The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Djokovic made to fight as Nadal finds top gear
Spaniard cruises on as champion needs five sets
Novak Djokovic survived a five-setter against Diego Schwartzman to reach the fourth round of the French Open while Rafael Nadal celebrated his most onesided victory at Roland Garros.
The title favourite dropped just a single game against Nikoloz Basilashvili, winning 6-0 6-1 6-0.
It was his 100th best-of-five-sets match on clay, and Nadal’s record now reads: won 98, lost two.
The Spaniard has been raving about his form since arriving in Paris, and said: “Today was one of the best matches I have ever played, without a doubt.
“I am really happy because I have a really good feeling. Every day my training is going very well, my practice. When I have a match, I play very well.”
Georgian Basilashvili was left with rather different feelings.
“The score is quite embarrassing but I have to accept it,” said the 25-year-old.
Djokovic and Nadal posted identical scorelines in the second round but this was a very different afternoon for the defending champion, who trailed Schwartzman by two sets to one before turning things around.
Schwartzman is one of the smallest players on tour at only 5ft 7in but his shots pack a punch and he shocked Djokovic by recovering from a break down to take the opening set before winning the third.
But Schwartzman had expended all his energy and Djokovic moved through with a 5-7 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-1 win to a fourthround clash with Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
There was still time for a heated row with umpire Carlos Ramos, who penalised Djokovic a first serve for a time violation at 4-0 in the fourth set and then gave him a warning for bad language.
Andre Agassi did not make an appearance on Court Philippe Chatrier until midway through the second set, and Djokovic revealed after the match their partnership is set to continue in the long term.
Agassi said in an interview yesterday he is planning to come to Wimbledon, and Djokovic hopes the American will be with him for all the biggest tournaments.
“He was not supposed to be here today, because we have finished yesterday with our in-person collaboration here in Paris,” said the Serbian.
“He managed to reschedule certain things and show up today.
“I hope we can create something that is going to go long term. We don’t have anything set in stone. He’s going to try his best to be in the biggest tournaments with me.
“Of course we both agree that I’m going to need someone also on a day-today basis that can work with him, but he’s the man.”
David Goffin was forced to retire during his match after suffering an ankle injury in a bad fall.
The 10th seed was leading Horacio Zeballos 5-4 in the opening set on Court Suzanne Lenglen when he tripped over the covers at the back of the court.
There was another retirement on Court 2, where Guillermo Garcia-Lopez pulled out with a thigh injury when trailing fifth seed Milos Raonic 6-1 1-0.
Sixth seed Dominic Thiem is yet to drop a set and ended the brave run of Steve Johnson with a 6-1 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 win.
The pair shared an emotional hug at the net, with Johnson having lost his father less than a month ago.
Pablo Carreno Busta reached the fourth round at a grand slam for the first time, beating Grigor Dimitrov 7-5 6-3 6-4.