Advancement to the last 16, on the other hand, was won by third seed Novak Djokovic, who can keep his mind on winning a record 23rd Grand Slam title. He beat Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich 7:6, 7:6, 6:2. Carlos Alcaraz, the first player in the world rankings, progressed without dropping a set. The favorite Spain beat Denis Shapovalov of Canada 6:1, 6:4, 6:2.

The twenty-nine-year-old Pegula has said goodbye to Roland Garros as the fourth player in the Top 10 ranking in its opening week and the highest seed so far. The Buffalo native is still waiting to make her first Grand Slam semifinal.

The 20-year-old Alcaraz, who is looking to follow compatriot Rafael Nadal on the Paris clay, swept past Shapovalov in the opening set in 36 minutes. In the second set, the match was evenly matched and the US Open champion even lost 1:4, but then he took over again. He won seven games in a row and took care of the end. The Spaniard will face Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti to advance to the quarter-finals.

Two-time winner of the Paris tournament, Djokovic battled Davidovich for the opening two sets for nearly three hours. In the second set, he even saved a set point at 5:6, but in the end he won an even battle on center court Philippe Chatrier. He advanced to at least the 4th round of Roland Garros for the fourteenth time in a row.

“I know it’s going to be a very tough match. But a win is a win. First two sets, three hours, and I think if I lose the second set, we’ll probably play here for five hours. But you have to be ready for that. About grand slams, you play for three wins. You have to believe in yourself,” the 36-year-old Serb said in an on-court interview.

Aryna Sabalenková of Belarus will play her first round of 16 in Paris. The world number two and this year’s Australian Open winner beat Russian Kamilla Rachimova 6:2, 6:2 to set up her third match of the tournament without dropping a set. The Minsk native has a chance to become the 29th world number one in WTA history after the tournament, which she will do if she wins the title regardless of last year’s champion Iga Šwiatek of Poland.

After the match, Sabalenková missed the press conference citing mental health issues. The Belarusian said through organizers she felt insecure at Wednesday’s meeting with journalists, where she was also asked about her motherland’s role in the war in Ukraine. He has the backing of Roland Garros organizers and is not in danger of a penalty.

World number 9 Darja Kasatkinová of Russia also made it to the last 16. Conqueror Markéta Vondroušová from the 2nd round defeated American Peyton Stearns, who eliminated Kateřina Siniaková in the first round, 6:0, 6:1 in under an hour.

French Open tennis tournament in Paris (clay, €49.6 million subsidy):

Man:

Singles – 3rd round: Khachanov (11-Russia) – Kokkinakis (Austria) 6:4, 6:1, 3:6, 7:6 (7:5), Djokovic (3-Serbia) – Davidovich ( 29- Sp. ) 7:6 (7:4), 7:6 (7:5), 6:2, Sonego (It.) – Rublev (7-Rus.) 5:7, 0:6, 6: 3, 7:6 (7:5), 6:3, Ofner (Austria) – Fognini (It.) 5:7, 6:3, 7:5, 1:6, 6:4, Tsitsipas (5-Greek) – Schwartzman ( Arg.) 6:2, 6:2, 6:3, Musetti (17-It.) – Norrie (14-Brit.) 6:1, 6:2, 6:4, Alcaraz ( 1-Sp. ) – Shapovalov (26-Can.) 6:1, 6:4, 6:2, Varillas (Peru) – Hurkacz (13-Pol.) 3:6, 6:3, 7:6 (7:3), 4:6, 6:2.

Doubles – 2nd round: Gille, Vliegen (Belgium) – Damn itMartínez (CZ/Ven.) 6:1, 6:2.

Woman:

Singles – 3rd round: Mertensová (28-Belg.) – Pegulaová (3-USA) 6:1, 6:3, Kasatkinová (9-Russia) – Stearnsová (USA) 6:0, 6:1, Sabalenkova ( 2- Belarus) – Rachimova (Russia) 6:2, 6:2, Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) – Potapova (24-Russia) 4:6, 6:3, 6:0, Svitolina (Ukraine) – Blinkova (Russia) 2 :6 , 6:2, 7:5, Avanesyanova (Russia) – Tausonova (Denmark) 3:6, 6:1, 7:5, Stephensova (USA) – Putintseva (Kaz.) 6:3, 3:6, 6:2.

Doubles – 2nd half: BouzkovaSorribesová (Czech Republic/Sp.) – Eikeriová, Hozumiová (Nor./Japan) 7:5, 6:2, Kuděrmětová, Samsonovová (15-Russia) – Vondroušová, Kolodziejová (Czech Republic) 2:6, 7:6 (7:3), 6:3, Sutjiadiová, Katóová (16-Indon./Japan) – NoskovaChromačová (Czech Republic/Russia) 6:4, 7:5.