Paris : World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic reached a 16th French Open quarter-final on Sunday where old rival and 13-time winner Rafael Nadal could be waiting.
Djokovic, bidding to equal Nadal’s record of 21 Grand Slam titles, eased to a 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 last-16 victory against 15th seed Diego Schwartzman of Argentina.
I have a lot of respect for him (Schwartzman). He’s a good person off the court, said Djokovic who has now beaten Schwartzman seven times in seven meetings.
Djokovic is still to drop a set at Roland Garros after cruising through the first week.
He has also won 22 sets in a row, stretching back to his Italian Open title triumph in Rome earlier this month.
I’ve made a good start but I have a lot of work to do, added Djokovic.
Sloane Stephens reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the third time on Sunday by thrashing Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann 6-2, 6-0 in the last 16.
Third seed Alexander Zverev battled nerves and an erratic serve to beat Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles 7-6(11), 7-5, 6-3 on Sunday and move into the French Open last eight.
The German had to save three set points in the first set and make a comeback from 4-2 down and 15-40 on his own serve in the second while also hitting seven double faults in a rollercoaster performance.
He was driving me nuts, Zverev said. He is one of the fastest players. I felt every return was put on the baseline.
American teenager Coco Gauff hit one backhand around the net post in the first set along the way to earning a berth in the French Open quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.
The 18-year-old American took over from 4-all in the opening set en route to beating No. 31 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-4, 6-0 at Court Philippe Chatrier on Saturday.