Halys

In the cathedral of clay that is Roland-Garros, the third round is often where pretenders are separated from contenders. The early-round adrenaline has faded, the body has accumulated two matches’ worth of bruises, and the prospect of a second week looms like a mirage. For Alexander Zverev, the German powerhouse and Olympic gold medalist, this phase of the tournament is familiar territory. But familiarity does not breed contempt—it breeds expectation.