Ricardas Berankis, Cameron Norrie and Dominik Koepfer are hoping to topple Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer respectively in the French Open third round on Saturday.
Also read: How have French tennis players fared at this year’s Roland Garros
Who are they? AFP Sport looks at their chances:
Ricardas Berankis
Ranked 93 in the world, 30-year-old Berankis is the only Lithuanian in the world’s top 400. He has never beaten world number one Djokovic in three meetings with their most recent clash coming at Roland Garros in 2020.
Berankis won just five games in a straight-set second-round loss.
Also read: Who is Carlos Alcaraz, youngest man to reach French Open 3rd round since 1992?
He is a former world junior number one and won the boy’s title at the US Open in 2007.
French Open best: 3rd round in 2021
Cameron Norrie
Johannesburg-born Norrie has the biggest task of the three men on Saturday when he tries to become only the third man to beat 13-time champion Nadal at Roland Garros in 16 years.
The 25-year-old left-hander, ranked 40, is enjoying a breakout season on clay, reaching the finals in Estoril and Lyon.
Has played Nadal twice already this season, losing at the Australian Open and in Barcelona on clay where the Spaniard won in straight sets for the loss of just five games.
French Open best: 3rd round in 2021
Also read: Not fast but furious Roger Federer lashes out at umpire on towel row
Dominik Koepfer
The 27-year-old, who faces Federer for the first time on Saturday, is ranked 59 and was one of four German men to reach the last 32.
Born in Germany but based in Florida, Koepfer came late to the professional ranks, turning pro at 22 after studying at university in New Orleans, earning a finance degree.
French Open best: 3rd rd, 2021
