed a comprehensive 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Denis Shapovalov.

Alcaraz’s return hurts Shapovalov

The reigning US Open champion blasted 25 winners and won 66 percent of his first serve points against Shapovalov.

What proved to be the difference in the contest, however, was the world No. 1’s return.

Alcaraz won 55 percent of his receiving points against Shapovalov, with the Spaniard converting seven of his 16 break-point opportunities.

Who is Carlos Alcaraz, the number 1 ranked tennis player at the moment?

Tennis

He will next face Lorenzo Musetti in the fourth round, per BBC. Musetti defeated Cam Norrie 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in the third round in Paris on Friday.

Djokovic beats Davidovich Fokina

Djokovic progressed to the fourth round after beating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-2. The Serbian needed three hours and 36 minutes to record the third-round win, per ATP.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion worked hard through the first two sets, needing two hours and 49 minutes to win a pair of tiebreakers.

Davidovich Fokina had nothing left to offer in the third set as Djokovic secured his passage to the fourth round at Roland Garros for the 14th straight year.

Djokovic will next face Juan Pablo Varillas in the fourth round. The Peruvian star defeated Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-2 in the third round.

Varillas won 70 percent of his first serve points and converted four of his seven break-point chances against Hurkacz..

Daniil Medvedev beats Holger Rune in Rome Masters final to capture first clay court title

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Seyboth Wild upsets Medvedev

Sports Brief recently reported on Thiago Seyboth Wild’s upset win in the first round of the French Open.

The Brazilian qualifier defeated second seed Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller.

Seyboth Wild secured the first top-5 win of his career with the victory over Medvedev.