Zverev cruises into French Open third round; Lys exits in tears due to illness

Alexander Zverev advanced to the third round of the French Open for the tenth time in his career, showcasing a highly focused performance and serving 19 aces to defeat Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. The German star, currently ranked third in the world, continues his pursuit of a Grand Slam title in Paris without having lost a single set so far in the tournament.

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I always have back problems due to my rheumatism, which I've been carrying around a bit in recent weeks. And there are simply days when it's just not possible.

Zverev's powerful serve, his strongest asset, allowed him to win many free points and avoid any service breaks against Machac, who appeared physically compromised by the end of the match. The Olympic champion from 2021 was in control from the outset, securing the first set with a single break and then taking two more breaks in the second set. Machac, ranked 40 places lower than Zverev, sought assistance from his box and took a medical timeout for his left foot in the second set.

In contrast to Zverev's success, German player Eva Lys's French Open campaign ended prematurely. The 24-year-old lost to Romania's Sorana Cirstea 3-6, 0-6 after initially leading in the first set. Lys later revealed that chronic rheumatic issues significantly impacted her performance.

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I was unfortunately at my limit today.

"I always have back problems due to my rheumatism, which I've been carrying around a bit in recent weeks. And there are simply days when it's just not possible," Lys explained tearfully during her press conference. She described experiencing a sharp pain in her leg while chasing a short ball at 3-2 in the first set, admitting she was "at my limit today." Despite her struggles, Lys stated she did not want her condition to be seen as an excuse and did not seek pity, though the early exit from Roland Garros was painful.

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I don't want to see the illness as an excuse, and without sounding rude: I don't need pity.

With Lys's departure, only Tamara Korpatsch remains among the German women's singles players at the tournament. Korpatsch advanced to the next round by defeating China's Wang Xinyu 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

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It's just shitty, especially at big tournaments.