Is this the fortnight Alexander Zverev wins his first major title?
The German maintained his impressive record at Roland Garros on Thursday when he cruised past Slovakian Alex Molcan 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the third round for the seventh time.
In a dominant display, Zverev opened his shoulders to hit through Molcan, striking 42 winners in the night session on Court Philippe-Chatrier to advance after one hour and 58 minutes in their first ATP Head2Head meeting.
Zverev is a two-time semi-finalist in Paris, having suffered a right ankle injury against Rafael Nadal in the last four last year. Twelve months on and the 26-year-old is fully fit and firing again at Roland Garros, where he will meet Frances Tiafoe in the third round. The 12th-seeded American downed Madrid semi-finalist Aslan Karatsev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the third round for the third time.
Zverev, who defeated Lloyd Harris in straight sets in his first-round match, now holds a 25-7 record at Roland Garros. Earlier this season, the 22nd seed reached semi-finals on hard in Dubai and on clay in Geneva.
Taylor Fritz defeated Arthur Rinderknech, the last remaining Frenchman in the singles draw, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to equal his best result at Roland Garros.
The American, who is making his seventh apperance in Paris, hit cleanly throughout the two-hour, 50-minute clash to seal his 31st tour-level win of the season.
The ninth seed Fritz next meets Francisco Cerundolo. The Argentine overcame German lucky loser Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
In other second-round action, Borna Coric clawed past Argentine Pedro Cachin 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The Croatain Coric, who is 9-4 on clay this season, will next meet another Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Etcheverry defeated Australian Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3.
