French Open: Novak Djokovic through to quarter-finals where Karen Khachanov awaits | Tennis News

Novak Djokovic had a simple day on the workplace as he cruised previous Juan Pablo Varillas and right into a record-breaking seventeenth French Open quarter-final – in opposition to Karen Khachanov.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion was pushed extraordinarily arduous by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his earlier match and struggled bodily however there have been no such considerations in a 6-3 6-2 6-2 win in opposition to Peruvian Varillas.

Djokovic raced right into a 4-0 lead and the one time he appeared in any discomfort was when Varillas received two video games in a row and compelled a break level within the subsequent one.

The third seed, who criticised the gang for booing whereas he took a medical time-out in his earlier match, was once more jeered for his response and cupped his hand to his ear after profitable the subsequent level.

There had been loads of cheers on the finish, although, as Djokovic wrapped up the victory after an hour and 57 minutes.

A two-time champion in Paris, Djokovic has now reached the final eight in Paris for a document seventeenth time, another than 14-time champion Rafael Nadal who’s absent this 12 months due to harm.

Khachanov confirmed good resilience to down Italian Lorenzo Sonego 1-6 6-4 7-6 (9-7) 6-1 and attain the quarter-finals for the second time.

The Russian eleventh seed appeared out of kinds within the opening set earlier than discovering his vary on Court Suzanne Lenglen, utilizing his forehand to devastating impact.

Sonego by no means recovered from losing a 4-0 benefit within the third-set tiebreak, which proved to be the turning level of an entertaining encounter.

“After the first set and a half, I was thinking, what am I doing here, he was hitting all over the place so I decided all I could do was fight,” mentioned the Russian, who made it to the final 4 within the final two Grand Slams in New York and Melbourne.

Alcaraz gunning for Djokovic assembly in final 4

A semi-final blockbuster in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz is looming ever nearer, and the Spaniard continued to look each inch a possible champion in a 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory over Lorenzo Musetti.

The 21-year-old Italian is a giant expertise, particularly on clay, and this was a crowd-pleasing encounter, with Alcaraz pulling off a number of photographs through his legs.

Ultimately it was a simple win, although, as world No 1 Alcaraz, who missed the Australian Open through harm, stayed on monitor for a second successive grand slam title.

The Spaniard ought to face a much bigger take a look at subsequent in opposition to fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was a 7-5 6-3 6-0 winner over Austrian Sebastian Ofner.

Tsitsipas reached the ultimate right here two years in the past however Alcaraz has received all 4 of their earlier conferences, and the highest seed mentioned: “We have played great matches.

“I received each match that we’ve performed. But it doesn’t suggest that I’m going to win each match that we’re going to play. I’ve to be actually centered. He’s a extremely powerful opponent. But, after all, his sport is an efficient sport from my aspect.”

Svitolina’s magical run continues in Paris; Sabalenka snubs press again

Elina Svitolina recovered from a break down within the second set and battled through a tiebreak to knock out Russia’s ninth seed Daria Kasatkina 6-4 7-6 (7-5) and attain the quarter-finals in Paris for a fourth time.

The Ukrainian is brimming with confidence after profitable the Strasbourg title final month following her maternity break and is rapidly rediscovering the shape that took her to the final eight in Paris in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

“Definitely I wouldn’t dream about this when I was giving birth in October last year,” mentioned Svitolina.

“It’s unbelievable for me to be able to compete here and to get to the quarter-final is special. Hopefully I can push further. I’m really motivated to give my everything for the next matches.”

In the final eight, the 28-year-old will face second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who recovered from letting a 5-0 lead slip within the first set to defeat Sloane Stephens 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in an entertaining first girls’s evening session match.

Afterwards, Belarusian Sabalenka once more refused to do a press convention, having beforehand cited psychological well being considerations and feeling unsafe following tense exchanges with a Ukrainian journalist.

Asked concerning the contest, Svitolina mentioned: “I have played the last two matches against Russian players so it will not change, everything will be same. So I’m used to it now.”

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova dug deep to return to the quarter-finals for the primary time since she completed as runner-up right here two years in the past.

Pavlyuchenkova, who was defeated within the 2021 last by Czech Barbora Krejcikova, was examined once more by twenty eighth seed Elise Mertens however rallied from a set and a break down to seal a 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 victory in just a little greater than three hours.

“I had a fear and doubts that maybe I will never win a match again,” mentioned Pavlyuchenkova. “Maybe I will never get my good form back or I will never be fit again. What if I start playing again and the pain comes back and my knee is bad again?

“But I suppose this motivation and this want of coming again and competing once more and being on these huge levels once more and enjoying three-hour matches like right now, there was much more weight on that. So that type of pushed me.

“I believed, I worked so hard and, even with all the failures that I had this year – and there were sometimes ridiculous matches that I lost – still kept on believing, working hard, and just persistence and patience.”

Karolina Muchova claimed a 6-4 6-3 win over Russian fortunate loser Elina Avanesyan to progress to a gathering in opposition to Pavlyuchenkova.