French Open Roland Garros ATP Day Seven Round-Up | Felix Auger-Aliassime leads comeback wins as Berrettini and Tiafoe survive marathons

Sunday, 31 May 2026 at 00:50

Felix after reach semifinals at Paris 2024

The Roland Garros third round delivered a heavy volume of five-set drama, with Matteo Berrettini surviving one of the longest matches of the tournament against Francisco Comesaña after 5 hours and 13 minutes. Alejandro Tabilo also advanced through a punishing encounter, while Juan Manuel Cerúndolo won a record-breaking marathon against Martín Landaluce in a match that pushed close to six hours of total court time.

Elsewhere at the French Open, Francisco Cerúndolo suffered a five-set defeat to Zachary Svajda in a significant upset, while Flavio Cobolli produced one of the most dominant straight-sets performances of the day. Frances Tiafoe and Félix Auger-Aliassime were also central to the Round 3 narrative, both navigating momentum swings to remain in contention at Roland Garros.

Berrettini survives epic against Comesaña in 5-hour thriller

Matteo Berrettini def. Francisco Comesaña 7-6, 5-7, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6

Matteo Berrettini established early control through aggressive serving and early forehand strikes, edging a tight opening set in a tie-break after saving multiple break points. Comesaña gradually neutralised that advantage by extending baseline exchanges and targeting Berrettini’s backhand side, which allowed the Argentine to take the second and third sets.

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The match shifted again in the fourth as Berrettini increased first-serve percentage and began shortening points through more direct serve-plus-one patterns. That adjustment reduced Comesaña’s ability to build rhythm from the baseline and forced a deciding fifth set.

In the final stages, neither player separated until the super tie-break, where Berrettini’s serve under pressure proved decisive. The Italian saved match points and closed out a 15-13 breaker to secure one of the most physically demanding wins of the Roland Garros third round, advancing into the last 16.

Tabilo outlasts Kouamé after late tie-break tension

Alejandro Tabilo def. Moïse Kouamé 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(11-9)

Alejandro Tabilo started well, controlling early baseline exchanges and capitalising on Kouamé’s inconsistent first-serve patterns to take the opening set. The French teenager responded strongly in the second and third sets, increasing return aggression and using depth to push Tabilo into extended defensive positions.

Kouamé briefly looked in control after moving ahead in the fourth set, but failed to consolidate key break opportunities as Tabilo adjusted by absorbing pace more effectively and targeting backhand exchanges. The match tightened as both players held serve through a tense closing phase.

Tabilo ultimately edged a high-pressure deciding tie-break after Kouame saved multiple match points, with improved second-serve efficiency proving decisive for the South American. Tabilo advances to the fourth round at Roland Garros after surviving one of the most volatile matches of the day.

Cerúndolo falls to Svajda in five-set upset

Zachary Svajda def. Francisco Cerúndolo 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3

Francisco Cerúndolo began in control, using depth and baseline authority to take the opening two sets, with Svajda initially struggling to handle sustained forehand pressure. The American gradually changed the pattern by increasing first-serve effectiveness and shortening rallies.

The momentum shift began in the third set, where Svajda improved return positioning and began forcing Cerúndolo into longer defensive exchanges. That adjustment reduced the Argentine’s control over baseline tempo and allowed the match to swing fully.

By the fifth set, Cerúndolo’s level dropped physically after extended time on court, while Svajda maintained consistency on serve and return. The American completes the upset in five sets, eliminating the seeded player and progressing into the Round of 16.

Cerundolo prepares to serve during his participation in Madrid Open

Francisco Cerundolo reached Madrid Open semis and lost against Casper Ruud

Cobolli dominates Tien in straight-sets statement win

Flavio Cobolli def. Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2, 6-3

Flavio Cobolli produced one of the most controlled performances of the third round, immediately imposing heavy baseline pressure and breaking early in each set. Learner Tien struggled to gain any sustained rhythm on serve, frequently forced into defensive positions behind the baseline.

Cobolli’s ability to dominate second-serve returns proved decisive, repeatedly securing early breaks that removed any competitive tension from the match. Tien was unable to counter the Italian’s depth or variation across three sets.

The straight-sets win sends Cobolli into the fourth round with minimal physical expenditure, marking him as a notable presence in a section of the draw lacking top-ranked contenders.

Tiafoe survives five-set battle to reach last 16

Frances Tiafoe def. Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-1, 6-2

Frances Tiafoe was pushed to the limit by Jaime Faria in a five-set contest that swung sharply across momentum phases before the American eventually completed a comeback. Faria took early control by applying consistent depth from the baseline and capitalising on Tiafoe’s slow start, particularly in return games where the Portuguese player dictated first-strike patterns to claim the opening two sets.

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The match shifted in the third set, where Tiafoe edged a tight tie-break after stabilising his first-serve percentage and reducing unforced errors in extended rallies. That moment proved decisive structurally, as it allowed the American to reset the rhythm of the contest and begin taking more control of shorter exchanges.

From the fourth set onwards, Faria’s physical output declined as Tiafoe increased return aggression and began consistently targeting the backhand wing to force defensive positions. The American dominated the fourth set 6-1 before carrying that momentum into the fifth, where improved serve efficiency and heavier baseline depth secured a full turnaround and passage into the Roland Garros Round of 16.

Auger-Aliassime fights back in four-set comeback win

Félix Auger-Aliassime def. Brandon Nakashima 5-7, 6-1, 7-6, 7-6

Félix Auger-Aliassime overcame an inconsistent start to defeat Brandon Nakashima in four sets, recovering from an opening set deficit through a gradual improvement in serve efficiency and baseline control. Nakashima began more solidly, exploiting early second-serve vulnerability and maintaining cleaner patterns in neutral rallies to take the first set 7-5.

The Canadian responded immediately in the second set with a significant shift in first-serve effectiveness, which allowed him to shorten points and avoid extended baseline exchanges where Nakashima had been more stable. That adjustment produced a dominant 6-1 set, restoring balance to the contest.

The third and fourth sets were both decided in tie-breaks, reflecting how closely matched the pair remained in extended service games. Auger-Aliassime’s serve under pressure ultimately proved decisive, with improved first-strike execution and better clutch execution in both breakers allowing him to close out the match in four sets. The result sends him into the Roland Garros Round of 16 after a difficult but controlled recovery performance.