Zverev survives scare at French Open, Djokovic kept waiting

PARIS :Alexander Zverev survived a big scare in an evening marathon at the French Open on Saturday, as more rain delays kept defending champion Novak Djokovic waiting in the Roland Garros locker room before a potential milestone.

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka overcame Paula Badosa in a testing clash between best friends, while Russian-born Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva won plenty of new admirers after she kept the flag flying for her adopted country.

Zverev provided the drama on Court Philippe Chatrier as the German fourth seed was dragged into a battle by Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor before prevailing 3-6 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-6 (10-3).

"I always struggle against him. I don't like to play against him but all the credit to him for taking it all the way," Zverev said after avoiding what would have been his earliest loss in Paris since a first-round exit in 2017.

"Incredible player and fighter until the end. The atmosphere today was unbelievable. I loved every second of it."

With Grigor Dimitrov's match against Zizou Bergs shifted to the main showcourt, Djokovic had to twiddle his thumbs ahead of his clash with Lorenzo Musetti, where the Serbian will target a 369th Grand Slam match win to equal Roger Federer atop the all-time list.

Sabalenka and Badosa put their friendship on the back burner in their seventh career meeting, which promised to go the distance after a tight first set where breaks of serve flowed freely.

But Belarusian Sabalenka, bidding to become the first woman since Serena Williams nine years ago to win the Australian Open and Roland Garros titles in the same season, stepped up with power, precision and guile to seal a 7-5 6-1 win.

"On court we're opponents, but off it we're friends," said Sabalenka. "I just saw her right now,