Holder Carlos Alcaraz lost his first set of the fortnight on Wednesday at the French Open but did not let the setback stop him from a third-round spot in the clay classic.
The second seed who beat Alexander Zverev for the trophy a year ago, overcame Hungarian Fabian Maroszan 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
The 22-year-old became the first man born in the 2000s to win 20 matches here, reaching the Paris third round for the fifth time.
Alcaraz slipped in the second set as his underdog opponent claimed that set; but the Spaniard quickly re-established his level to run out the winner in just over two hours.
“I started well with high confidence,” he said. In the second set he started playing better, more aggressive and not missing at all.
“It was difficult to deal with his game. But I was happy to stay strong, refresh and play better in the last two sets.”
Two-time finalist Casper Ruud found himself a shock upset victim of Portuguese Nuno Borges,with the Norwegian seventh seed beaten 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-0.
The top Scandinavian revealed that he has been trying to manage injury over the last weeks of the clay campaign.
“For the last couple of weeks I’ve been struggling with knee pain on and off. I first felt it in Monte Carlo so it’s been with me the entire clay season.
“When you’re practising, it’s easier to avoid certain movements that are painful.
“But when you’re playing matches, you can’t really control it; you do everything you can to get to every ball.
“Sometimes you kind of forget that this is a shot I shouldn’t go for in terms of pain in the knee. When you play a match, you go full on.”
The Norwegian complained that ATP regulations are forcing some to compete while still hurt.
“It’s tough especially (to skip) mandatory events because the punishments are quite hard. Everyone else will play, gain points, and you won’t.
“There’s a certain bonus system that is reduced if you don’t show up to the mandatory events.
“One hand you don’t want to show up injured. But if you don’t play a mandatory event, they cut 25 per cent of your year-end bonus.
“You’re forcing players to show up injured or sick, or whatever, when that is not what I think is very fair.”
Newly minted seventh seed Lorenzo Musetti produced his second consecutive straight-set sweep, defeating Colombian lucky loser Daniel Galan 6-4, 6-0, 6-4.
The Italian, who reached the Rome semi-finals, is hoping that his clay momentum will carry him to a personal best at Roland Garros.
“It’s been a tremendous clay season so far. But the ambitions now are higher. Of course, here I never reached more than the fourth round,” he said after achieving his 10th victory here.
“Hopefully this will be the year. The mentality is to try to beat everyone.
“I think I’ll have the chances to play (well against) everyone here. Hopefully I’ll take those chances.”
The Paris Olympic bronze medalist has won 15 of his 18 clay matches this season.
Australian Alexei Popyrin defeated Alejandro Tabilo 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 while American giant Reilly Opelka fell 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-3 to Argentine Marino Navone.
Runner-up four years ago, Stefanos Tsitsipas, was ambushed 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 by Italian left hander Matteo Gigante, who saved four break points as he served for the upset..
