Novak Djokovic on Monday sailed into a record 19th French Open quarter-final, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner dismantled Andrey Rublev in straight sets.
The 38-year-old Djokovic dusted aside Britain’s Cameron Norrie in three sets, his 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier bringing up the Serbian’s 100th win at the French Open.
His tally of 19 quarter-final appearances at Roland Garros is the record for a single Grand Slam tournament, surpassing the 18 quarter-finals of Roger Federer at Wimbledon.
Photo: AFP
However, Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, is focused on much bigger goals as he chases a new outright record of 25 Grand Slam titles this week.
“I feel good. I know I can play better, but 12 sets played, 12 sets won, it’s been solid so far,” said Djokovic, who likely faces a much more difficult test against world No. 3 Alexander Zverev.
“It’s great, but victory number 101 would be better. I’m very honored ... but I need to continue now,” he added.
Photo: AFP
Djokovic has not played anyone ranked higher than No. 73 through the first four rounds. Zverev is last year’s runner-up and advanced when Djokovic retired injured from their last meeting in the Australian Open semi-finals in January.
Zverev moved into his seventh Roland Garros quarter-final when Dutch opponent Tallon Griekspoor quit with an abdominal problem while trailing 6-4, 3-0.
The German is still hunting a first Grand Slam title. He lost last year’s final to Carlos Alcaraz and then finished runner-up to Sinner in Melbourne.
Photo: AFP
World No. 1 Sinner fired a warning shot to his title rivals with a ruthless 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Russian 17th seed Rublev in the night session.
Sinner, who returned from a three-month doping ban last month at the Italian Open, faces the unseeded Alexander Bublik for a place in the last four.
Bublik took down his second top-10 rival in Paris as the rejuvenated Kazakh came from a set behind to defeat British fifth seed Jack Draper 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Photo: AFP
In the women’s singles, world No. 361 Lois Boisson knocked out third seed Jessica Pegula to become the first home quarter-finalist at Roland Garros since 2017.
Boisson sent shock waves through Roland Garros as she kept the French flag flying with an improbable 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Pegula to join Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva in the last eight.
Boisson, 22, came from a set down against last year’s US Open runner-up to prolong her dream run on her Grand Slam debut.
She is the first French singles quarter-finalist in Paris since Caroline Garica and Kristina Mladenovic made it to the same stage eight years ago. Mary Pierce was the tournament’s last French champion in 2000.
“I really don’t know what to say,” said Boisson, who was roared on by the home fans on Court Philippe Chatrier. “To play on this court with such an atmosphere was incredible. I was confident before the match and knew I could do it even if she was really strong.”
She is the lowest-ranked woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final since former top-20 player Kaia Kanepi at the 2017 US Open.
Kanepi was 418th at the time.
Boisson faces 18-year-old Russian rising star Andreeva today for a place in the semi-finals.
Sixth seed Andreeva moved through in straight sets as she cut short an attempted fightback by Daria Kasatkina to advance 6-3, 7-5.
World No. 2 Gauff brushed aside Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0, 7-5 to step up her pursuit of a first Roland Garros crown and second Grand Slam title.
Former US Open champion Gauff is to play reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in an all-American quarter-final today.
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