Staff Reporter.
(AFP) – World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic eased into the French Open fourth round for the 13th straight year on Friday.
The top seed cantered to a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 win over Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene, firing nine aces and 30 winners past his 195th-ranked opponent.
Next up for the 35-year-old, who was also French Open champion in 2016, is a match-up with Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, the 15th seed, for a place in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic, bidding for a record-equalling 21st Grand Slam title, has a perfect 6-0 record over Schwartzman including a five-set win in Paris in the third round in 2017.
“I’m always very motivated when I get on the court, with the desire to produce my best level each time. It’s not always possible to do it, but today it was very good,” said Djokovic.
Djokovic, who is yet to drop a set at Roland Garros this year over three rounds, is seeded to face 13-time champion Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals.
Nadal sweeps into Last 16
Rafael Nadal continued his pursuit of a 14th French Open title, cruising past Dutch 26th seed Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the last 16.
The 21-time major champion will play Canadian ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the quarter-finals, where world number one Novak Djokovic could await him.Nadal is now 108-3 at Roland Garros in his career.
“I think I played a good match against a good player. I’m very happy to win,” said Nadal.
The Spaniard had a break point for 5-0 in the third set, but Van de Zandschulp refused to roll over, winning four of the next five games before Nadal put away his second match point, having saved a break point in between the two.
“You always feel a little bit the nerves to finish the match, so I’m happy to be through in straight sets,” said Nadal.
“I think it was my best match of the tournament so far for two-and-a-half sets, so I’m very happy with that.”
Nadal has reached at least the fourth round in 17 of 18 visits to Paris, with the exception of 2016 when he withdrew in the third round with a wrist injury.
Chwartzman eases past Dimitrov
Argentine 15th seed Diego Schwartzman ripped a spectacular backhand winner to wrap up a 6-3 6-1 6-2 win over Grigor Dimitrov, who racked up a staggering 59 unforced errors, to reach the last 16 in Paris for the third straight year.