CZECH POUNCE
Krejcikova of Czech Republic stuns 5th seed Svitolina
Paris, June 5: Novak Djokovic moved effortlessly into the French Open fourth round for the 12th successive year on Saturday, setting up an intriguing duel against Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti. In women’s, Elina Svitolina (fifth seed) went down to Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic.
World number one Djokovic, the champion in Paris in 2016 and chasing a 19th Grand Slam title, brushed aside 93rdranked Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.
Djokovic is bidding to be the first man in more than half a century to win all four majors on multiple occasions.
DJOKOVIC TO MEET TEEN SENSATION
Next up for the Serb is 19year-old Musetti after the 76th-ranked Italian fired 50 winners past compatriot Marco Cecchinato in a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory. He becomes just the sixth man since 2000 to make the fourth round of a Slam on debut.
“I have practised with Novak so I know a little bit about his game. There will be more tension, but it’s what I have been working for since childhood,” said Musetti.
“I really like how he plays. He's got a lot of firepower from both forehand and backhand,” Djokovic said ahead of a first meeting with Musetti.
Fellow Italian teen Jannik Sinner, a quarterfinalist in 2020, also made it to the second week, easing past Sweden’s Mikael Ymer 6-1, 7-5, 6-3.
NADAL IN FOURTH ROUND FOR 16TH TIME
Defending champion Rafael Nadal reached the fourth round for the 16th time with his third win of 2021 over Britain’s Cameron Norrie.
Nadal, chasing a 14th Roland Garros title and record-setting 21st Grand Slam, won 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 and goes on to face Italian teenager Jannik Sinner for a place in the last eight.
The third-seeded Spaniard, who now has a record in Paris of 103 wins against just two losses since his 2005 debut, defeated Sinner in the quarter-finals at last year's tournament.
ONLY THREE TOP-10 WOMEN LEFT
Krejcikova of the Czech Republic reached the last 16 for the second successive year with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over three-time quarter-finalist Svitolina (fifth seed).
World number 33 Krejcikova goes on to face former US Open champion Sloane Stephens for a place in the quarter-finals.
“I am super happy, most of my shots were amazing,” said the Czech who is on an eight-match winning streak after capturing a maiden singles title in Strasbourg last week.
Stephens, the 2018 runner-up in Paris, defeated Czech 18th seed Karolina Muchova 6-3, 7-5.
Fourth seed Sofia Kenin, the runner-up in 2020 and the highest seed left, came back to beat fellow American Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
The top three seeds, Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka all failed to get
beyond the third round.
In all, only four of the top 10 made the third round, the fewest in 20 years.
Serena Williams, seeded seventh, plays her last 16 match on Sunday.
Eighth seed and defending champion Iga Swiatek has made the third round for the loss of just seven games. — AFP
THE RESULTS
Men’s singles third round: Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Ricardas Berankis (LTU) 6-1, 6-4, 6-1; Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) bt Cameron Norrie (GBR) 63, 6-3, 6-3; Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) bt Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 3-6, 64, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3; Jannik Sinner (ITA x18) bt Mikael
Ymer (SWE) 6-1, 7-5, 6-3; Diego Schwartzman (ARG x10) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4,
6-2, 6-1; Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 6-4, 7-6
(7/3), 6-2.
Women’s singles third round: Ons Jabeur (TUN x25) bt Magda Linette (POL) 3-6, 6-0, 61; Sloane Stephens (USA) bt Karolina Muchova (CZE x18) 6-3, 7-5; Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) bt Elina Svitolina (UKR
x5) 6-3, 6-2; Sofia Kenin (USA x4) bt Jessica Pegula (USA x28) 4-6, 61, 6-4; Marta Kostyuk (UKR) bt Varvara Gracheva (RUS) 6-1, 6-2; Iga Swiatek (POL x8) bt Anett Kontaveit (EST
x30) 7-6 (7/4), 6-0.