Nadal: More than just making up the numbers
PARIS — Another French Open victory, and more career milestones for Rafael Nadal.
With a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4) win on Monday against up-and-coming German player Maximilian Marterer, Nadal moved into the quarterfinals and above Jimmy Connors on the alltime list of match-winners at majors.
Connors won 233. Nadal has 234.
Just Novak Djokovic, with 244 Grand Slam wins, and Roger Federer, with 332, are ahead of him.
But in his chase for a record-extending 11th title at Roland Garros, the only numbers Nadal seems to be keeping close track of are those up on the scoreboard. It had, for example, seemingly escaped him that in beating Marterer, a 22-year-old with a promising game, Nadal also notched up his 900th career win on tour.
Although such numbers might not be foremost in Nadal's mind, they are gauges to the impressive longevity and winning consistency of the Spaniard who turned 32 on Sunday.
"I don't feel myself old. But I am 32, and I am here around since 2003, so it's a long way, a lot of years. I started very young," he said. "Being honest, I am enjoying the day by day on the tour and I hope to keep doing this for a while."
Nadal's next opponent, Diego Schwartzman of Argentina, will be playing his first Roland Garros quarterfinal. It will be Nadal's 12th.
The only other player with that many in the professional era is Djokovic, who plays his 12th quarterfinal against Marco Cecchinato of Italy.
Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic, both former U.S. Open champions, completed the quarterfinal lineup with wins.
Cilic, runner-up at the Australian Open in January, was up two sets and seemingly cruising against Fabio Fognini before the hard-to-dislodge Italian took the next two sets, saving a match point along the way. The thirdseeded Cilic ultimately prevailed 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-3.AP