Becomes second-fastest man to reach 20 singles wins at Roland Garros
Paris: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz achieved another significant milestone at Roland Garros, becoming the second-fastest man to reach 20 singles match wins at the clay-court Grand Slam since 2000. Alcaraz hit the landmark in just his 23rd match, defeating World No 56 Fabian Marozsan in four sets on Wednesday.
The Spanish star delivered a clinical performance, once again showcasing his remarkable ability to solve problems mid-match. After dropping the second set, Alcaraz rebounded strongly to seal the victory in two hours and nine minutes.
Alcaraz now sits behind only Rafael Nadal, who remains the fastest to record 20 wins at Roland Garros. The 21-year-old put on a commanding display for the Philippe Chatrier crowd and signed off in style, even treating fans to a song after his win.
The match saw a twist in momentum when the roof was closed due to rain during the second set. Marozsan, who famously beat Alcaraz in Rome in 2023, capitalised briefly, employing a clever mix of drop shots and deft touches. However, Alcaraz quickly adapted to the Hungarian’s style of play, countering with his trademark power and precision.
In the women’s draw, former World No 3 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine progressed to the third round for the 10th time in her career after a gritty 7-6(4), 7-5 win over Hungarian Anna Bondar.
Her victory came just a day after her husband, Gal Monfils, thrilled fans with a sensational five-set win in the men’s singles first round. Monfils was in the stands at Chatrier to cheer Svitolina on Wednesday.
