Roland Garros Continues: Djokovic and Alcaraz Prepare for Quarterfinals
Today, decisive fourth-round matches and the first quarterfinals will take place on the courts of Paris. Tournament favorites Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz take to the court to continue their title fight.
Roland Garros Continues: Djokovic and Alcaraz Out, Quarterfinals Promise a Changing of the Guard
Main Event
The Parisian clay has become the stage for a true tennis revolution in recent days. The 2026 French Open, which started on May 24 and runs until June 7, has delivered a series of surprises that have rewritten all pre-tournament predictions. Just a week ago, experts predicted a final between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and the great Novak Djokovic, but fate decided otherwise: neither of them took to the court in the quarterfinals.
The tournament lost its biggest stars even before the decisive matches began. Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who won Roland Garros in 2024 and 2025, was unable to defend his title at all. Due to a right wrist injury sustained in April at the Barcelona tournament, the 23-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion was forced to miss not only the Paris major but also the upcoming Wimbledon.
Serbian legend Novak Djokovic, world No. 4 and 24-time Grand Slam winner, headed to Paris with ambitions of claiming a 25th title, but his journey ended in the third round. In a five-set thriller lasting over four hours, the Serb lost to 19-year-old Brazilian prodigy Joao Fonseca 6:4, 6:4, 3:6, 5:7, 5:7. This match is already being called one of the tournament's main events, symbolizing a changing of the eras.
Now that all fourth-round matches are complete, the eight strongest men's singles players have been determined. In the quarterfinals, which start today, June 2, 2026, bright representatives of the new generation will face experienced masters. The bottom half of the draw has turned into a true "youth revolution," with three 19-year-old tennis players vying for a spot in the semifinals.
Details and Statistics
The full lineup of men's singles quarterfinal matches at Roland Garros 2026 is as follows:
Top Half of the Draw:
- Matteo Berrettini (Italy) — Matteo Arnaldi (Italy)
- Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada, 4) — Flavio Cobolli (Italy, 10)
Bottom Half of the Draw:
- Alexander Zverev (Germany, 3) — Rafael Khodar (Spain, 27)
- Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic, 26) — Joao Fonseca (Brazil, 28)
For the first time in a long while, three Italians are represented in the Roland Garros quarterfinals: Berrettini, Arnaldi, and Cobolli. Two of them, Berrettini and Arnaldi, will meet in the quarterfinals, guaranteeing Italy at least one semifinalist. This mirrors the success of Italian tennis in recent years, where the country consistently supplies several players to the world top 10.
Alexander Zverev, seeded third, confidently dispatched Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong in three sets — 7:6(3), 6:4, 6:1. The German tennis player, who has never won Roland Garros, reached the quarterfinals of the Paris tournament for the sixth consecutive time. His statistics in the fourth-round match are impressive: 43 winners against 19 for his opponent.
Rafael Khodar, a 19-year-old Spaniard, reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career. Along the way, he staged an incredible comeback, recovering from 0-2 down in sets against experienced compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta — 4:6, 4:6, 6:1, 6:2, 6:2. Khodar is ranked 27th in the ATP rankings, and his success on the Parisian courts has been a true revelation.
Tournament prodigy Joao Fonseca, who had already sensationally beaten Djokovic, continued his winning streak. In the fourth round, the Brazilian, seeded 28th, defeated two-time Roland Garros finalist Casper Ruud of Norway 7:5, 7:6(8), 5:7, 6:2. The match lasted nearly four hours (3 hours 55 minutes) and ended well past midnight.
Fonseca became the first Brazilian to reach the French Open quarterfinals since 2004, when legendary Gustavo Kuerten achieved it. Kuerten himself, a three-time Roland Garros champion, watched the young compatriot's match from the front row and supported him throughout.
In the Czech derby, Jakub Mensik, seeded 26th, defeated Andrey Rublev in a five-set battle — 6:3, 7:6(6), 4:6, 2:6, 6:3. This is the second "full" match for the Czech at the current tournament, highlighting his incredible physical endurance. Mensik and Fonseca, both 19, will face each other in the quarterfinals; their only previous meeting was won by the Brazilian.
