PARIS: Alexander Zverev came back from the brink of defeat to reach the French Open last 16 for a seventh successive year on Saturday as Aryna Sabalenka overcame Paula Badosa in a testing third-round clash between best friends.

World number four Zverev, who effectively ended Rafael Nadal’s Roland Garros career in the first round, came through against Tallon Griekspoor 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (10/3) despite trailing the Dutchman 1-4 in the decider.

The 27-year-old German, who is playing under the shadow of an ongoing trial in Berlin over allegations of assaulting an ex-girlfriend, stayed on course for a last-four showdown with defending champion Djokovic.

“Incredible match, incredible player. He’s unbelievably dangerous. I always struggle against him,” said Zverev after the four hour, 14-minute marathon.

Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev beat Tomas Machac 7-6 (7/4), 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 to reach the last 16 for the third time.

Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime booked a fourth-round clash against Carlos Alcaraz after sweeping past Ben Shelton of the United States 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 in one of three ties which had been suspended on Friday.

The rain which has impacted all seven days at Roland Garros caused more havoc Saturday with five hours lost in the afternoon.

World number two Sabalenka, however, had the advantage of playing under the roof of Court Philippe Chatrier where she stormed back to defeat Badosa.

Sabalenka and Badosa have become close but the 26-year-olds put their friendship aside ahead of their seventh career meeting, which promised to go the distance after a tight first set where breaks of serve flowed freely.

But Belarusian Sabalenka, who is bidding to become the first woman since Serena Williams nine years ago to win the Australian Open and Roland Garros titles in the same season, stepped up her game with power, precision and guile to seal a 7-5, 6-1 win.

“On court we’re opponents, but off it we’re friends,” said Sabalenka. “I just saw her right now, walking from her meeting, and she seems to be pissed a little bit. “But no, we’re very good on separating things.”

Sabalenka, a semi-finalist in 2023, has made at least the last four at her past six Grand Slams and is expected to be Iga Swiatek’s chief rival in the Pole’s bid for a fourth French Open title.

Next up for the Belarusian is a clash against either Madison Keys or Emma Navarro for a spot in the quarter-finals.

After Corentin Moutet gave French supporters a Friday night to savour on Court Suzanne Lenglen with a four-set victory over Sebastian Ofner, Russian-born Varvara Gracheva lit up the same venue on a soggy day with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Irina-Camelia Begu to keep the flag flying for her adopted country.

The last Frenchwoman left in the women’s draw was treated to a rousing rendition of the national anthem “La Marseillaise” and she joined the singing fans in celebration.

“I’ll remember this moment until the end of my life,” said a beaming Gracheva, who received her French passport in 2023 after living in the country for more than five years. “It means that everyone accepts me, that I’m home here.”

While Gracheva was the centre of attention in the afternoon, fellow Moscow-born player Elena Rybakina continued to fly under the Roland Garros radar as the fourth seed cruised past Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2.

The Kazakh has had to endure her share of health struggles, including in Paris last year when she pulled out in the third round due to illness, but she said there was nothing a good night’s rest could not cure this time.

“I’ve been struggling a bit with sleep, some issues. So I had to skip tournaments. Also allergies and everything. Now I’m feeling pretty well and focused,” Rybakina said. “I think everybody when they work a lot, it’s not easy to sleep. Then the recovery is not the greatest.”

In an indication of the scheduling chaos, the women’s third round tie between Russia’s Mirra Andreeva and Peyton Stearns of the United States was moved from Court 6 to Court 7 and then Court 2.

The 17-year-old Andreeva eased to a 6-2, 6-1 victory in just 67 minutes and will face Gracheva for a quarter-final spot.

Chinese seventh seed Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the third round, losing in three sets to Russia’s Elina Avanesyan.

Zheng, a semi-finalist at the Australian Open in January, went down 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10/6) to world number 70 Avanesyan who also made the fourth round in 2023.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2024