The defending champion has a job to do; Dzumhur is just happy to be here and healthy
Carlos Alcaraz (2) vs Damir Dzumhur: Friday 30 May, Court Philippe-Chatrier, not before 20:15
There are many men who would take fright at the thought of playing defending champion Carlos Alcaraz under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier. But not Damir Dzumhur. This is only a tennis match – albeit a very important one – and the playing of it is going to be a pleasure.
Born in 1992 just after the start of the conflict in Bosnia Herzegovina, the first four years of Dzumhur’s life were spent in a war zone.
As a young professional athlete, he spent most of 2019 recovering from back, abdominal, shoulder and stomach injuries. Then, when life seemed settled, in 2022 he lost in the first round of qualifying here in Paris and immediately started to feel unwell. Within a couple of hours, he was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis.
“I almost died,” he said, simply. Dzumhur lost 11 kilos in a matter of days and the doctors thought he would never play at the elite level again. But he did and when he came back, he had a new joy and enthusiasm for his sport. He felt he had been given a second chance.
He may need more than good vibes to get the better of Alcaraz, though. The world No.2 did drop a set to Fabian Marozsan in his second round match but then the champion moved into top gear and motored through. That is just what champions do.
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
