Errors eliminate Raonic from French Open

PARIS Too many errors spelled the end of Milos Raonic’s run at the French Open.

The No. 5 seed from Thornhill, Ont., was upset by Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (6), 6-4, 8-6, and committed a whopping 84 unforced errors in a hard-slogging match that stretched four hours and 17 minutes.

“Heavy disappointment,” Raonic said. “That’s probably the best way to describe it.”

The 26-year-old fought off six match points before Carreno Busta finally won with a forehand volley at the net, with Raonic near the back of the court.

Asked if nerves played a part, Raonic talked about his confidence on clay.

“I think it’s just most of the time when I come on clay, I’ll come in playing pretty well on hard courts, so that’s where I get my confidence,” he said.

“It’s not necessarily the easiest for me to pick up confidence on clay courts. I can win matches and I can find ways, but it’s not sort of the surface that comes the most naturally to me.”

Carreno Busta will face ninetime champion Rafael Nadal, who eased past 17th-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.

The fourth-seeded Spaniard won in less than two hours.

Nadal, 31, is seeking his 10th French Open title and 15th grand slam title. His last major came at Roland Garros in 2014.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic is through to the quarter-finals for the eighth straight year. He beat 19th-seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 (5), 6-1, 6-3. Next up for Djokovic is No. 6 Dominic Thiem.

Venus Williams lost to 30thseeded Timea Bacsinszky 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. Defending champion Garbine Muguruza lost to Kristina Mladenovic 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

Teenager Jelena Ostapenko downed Samantha Stosur 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Ostapenko will next face former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.