Defending champ eliminated
Kristina Mladenovic shows French Open champion Garbine Muguruza the door
paris — Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal surged into the French Open quarterfinals for a recordequalling 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 as he strives to become the first man to win 10 titles at a single Grand Slam.
“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,” said Nadal, who turned 31 on Saturday.
“Probably I didn’t play as well as I did the other day, but I still played well.” 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.
As if by stealth, Dominic Thiem moved into the quarterfinals with another quietly devastating performance. The Austrian sixth seed swept aside Horacio Zeballos 6-1 6-3 6-1 to book a last-eight clash with either Novak Djokovic or Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
On form, Thiem is positioning himself as the main threat to Rafa Nadal winning a 10th crown here. The pair could meet in the semis.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic will also become an 11time quarterfinalist in Paris if he defeats Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas later Sunday.
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 quarterfinal — after the 2015 US Open — and will face Timea Bacsinszky for a spot in the last four.
Danish 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki knocked off 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to reach the last eight for just the second time. Wozniacki, who made her only other quarter-final appearance at Roland Garros in 2010, will meet Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko next.
“Svetlana’s a great player, especially on clay so I knew it wouldn’t be easy,” said Wozniacki, a twotime US Open runner-up.
Second seed Karolina Pliskova advanced to round four with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Germany’s Carina Witthoeft. Pliskova, who had won just twice in five previous French Open appearances before this year, will face Paraguay’s Veronica Cepede Royg for a quarterfinal spot.
World number 290 and qualifier Petra Martic reached the last 16 with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Latvian 17th seed Anastasija Sevastova.
Croatia’s Martic, a former top 50 player whose ranking slumped after a back injury sidelined her for 10 months, will face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.
“When I got injured, my only hope was that I would get a second chance so I can play some of my best tennis again,” said Martic. “I still can’t believe that I’m sitting here.” Fifth seed Svitolina downed Magda Linette of Poland 6-4, 7-5.
Venus Williams’ chances of adding a first French Open title to her collection of seven grand slams faded on Sunday after the 36-yearold was beaten 5-7 6-2 6-1 by Swiss Timea Bacsinszky in the fourth round.
It was the second year running that Williams, seeded 10th and competing in her 20th French Open, lost to the Swiss in the Roland Garros fourth round even though she fought back from 5-1 down to rattle off six straight games to win the first set. — Reuters/ AFP