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

Novak Djokovic had a straightforward 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 exhausting 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 regarded 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 group 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 successful the subsequent level.

There have 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 report seventeenth time, another than 14-time champion Rafael Nadal who’s absent this yr as a consequence of damage.

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 regarded out of kinds within the opening set earlier than discovering his vary on Court docket 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 primary set and a half, I used to be considering, what am I doing right here, he was hitting in all places so I made a decision all I might do was battle,” mentioned the Russian, who made it to the final 4 within the final two Grand Slams in New York and Melbourne.

Svitolina’s magical run continues in Paris

Elina Svitolina recovered from a break down within the second set and battled by 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 successful the Strasbourg title final month following her maternity break and is shortly rediscovering the shape that took her to the final eight in Paris in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

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

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