Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov live to fight another day

Shahida Jacobs

Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov were given big scares in the second round at Roland Garros.

Second seed Zverev was forced to dig deep by Dusan Lajovic as the Serb led two sets to one before the German stormed back to win 2-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in three hours and 24 minutes.

It was an error-strewn match from Zverev as he made 53 unforced errors compared to 42 winners. He will take on Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur next after the 26th seed beat Radu Albot 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 1-6, 7-5.

Dimitrov had an even tougher battle on his hands against Jared Donaldson as it took him four hours and 19 minutes to win 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8.

The third seed from Bulgaria claimed the decisive break in the 17th game of the fifth set to set up a match against Fernando Verdasco from Spain.

Kei Nishikori was another player who required five sets to advance as the 19th seed beat Benoit Paire from France 6-3, 2-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

David Goffin was in trouble early on against Corentin Moutet as he was 2-5 down in the first set, but he bounced back to win 15 consecutive games to secure a 7-5, 6-0, 6-1 victory.

The Belgian will take on Gael Monfils in the third round after the Frenchman secured a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 win over Martin Klizan.

Sixteenth seed Sam Querrey from the United States crashed out as he suffered a 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 6-1 defeat at the hands of Gilles Simon while Mateo Berrettini beat Ernests Gulbis 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Also through is Karen Khachanov with a 6-2, 7-6 (9-7), 6-7 (0-7), 6-3 victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez from Spain.

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