Novak DJOKOVIC SRB TENNIS : Rolex Paris Masters - Quart de finale - 05/11/2021 AurelienMorissard/Panoramic.
Three-time champion Novak Djokovic headlines a jam-packed Thursday at Roland Garros, where the Serbian is among six Top 10 players in the PIF ATP Rankings on a bumper schedule.
The Serbian’s second-round encounter with Roberto Carballes Baena will follow a pair of WTA matches that begin at 6 a.m. EST / 12 p.m. CEST on Court Philippe-Chatrier. In the evening session, French fans will rally behind one of their own: Gael Monfils, who faces 30th seed Lorenzo Musetti not before 2:15 p.m. EST / 8:15 p.m. CEST.
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev begins the day with his fourth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic. Rome champion Alexander Zverev looks to continue his red-hot form, and build upon his opening-round win against Rafael Nadal, when he faces Belgian David Goffin on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
Two-time finalist Casper Ruud, who is pursuing his first major title this fortnight, plays Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Hubert Hurkacz resumes his meeting with American Brandon Nakashima, who leads the Pole 6-5.
Ben Shelton and former No. 4 Kei Nishikori will continue their back-and-forth battle that was locked at 5-5 before rain cancelled Wednesday’s play in Paris.
Grigor Dimitrov, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Holger Rune, Tommy Paul and Felix Auger-Aliassime’s second-round matches are also scheduled for Thursday.
The loaded order of play comes after steady rain has impacted scheduling the past three days. Rain cancelled play on the outside courts Wednesday, meaning just a handful of matches were completed under the roof of Philippe-Chatrier or Lenglen. Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev were among those to reach the third round.
