Nadal, Djokovic to clash in quarterfinals
PARIS: Rafael Nadal was pushed hard by Canada’s Felix AugerAliassime but survived to set up a mouthwatering quarterfinal with Novak Djokovic yesterday.
Nadal overcame a sluggish start and a stiff challenge from the ninth seed in an enthralling 36, 63, 62, 36, 63 win yesterday.
Earlier, Djokovic had shown glimpses of his brilliant best to demolish Diego Schwartzman 61, 63, 63 and secure a record 16th career Roland Garros quarterfinal.
It was only the third time in his 112 matches that Nadal has been taken to the fifth set at Roland Garros. But he kept his blemishfree record intact, wrapping up the win in 4hr 21min to wild applause from the crowd.
Nadal will hope he can recover in time from the gruelling contest for his 59th career meeting with the reigning champion.
The Spaniard, who will turn 36 this week, has lifted the Musketeers’ Cup a record 13 times but was beaten in the semifinals last year by Djokovic.
‘‘Of course, we know each other well. We have a lot of history together,’’ Nadal said.
‘‘I am going to be focused, I will try my best. I don’t know what will happen but I will fight until the end.’’
Djokovic’s pace was too much for Schwartzman, who barely threatened despite enjoying a 30 lead in the second set.
From then on it was oneway traffic and Djokovic won 12 of the remaining 15 games on a chilly Court Suzanne Lenglen against the Argentine, a semifinalist at Roland
Garros in 2020.
Djokovic has now reached the last eight in Paris for the 13th year in a row and has yet to drop a set.
Third seed, and 2020 US Open runnerup, Alexander Zverev overcame nerves and problems with his erratic serve to beat Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles 76 (1311), 75, 63.
The 25yearold German will next face teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz, who produced a remarkable backtothenet, betweenthelegs lob to earn the last service break he would need in a 61, 64, 64 victory over Russian Karen Khachanov.
Khachanov was a quarterfinalist in Paris in 2019 and seeded 21st this year.
Teenager Coco Gauff reached the French Open quarterfinals for the second year in a row when she destroyed Belgian Elise Mertens 64, 60 in the fourth round yesterday.
The American needed a set to adjust before steamrolling the 31st seed with aggressive returns to set up a meeting with compatriot Sloane Stephens.
Gauff (18), who clinched her maiden claycourt title at the EmiliaRomagna Open last year, has been growing fond of playing on the slow surface.
‘‘I definitely feel confident on the court. I feel like it really suits my game,’’ the 18th seed told media.
With several top players, including third seed Paula Badosa, having already been knocked out, Gauff has a unique opportunity to make it to the last four of a grand slam for the first time.
But she is keeping her feet on the ground.
‘‘I know that some of the higher seeds on my side definitely dropped out of the draw.
‘‘But also, at the same time, I think, you know, the opportunity, I feel like it depends how you look at it,’’ she added. Gauff will face Stephens after the 2018 finalist defeated 23rd seed Jil Teichmann 62, 60.
Stephens was trailing with the Swiss serving at 20, 4015 but the American bounced back in style, winning 12 games in a row to reach the last eight in Paris for a third time. — AAP/Reuters