Fognini versus Monfils. The implications alone in those three words are enough to send any tennis observer into a heightened state of anticipation over what to expect.

Will Fabio Fognini go through an emotional rollercoaster and perhaps raise the ire of the French crowd? Check. Will Gael Monfils take said crowd on its own emotional rollercoaster? Yes. Will they rack up errors by the dozens and make the outcome unpredictable? Probably. And perhaps, most importantly, to all of France, will Monfils win? Mais oui!

In what could be considered the match of the day, based on sheer drama alone, Monfils, the tournament’s No. 23 seed, notched a mild upset by defeating the 14th-seeded Fognini in five sets 5-7 6-2 6-4 0-6 6-2 to advance to the round of 16 at his home Slam for the fifth time in his career. It wasn’t pretty, but in the end Monfils did well to weather the storm, battling through injury and the mercurial Italian, who’s experienced a renaissance of his own on clay the past 12 months.

Garcia-Lopez’s Run Continues

Speaking of renaissances, the play of Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on clay in 2014 has been phenomenal. After defeating Stan Wawrinka, the No. 3 seed in the first round, Garcia-Lopez has demonstrated he definitely has more in the tank. He eked out a five-setter against American Donald Young and will next face Monfils, a great opportunity for both players. Kudos go out to Young, however. To push one of the toughest clay-courters in the game right now speaks volumes to what he can accomplish. It’s up to Young to continue to build momentum and confidence from that performance.

Rafa Solid as Always

Top seed Rafael Nadal had no trouble against Leonardo Mayer, defeating the Argentine 6-2 7-5 6-2. Nadal did reveal that he’s been having some back pain afterward, but he should still be in good form for his fourth-round matchup.

Darkness Falls

One of the hottest players on tour right now, Philipp Kohlschreiber, is locked in a slugfest with former French Open semifinalist Andy Murray at 7-7 in the fifth set, while another French hope in Richard Gasquet is down two sets to the always-dangerous Fernando Verdasco. Those contests have been suspended due to darkness, with the potential for drama ahead.