Nadal, Djokovic sail through

MANILA, Philippines, June 9 ------ Novak Djokovic survived a five-set scare while Rafael Nadal shone in the Paris sun as the two Grand Slam heavyweights reached the French Open quarterfinals for the 15th time, stalling the advance of tennis’s next generation.

World number one Djokovic stayed on course to become the first man in over 50 years to win all four Slams twice but only after fighting back from two sets down to see off 19-year-old Lorenzo Musetti, 6-7, 6-7, 6-1, 6-0, 4-0. Musetti, who had needed a medical time-out, retired suffering from cramps and a back injury. Nadal, the 13-time champion and bidding for a record 21st major, claimed his 104th win in Paris by beating another Italian 19-year-old, Jannik Sinner in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, 6-0.

Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Coco Gauff, Barbora Krejcikova and Maria Sakkari all reached the quarter-finals of a Slam for the first time while defending champion Iga Swiatek cruised through. Gauff swept to an impressive 53-minute, 6-3, 6-1 win over Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur. Last year’s runner-up Sofia Kenin, the fourth seed, was knocked out by Sakkari 6-1, 6-3.

Source: philstar.com