Christian Garin (37th) added new joy to Roland Garros. In a duel that lasted two hours and 49 minutes, the Chilean beat the Belarusian Iliá Ivashka (50th) 6-3, 7-6, 4-6 and 6-3 and entered the third round of the second Grand Slam of the year. Despite the fact that he sometimes suffered from the power of his rival, Gago had one of the most accurate days of his right hand in favor, which was key to ultimately giving him the victory.

The first national racket got off to a good start in what was an even start. He was good on serves, even hitting his first ace of the game early on. He was also close to achieving his first break, which however was prevented by his opponent, who had numerous complications with Gago’s responses.

Ivashka reacted in time and began to match actions. In fact, it forced Garin, who had just left American Tommy Paul on the road 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 and 6-3, to demand a bit more in the next game to avoid the Belarusian don’t lose. put you to the advantage. Despite the fact that the Chilean was complicated by his rival’s good play, he was able to conduct a complex game, which would have meant a slap in the face, as he looked superior on the pitch.

Since then, the duel has been played at a high level, although it seemed that the Tank was more comfortable. Both the Chilean and his opponent took care of their respective serves, showing that the engagement was only going to be defined by small details. Until the Chilean was about to take the lead, after a triple break point which he finally took advantage of to equalize the opening round.

The trend continued in the second run. With high concentration, Garin continued to put on a high performance, mainly thanks to his good forehand day, which gave his opponent few chances to shorten the result. Fortune, however, seemed to be on the side of Ivashka, who in the third game saved one of her serves with a ball that hit the net.

But in the fifth game, Gago endorsed his good time. Again he found a triple chance to break and he didn’t miss the chance either. Once again he took the lead to put victory in his hands. However, there was still one game left and Ivashka didn’t want to give up more ground, so he made an effort to fight back at the National and break it up immediately, leaving it 3-3.

After that, the Belarusian took care of his service to temporarily place himself at the top. Garin did the same, and after scoring a contested high-intensity shot, he also held his serve to dodge his opponent’s surge and regain confidence. And although the European didn’t give up the advantage after that, the Chilean also continued evenly, which was repeated in the next two games, forcing the set to be decided in the tie-break. , a case in which the Tank had to row from behind to stay with the inning, even being down 4-2 at the time.

The third round was complicated from the start for the Tank. Ivashka broke him in the opener, setting up the preparation for the national and making it even more difficult when he then took care of his serve to go up 2-0. Gago had an obligation to keep his service. But he was unsuccessful, the Belarusian broke him again to increase his difference even more, reaching 4-0 until the fifth game, in which Garin could hardly discount.

Garin’s appetite was whetted after game 8. In it, he broke his rival’s serve, going 5-3. And even if the task seemed complex, Gago did not stop fighting and polished his serve to get closer to the equality in the set, while his rival looked a little more uncomfortable. The next game was going to be decisive for the Chilean. However, Ivashka imposed her power and took the set.

The third round was a wake-up call for the Belarusian, so the Tank already knew that the fourth was going to be a point-by-point affair and the effort needed to be greater. He did it and got his reward in the fourth game, in which he managed to break his opponent with a good play and a superb forehand on the returns. Garin took care of his serve afterwards and confirmed his level in the next game, again breaking the European who, visibly confused, threw his racquet to the ground.

With two breaks in his favor, Garin’s victory was already in motion. He only had to hone his serves to even the win and he did. Despite the complications of the national in the third round, he confirmed that he is solid and that he wants to make a good presentation at the Parisian Grand Slam, in order to leave behind him those dark moments he went through in 2021. Now he will face Russian Andrey Rublev (7th), who won 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 and 6-3 against Argentinian Federico Delbonis (65th).

Gago analyzed his performance against the European and was happy with his current moment in the discipline.

“I am very happy, a difficult game. A tough opponent, very aggressive. I am happy to have won. Happy after the difficult year I had, especially at the beginning. I’m playing a lot better, I’m calmer and I’m enjoying it a lot, ”began the Tank, in dialogue with ESPN.

“It’s about getting to know yourself, going beyond your limits. I think today was a complete game. In the third set, he played much better, while he was down. I’m a little tense. Afterwards, I was able to recover well, solidly, and I started to serve well. Happy to have won,” he added.

Garin assured that he is in a good moment, despite the fact that, according to him, he still has aspects to improve: “You have to follow the same line, play aggressively and look for the deepest return. We have to be more offensive with my serve. These details need to be improved. In fact, I’ve upped my game a lot in the last three weeks. The addition of these games is positive. Physically I’m fine. They are several positive things and I think I deserve it”.

“I started in Madrid with better feelings, then I had a bad game. But in this process of getting to know myself, of relieving myself of the pressure. I’m proving it. I’m playing better, I’m taking fun is the most important thing, and I win with authority is what I want the most,” he concluded.