From movie sets to center court: Former child actor Damir Dzumhur set to challenge Carlos Alcaraz in Roland Garros third round

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Damir Dzumhur faces a formidable challenge this Friday as he takes on defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the third round of Roland Garros 2025, carrying with him one of the most curious and inspiring stories of the tournament.

Dzumhur’s was born on May 20, 1992, in Sarajevo. His birth coincided with the early days of the Bosnian War. Growing up in such difficult circunstances, Dzumhur was a gifted child who practiced skiing and football alongside tennis. His father, Nerfid, who has coached him throughout his career, founded a tennis school in 1994 and began training Damir at the age of five. Later in his career Dzumhur made history by becoming Bosnia and Herzegovina’s highest-ranked male player, reaching a career-high ATP ranking of World No. 23 in 2018.

Adding another layer to his amazing story, Dzumhur started acting during his teenage years. At 14, he appeared as a background actor in Grbavica, a 2006 film by Jasmila Žbanić that won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. A year later, he secured a significant role as a sniper named Duncan in the German war drama Snipers Valley (2007).

Dzumhur paved the way for future generations of Bosnian players. He became the first male player from Bosnia and Herzegovina to compete in a Grand Slam main draw and to win an ATP title. His breakout season came in 2017, when he claimed titles in St. Petersburg and Moscow, becoming the first player to win both Russian ATP events in a single year.

Now at 33, Dzumhur is enjoying a surprise resurgence. His victory in the second round of the 2025 French Open against France's favorite Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a tough four-setter marked his return to the tournament's spotlight, and his matchup against Alcaraz promises to be one of the emotional highlights of the tournament.

Without a doubt, Dzumhur's story is a special one, and on Friday against Alcaraz, he has yet another chance to write another unbelievable chapter. ¿Will Dzumhur's journey end at hands of the reigning champion or is he ready to steal the show once more and finish the day as the main character?