Djokovic ready for Nadal

PARIS, France, May 31 ------ Rafael Nadal set up a blockbuster French Open quarter-final against world No. 1 Novak Djokovic when he defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set fourth-round epic and pledged to "fight until the end."

Nadal, the 13-time champion at Roland Garros and holder of a record 21 Grand Slam titles, triumphed over the Canadian, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, in a match which lasted four hours and 21 minutes. It was only the third time in his 17-year, 112-match career in Paris that Nadal had been stretched to five sets. Nadal and Djokovic will meet for the 10th time at Roland Garros and 59th overall in a rivalry stretching back to 2006. "We know each other well; we have a lot of history. The only thing I can say is that I will be focussed, try my best and fight until the end," said Nadal on facing the defending champion.

Djokovic has been responsible for two of Nadal's three defeats in Paris. Djokovic reached the quarterfinals for the 16th time when he eased to a 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 victory against 15th seed Diego Schwartzman of Argentina. "I'm ready for it," said Djokovic of facing his old rival. Djokovic or Nadal could face Spanish teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals.

The 19-year-old romped into his first French Open quarterfinal with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian Karen Khachanov. In the wide open women's event, which saw nine of the top 10 seeds fall before the second week, American teenager Coco Gauff set up a quarterfinal duel with compatriot Sloane Stephens. Gauff, 18, reached the last-eight for the second successive year with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Belgium's Elise Mertens.

Source: philstar.com