Novak Djokovic survived a five-set scare while Rafael Nadal shone in the Paris sun as the two Grand Slam heavyweights reached the French Open quarter-finals for the 15th time, stalling the advance of tennis’s next generation.
World number one Djokovic stayed on course to become the first man in over 50 years to win all four Slams twice but only after fighting back from two sets down to see off 19-year-old Lorenzo Musetti.
Nadal, the 13-time champion and bidding for a record 21st major, claimed his 104th win in Paris by beating another Italian 19-year-old, Jannik Sinner in straight sets.
Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Coco Gauff, Barbora Krejcikova and Maria Sakkari all reached the quarter-finals of a Slam for the first time while defending champion Iga Swiatek cruised through.
Djokovic, the 2016 champion and chasing a 19th major, reeled off 53 of the last 61 points as he made a quarter-final at the majors for the 49th time.
Third seed Nadal downed 18th-seeded Sinner 7-5, 6-3, 6-0 and goes on to face Diego Schwartzman of Argentina who he defeated in the semi-finals in 2020.
Nadal has now won 104 matches at Roland Garros against just two defeats since his 2005 debut while Monday’s victory extended his run of consecutive sets won in Paris to 35.
The 35-year-old Spanish world number three is seeded to face Djokovic in the semi-finals.
India’s Rohan Bopanna lost in the men’s doubles section.
French Open results on Monday, the ninth day of the 2021 tournament at Roland Garros (x denotes seeding):
Men 4th round:
Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) 6-7 (7/9), 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-0, 4-0 - retired
Matteo Berrettini (ITA x9) bt Roger Federer (SUI x8) - walkover
Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) bt Jannik Sinner (ITA x18) 7-5, 6-3, 6-0
Diego Schwartzman (ARG x10) bt Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 7-6 (11/9), 6-4, 7-5
Women 4th round:
Coco Gauff (USA x24) bt Ons Jabeur (TUN x25) 6-3, 6-1
Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) bt Sloane Stephens (USA) 6-2, 6-0
Maria Sakkari (GRE x17) bt Sofia Kenin (USA x4) 6-1, 6-3
Iga Swiatek (POL x8) bt Marta Kostyuk (UKR) 6-3, 6-4
Here’s are the key singles fixtures and the order of play on Monday. Seeds denoted in []. All matches start at 1100 hrs local time (1430 hrs IST) except ones on the main court (1200 hrs local time / 1530 hrs IST). Other times mentioned are local timings.
Court Philippe CHATRIER
1 WS 4th rd Ons JABEUR (TUN) [25] vs Coco GAUFF (USA)[24] followed by
2 MS 4th rd Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB) [1] vs Lorenzo MUSETTI (ITA) followed by
Not before 1600 hrs
3 MS 4th rd Rafael NADAL (ESP) [3] vs Jannik SINNER (ITA) [18] followed by
Not before 2100 hrs
4 WS 4th rd Marta KOSTYUK (UKR) vs Iga SWIATEK (POL)[8]
Court Suzanne LENGLEN
1 WS 4th rd Sloane STEPHENS (USA) vs Barbora KREJCIKOVA (CZE) followed by
2 MS 4th rd Diego SCHWARTZMAN (ARG) [10] vs Jan-Lennard STRUFF (GER)
3 WS 4th rd Sofia KENIN (USA)[4] vs Maria SAKKARI (GRE) [17]
Court 14
3 MD QF Pablo ANDUJAR (ESP) Pedro MARTINEZ (ESP) vs Rohan BOPANNA (IND) Franko SKUGOR (CRO)
The full order of play is here.
With AFP inputs
The French Open will be broadcast on Star Sports Select and Disney+ Hotstar VIP from May 30 in India
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