Nadal cruises, Muguruza exits
NISHIKORI BATTLES ON; BUSTA STUNS RAONIC WHILE BACSINSZKY PACKS OFF VENUS
Paris, June 4: Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal surged into the French Open quarter-finals for a record-equalling 11th time on Sunday, while reigning women’s title-holder Garbine Muguruza crashed out in the last 16.
Nadal continued his ruthless form at Roland Garros by dispatching Spanish 17th seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 to match Roger Federer’s mark of last-eight appearances in Paris.
The 14-time major winner is yet to drop a set, conceding just six games in the last two rounds.
The fourth seed will meet compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta, through to his first Slam quarterfinal, for spot in the last four after the latter stunned Canada’s Milos Raonic.
Carreno Busta, seeded 20th, needed seven match points to clinch a thrilling 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 8-6 win over the fifth-seeded Raonic in four hours and 17 minutes.
Japan’s Kei Nishikori fought off a fierce five-set challenge from rising South Korean talent Hyeon Chung to face Fernando Verdasco in the last 16.
Eighth seed Nishikori led two sets to one but trailed by a double break at 3-0 down in the fourth set when rain halted play on Saturday.
Chung forced the contest into a deciding set as play resumed on Sunday, but the world number 67 double-faulted on match point to gift Nishikori a 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 0-6, 6-4 victory.
Karen Khachanov will play Andy Murray in the fourth round after the giant Russian beat American 21st seed John Isner 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/3).
Kristina Mladenovic ensured France will have women in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1994 after dumping out fourth seed Muguruza 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
The French 13th seed is through to just her second Slam quarter-final — after the 2015 US Open — and will face Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky for a spot in the last four.
Bacsinszky qualified for her third successive French Open quarter-final with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win over Venus Williams.
Danish 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki knocked off 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 61, 4-6, 6-2 to reach the last eight for just the second time. Wozniacki will meet Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko next.
Ostapenko reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over 2010 runner-up Samantha Stosur.
Second seed Karolina Pliskova advanced to round four with a 7-5, 61 victory over Germany’s Witthoeft.
World number 290 and qualifier Petra Martic reached the last 16 with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Latvian 17th seed Anastasija Sevastova. Fifth seed Svitolina downed Magda Linette of Poland 6-4, 7-5. Carina