NADAL INTO QUARTERS

NINE-TIME champion Rafael Nadal yesterday reached a record-equalling 11th French Open quarter-final with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over Spanish compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut.

Nadal, who turned 31 on Saturday, equalled the mark for Roland Garros last-eight appearances held by Roger Federer.

The 14-time major winner has dropped just 20 games in four rounds so far, just one more than he lost at the same stage in 2012. The fourth seed will face either Canada’s Milos Raonic or Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta for a place in the semi-finals.

“I’m happy because Roberto is a very good player. It’s very important for me to be in the quarter-finals one more time,” Nadal said.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic would also become an 11-time quarter-finalist in Paris if he beat Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas overnight. FORMER No.1 Caroline Wozniacki returned to the French Open quarterfinals for the first time since 2010, eliminating 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

The 11th-seeded Wozniacki is a twotime runner-up at majors.

She played her typically safe style for much of the match, winding up with 15 fewer unforced errors than No.8 Kuznetsova.

Wozniacki also broke in half of Kuznetsova’s 12 service games.

Wozniacki missed the 2016 French Open because of an ankle injury. She lost in the first or second round each of the previous three years. TWO weeks past his 21st birthday, unseeded Karen Khachanov of Russia became the youngest man to reach the French Open’s fourth round since 2009, beating 21st-seeded American John Isner 7-6 (1), 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3).

Isner was the last US man in the draw of 11 who entered the tournament. Khachanov is playing at Roland Garros for the first time. It is only the third major of his career.

The match was suspended a night earlier after the first set because of rain.

Despite hitting eight double-faults, Khachanov won all 23 games he served against Isner, saving four break points.

AFP