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  Carlos Alcaraz’s French Open run ends in four-set defeat by Alexander Zverev | Tennisspeak Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz’s French Open title bid ended in a four-set defeat by Alexander Zverev. Alcaraz was tipped by many as a potential Roland Garros winner this year, but the swashbuckling form which swept him into the quarter-finals deserted him for too long against third seed Zverev. German Zverev took the first two sets and won a tense tie-break in the fourth to secure a first win over a top-10 player at a grand slam, and then promptly turned the air blue on live TV. “S****ing my pants,” was his ill-judged response when interviewed on court. A total of 32 unforced errors from Alcaraz and only 18 winners across the first two sets told its own story as Zverev eased into the lead. Alcaraz struck back in the third, a whipped crosscourt forehand bringing up a set point on the Zverev serve which he converted with one of dozens of drop shots. A double fault gifted Zvere...

French Open crowd provides unmatched atmosphere | Tennisspeak The roar that greeted Alize Cornet's second-round victory against Jelena Ostapenko at the French Open on Thursday was so deafening that the Latvian former Roland Garros champion literally had to cover her ears. The roar that greeted Alize Cornet's second-round victory against  Jelena Ostapenko  at the  French Open  on Thursday was so deafening that the Latvian former Roland Garros champion literally had to cover her ears after being overwhelmed by the support her French opponent received on court Philippe Chatrier. The Roland Garros crowd is known to be fickle, corporate seats are often empty at lunchtime, but when a French player needs support, spectators can turn the usually quiet tennis courts into a wild arena and the claycourt Grand Slam provides an atmosphere unmatched at other majors. "Poor opponent. It was difficult for her," Cornet said of Ostapenko. "When you see all these people he...