{"id":69390,"date":"2021-06-06T15:19:14","date_gmt":"2021-06-06T15:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=69390"},"modified":"2021-06-06T15:19:14","modified_gmt":"2021-06-06T15:19:14","slug":"djokovic-nadal-set-french-open-landmarks-as-federer-triumphs-on-silent-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=69390","title":{"rendered":"Djokovic, Nadal set French Open landmarks as Federer triumphs on silent night"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Sports Desk:<\/strong> Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal recorded new French Open landmarks as they moved effortlessly into the fourth round on Saturday, setting up intriguing duels with a pair of Italian teenagers seen as heir apparents to the Grand Slam superstars.<\/p>\n

However, with his 40th birthday just two months away, Roger Federer showed that he is still a force after battling into the second week for the 15th time in a tie which ended in the early hours of Sunday.<\/p>\n

Djokovic, the champion in Paris in 2016 and chasing a 19th Grand Slam title, brushed aside 93rd-ranked Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.<\/p>\n

The world number one is in the last 16 for the 12th successive year and will next face 19-year-old Lorenzo Musetti who is making his debut at the Slams.<\/p>\n

Defending champion Nadal reached the fourth round for a record 16th time, claiming his 103rd victory in Paris to set a new record of match wins at a Grand Slam, eclipsing Federer's 102 victories at the Australian Open<\/p>\n

Nadal's 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Britain's Cameron Norrie put him into the last 16 of a major for the 50th time.<\/p>\n

Nadal, chasing a 14th Roland Garros title and record-setting 21st Grand Slam, goes on to face Italian teenager Jannik Sinner.<\/p>\n

Musetti, ranked 76 in the world, fired 50 winners past compatriot Marco Cecchinato in a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory.<\/p>\n

He becomes just the sixth man since 2000 to make the fourth round of a Slam on debut.<\/p>\n

“I have practised with Novak so I know a little bit about his game. This is what I have been working for since childhood,” said Musetti.<\/p>\n

– Lot of firepower –<\/p>\n

Djokovic said he was a fan of Musetti with whom he practised in Monte Carlo this year.<\/p>\n

“He's got a lot of firepower from both forehand and backhand,” Djokovic said.<\/p>\n

Nadal defeated Sinner in the quarter-finals in 2020 but expects a much tougher assignment on Monday.<\/p>\n

“Jannik is not the best fourth round. Without a doubt, he's a dangerous one,” Nadal said.<\/p>\n

“I need to be ready to play at a very high level.”<\/p>\n

Sinner, seeded 18, made it to the second week, easing past Sweden's Mikael Ymer 6-1, 7-5, 6-3.<\/p>\n

Federer, locked on 20 majors with Nadal, made the fourth round at a Slam for the 68th time with a 7-6 (7\/5), 6-7 (3\/7), 7-6 (7\/4), 7-5 win over 59th-ranked Dominik Koepfer of Germany.<\/p>\n

His tie ended just before 12:45 Sunday morning and was played inside Court Philippe Chatrier devoid of fans due to a government-enforced Covid-19 curfew.<\/p>\n

The 39-year-old, who underwent two knee surgeries last year and is playing just his third event since the 2020 Australian Open, next faces Italy's Matteo Berrettini.<\/p>\n

“There are still a few people here, I don't know who they are: sponsors, journalists, my team too,” said Federer after the three and a half hour tussle.<\/p>\n

“I love tennis, I like to play. I might have been more nervous if the stadium had been full.”<\/p>\n

– Three top 10 women left –<\/p>\n

Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic reached the last 16 for the second successive year with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over three-time quarter-finalist Elina Svitolina as only three of the top 10 women's seeds made it to the second week.<\/p>\n

World number 33 Krejcikova goes on to face former US Open champion Sloane Stephens for a place in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n

Stephens, the 2018 runner-up in Paris, defeated Czech 18th seed Karolina Muchova 6-3, 7-5 to reach the last 16 for the seventh time.<\/p>\n

Fourth seed Sofia Kenin, the runner-up in 2020 and the highest seed left, came back to beat fellow American Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.<\/p>\n

The top three seeds, Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka all failed to get beyond the third round.<\/p>\n

Serena Williams, seeded seventh, plays her last 16 match on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Defending champion and eighth seed Iga Swiatek overcame an early break to defeat Estonia's Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (7\/4), 6-0 to stretch her record of straight-sets wins at Roland Garros to 10 matches.<\/p>\n

Swiatek reeled off 11 of the last 13 games and will next face Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk.<\/p>\n

American 17-year-old Coco Gauff made the last 16 for the first time when compatriot Jennifer Brady retired with a foot injury after dropping the first set.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sports Desk: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal recorded new French Open landmarks as they moved effortlessly into the fourth round on Saturday, setting up intriguing duels with a pair of Italian teenagers seen as heir apparents to the Grand Slam superstars. However, with his 40th birthday just two months away, Roger Federer showed that he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":69391,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n