Jesper de Jong, the "loser" who has rightfully earned being "lucky" at Roland Garros

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Jesper de Jong is starring in one of the great stories of Roland Garros 2026. After entering the main draw as a lucky loser, the current world number 101 reached the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career and revealed the secret behind his sudden leap in quality.

Beyond the result against Khachanov, his victim in the third round, Jesper de Jong explained that the key to his evolution in recent months has been mental work. The Dutchman admitted to going through a challenging season, with few victories and too many internal struggles on the court, to the extent of deciding to invest in a sports psychologist and a breathing specialist. Now, he claims that these changes are starting to bear fruit.

These are the keys to Jesper de Jong's unexpected success at Roland Garros 2026

The mental strength that allowed him to win the match

"If I had to explain everything that happened in this match, we would probably be here for hours. It is an incredible achievement for me, and I am very proud of how I managed to stay mentally focused during the match."

"Especially in the fifth set, I think that was the key. The way I came out of the locker room after the break was very important. I managed to start that final set well, and above all, not give away anything. Mentally, I stayed strong in a very challenging moment."

The psychological work that has changed his season

"This year has been tough mentally. I didn't win many matches, and there were really difficult moments. That's why I decided to start working with a sports psychologist and also with a breathing coach."

"I genuinely believe these have been very important investments. In matches like this one is where you really notice the difference. These are tools that are helping me a lot, and I am convinced that a big part of being in my current position right now has to do with the work I have done off the court."

How he learned to stop fighting against himself

"During this season, especially in Challenger tournaments, I had many matches where I was more angry with myself than focused on my opponent."

"That makes everything much harder. Not only from a mental standpoint but also physically. I was just talking about it with my coach after the match. Today, I was able to maintain my energy over five sets because I remained calm, focused on the game, and didn't indulge in negative thoughts. That helped me a lot in managing the physical effort."

The rollercoaster ride he experienced to enter the main draw

"I don't think being a lucky loser gave me extra energy. I simply found another path to reach the main draw. I started the tournament being the first player left out directly from the draw. I had to play the qualifying phase, lost in the final round of the qualifiers, and then missed out on entering as a lucky loser."

"It was a real emotional rollercoaster. It was tough, but in the end, I managed to make it and I am capitalizing on the opportunity. But yes, I had some luck because I ended up occupying a seeded position in the draw, and obviously, that helped my journey a bit."

His best career result and what can change

"It's great news to accumulate so many points because I came to the tournament with very few. Additionally, reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam also represents a significant financial difference."

"But beyond the points or the money, the most important thing is the confidence. I was coming from a tough season, and this result gives me a huge boost for the rest of the year. It is a demonstration that I am doing many things right."

The importance of enjoying the big stages

"I have always had good individual performances, but many times I found myself facing opponents like Alcaraz, Sinner, or Zverev too early in the tournaments. That doesn't help either."

"However, I like the big stages. I enjoy the long battles. Mentally, I usually give my best when I am in matches of this kind. These are situations I relish and where I feel I can compete really well."

His possible duel with Alexander Zverev

"If I have to play against Zverev, it is definitely better to do it in the fourth round than in the second."

"It is evident that the elimination of players like Djokovic or Sinner adds pressure to someone like him. That can work in two ways: it can hinder him or make him think that this is his great opportunity to win the tournament."

"But he still has to win many matches, and I hope to be physically prepared to compete. Last year, he crushed me after the first set because he was physically superior. This year, I feel much stronger and I am eager to see where I really stand."

A body that is also responding well

"I have played six matches in the tournament, and that is already a very positive sign. Honestly, after the match, I told my coach that I could have played another set."

"Now it's time to recover well, take vitamins, avoid getting sick, and continue taking care of all the details. Recovery has been one of the most challenging aspects for me in the past, so I am very satisfied with how my body is responding."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jesper de Jong, el "loser" que se ha ganado a pulso ser "lucky" en Roland Garros