Context and Significance
The current Roland Garros will go down in history as the tournament where a generational shift occurred. Djokovic's exit and Alcaraz's absence have opened the door for young talents ready to make their mark on the world. For the first time in many years, three tennis players aged 19 have reached the quarterfinals — Fonseca, Khodar, and Mensik.
Fonseca's victory over Djokovic deserves special attention. The Serb, who was considered one of the favorites before the tournament, wrote on social media: "Epic battle, Joao. And a tough, well-deserved victory. Good luck in the rest of the tournament and in the incredible career that awaits you. And as for Paris... you have my heart." These words from the great champion were the highest praise for the 19-year-old Brazilian.
For Alexander Zverev, this tournament is the best chance of his career to finally win Roland Garros. With Djokovic out and Alcaraz absent, the German remains the most decorated and experienced player in the draw. Bookmakers have already made him the main favorite: odds on Zverev's victory are 2.25, while the nearest contender Casper Ruud (who, let's recall, is out) had 6.00. Now, the German's main competitor is considered to be either Canadian Auger-Aliassime or the winner of the Berrettini-Arnaldi pair.
Italy is celebrating a true tennis renaissance. Three Italians in the quarterfinals mirror the success of 2023, when four representatives of the country reached the fourth round. Matteo Berrettini, who has been recovering from injuries for a long time, is once again showing high-level tennis. His compatriot Flavio Cobolli, the 10th seed, also continues to play confidently.
What's Next / Next Match Preview
The quarterfinal matches at Roland Garros start today, June 2, 2026. The Philippe Chatrier Court will host the two most anticipated matches of the day.
First on court will be Alexander Zverev (Germany) and Rafael Khodar (Spain). For the 19-year-old Spaniard, this will be his first career Grand Slam quarterfinal, and he will face the world No. 3. Zverev, who has already won two Masters 1000 tournaments on clay this season, is considered the clear favorite in this matchup. The experience and power of the German against the youth and enthusiasm of the Spaniard — that's the intrigue of this match.
The second central match will be a clash between two 19-year-old talents — Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic) and Joao Fonseca (Brazil). This will be a battle of future world tennis stars, and the winner will guarantee themselves a spot in the semifinals and at least a top-15 ranking. Fonseca has already beaten Mensik in their only previous meeting, but the Czech is gaining form with each match and demonstrated incredible mental resilience in his match against Rublev.
In the top half of the draw, Italian derbies will take place. Matteo Berrettini will play against his compatriot Matteo Arnaldi, while Felix Auger-Aliassime will face Flavio Cobolli. The winners of these matches will meet in the semifinals, scheduled for June 4.
Editorial Prediction
After Djokovic's exit and Alcaraz's absence, Roland Garros 2026 has a new main favorite. Alexander Zverev, who has reached the quarterfinals in Paris for six consecutive years, finally has the perfect chance to win his first Grand Slam title in France. The German is showing confident play, hasn't dropped a set in three matches, and his powerful serve and backhand are serious weapons on slow clay.
Zverev's main competitor will likely be Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian, seeded fourth, has had a consistent season and feels comfortable on the Parisian courts. However, Auger-Aliassime's path to the final goes through Italians Berrettini and Cobolli, who are in excellent form. If the Canadian can overcome this resistance, his match against Zverev could be the highlight of the tournament.
As for the youngsters, Fonseca and Khodar have already exceeded all expectations. Reaching the quarterfinals is a huge success for them, and it's unlikely they can go further, given the enormous physical exertion in previous rounds. Fonseca has played two consecutive five-set matches, and his resources may be depleted by the time he meets Mensik or a potential semifinal against Zverev.
Nevertheless, even if the young stars exit at this stage, they have already made their mark on the world. Roland Garros 2026 will forever be remembered as the tournament where new names in world tennis were born. And Zverev, if he seizes his chance, will finally shed the burden of "eternal second" and write his name in history. Editorial prediction: Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime will meet in the final, with the German winning in four sets.
— Editorial Team
