With video
Jesper de Jong has pulled off a major stunt at Roland Garros. The 25-year-old Dutchman knocked out the number fifteen in the world, Karen Khachanov, in a match that lasted more than four hours: 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2. With this he reaches the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career.
The performance is extra special because De Jong Lucky Loser was allowed to participate in the main tournament in Paris; In fact, he hadn’t even qualified. However, in the third round he showed that he belongs on this world stage. Khachanov visibly had difficulty with the Dutchman’s strong service.
De Jong started sharply and took the first set 7-5. Khachanov then fought back and tied the score at 7-5, partly because De Jong made too many unnecessary mistakes in that phase (unforced errors) made. In the third set the Russian, a former top 10 player, became increasingly frustrated. He came back to 2-2, but then saw De Jong walk away by winning four games in a row: 6-2.
In the fourth set, De Jong finally took distance, partly thanks to four aces. The Dutchman had the frustrated Russian completely in his pocket, it seemed, and also won the first three games of this set. De Jong even got two match points at 6-5, but took too little initiative. As a result, Khachanov made it 6-6 and came back into the match by also winning the tiebreak.
De Jong did not let disappointment take over in the decisive fifth set. He immediately broke the Russian and even took a 4-0 lead. In that strong set he even broke Khachanov for the third time at 4-2. He was allowed to serve for the match and won: 6-2. De Jong has never defeated a tennis player who is so high in the world rankings.
With this victory, De Jong equals the performance of Tallon Greekpoor, who failed in the fourth round against Alexander Zverev last year. The same Zverev may again be the Dutch fearmonger: the German is De Jong’s next opponent if he wins against the Frenchman Quentin Halys.
The best Dutch performance ever on the Parisian clay remains that of Martin Verkerk, who reached the final in 2003.
liveblog
De Jong wins!
The Dutchman surprises friend and foe by beating Khachanov, number fifteen in the world! De Jong goes to the last sixteen, after he was actually sent home in the qualifications. He eagerly uses the label ‘lucky loser’ and goes to week two at Roland Garros!
There is a good chance that he will meet Zverev, number three in the world, in the fourth round. He will play against Halys tonight. Last year, Greek Spoor had to acknowledge his superiority in the German.
Break De Jong!
De Jong plays a fantastic game and that leads to a break! The Dutchman may decide the game again with a service game: 5-2. It can hardly go wrong, because De Jong has the luxury of two breaks.
Khachanov returns the favor
De Jong fails to reach 5-1 in his own game. Khachanov makes a break and makes the match, which has now lasted more than four hours, exciting again: 4-2.
Khachanov keeps his game
The Russian puts his name on the scoreboard in the fifth set: 4-1.
4-0 De Jong!
He is just two games away from a place in the last sixteen. It would be a resounding surprise, after he was still allowed to participate in the main tournament as a ‘lucky loser’ due to an injury. Moreover, De Jong has not won a single match at ATP level this year.
Double break De Jong!
The Dutchman has regained his form! While the Russian took the upper hand at the end of the fourth set, De Jong is back again. He even got a double break: 3-0. Khachanov, on the other hand, makes many unnecessary mistakes. The level of the Russian fluctuates considerably up and down in this game.
Service game also prey for Dutchman
De Jong has recovered his serve and takes his own game without losing any points: 2-0!
De Jong breaks!
In the first game of the fifth set, the Dutchman looks razor sharp! He immediately makes a break with attacking play.
Khachanov wins fourth set
Things looked great for the Dutchman after he managed to make an early break in the fourth set. Later he got two match points. But it is not enough to secure a place in the last sixteen. Khachanov wins the tiebreak with clear numbers: 7-2.
Khachanov leads in tiebreak
Six points have been played and so the players switch sides. Khachanov has one mini break and is standing 4-2 for.
De Jong fails to use two match points..
The last point in particular was worth cutting. In the longest rally of the game, the Russian just won. It stands 6-6 and so the players prepare for a tiebreak.
De Jong appears again!
Although it did not go well, De Jong comes out on top in his own game: 6-5. If Khachanov keeps his game, a tiebreak awaits.
Khachanov takes three games in a row
The Russian is getting stronger. He maintains his own game without much effort: 5-5.
Khachanov breaks..
Oops, De Jong doesn’t serve it out. The Russian won two games in a row, partly thanks to a great backhand. The tension is back in the match. The Dutchman still leads 5-4, but Khachanov can now serve.
Khachanov keeps the game, De Jong now has his turn
The Russian takes his game without too much effort. It has to happen now for the Dutchman in his own service game.
Dutchman survives tough service game!
Khachanov had the chance to break, but failed to do so. De Jong is just one game away from one sensational victory against number fifteen in the world! Now it is the Russian’s turn again. Can he take the win through a break?
Difficult service game De Jong
Khachanov has a break point, but De Jong lashes out with a great forehand! It still stands 4-2 in favor of the Dutchman. He’s on advantage.
De Jong close to victory
Khachanov once again took his first game, but De Jong does the same. It is now a matter of retaining their own service games for the Dutchman, who with 4-1 leads.
A win would be a big surprise, as De Jong has not yet won a single match at ATP level this year. He has never advanced beyond the third round at the Grand Slam tournaments.
Greek Spoor reached the fourth round in Paris last year. He lost to Zverev, De Jong’s possible next opponent.
De Jong’s dream start in the fourth set
De Jong shoots out of the starting blocks and immediately makes a break! He has now won six games in a row. The Dutchman leads with 2-0.
Jesper de Jong wins third set!
He also manages to make a break in the last game! De Jong wins the set with a whopping 6-2. The Dutchman is only one set away from the last 16, even though he entered the tournament as a ‘lucky loser’ due to an injury.