Zverev does it the hard way - again
The German No.2 seed is becoming something of a marathon man here in Paris as he won his third consecutive five-set match, beating Russia’s Karen Khachanov, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to ultimately reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.
“I'm very happy about being in the quarter-finals here with going the hard way, going the long distance every single time and showing myself, showing everybody that I can play for as long as I need to,” said Zverev, at 21, the youngest man into the last eight since Juan Martin del Potro in 2009.
Although Zverev has claimed the scalps of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on the men’s Tour, where he has won eight titles, he had never been past the fourth round in 11 Grand Slam appearances.
But now He will play Dominic Thiem in the last eight after the Austrian beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori, 6-2, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4. Zverev has won twice in their six meetings.
Although Zverev faces another stern test with Thiem, a 2016 and 2017 semi-finalist, he said he will be ready.
“Physically, obviously it's not easy to play, back to back to back five-set matches, but I will manage it somehow,” he said. “I will do everything I can to recover, as I said after the last match.”
Djokovic ties Federer
Former world No.1 Novak Djokovic tied Roger Federer as he reached an Open era record 12th quarter-final in Paris with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win against Fernando Verdasco.
Djokovic, who had struggled at the start of the season, faces Marco Cecchinato in the quarter-final after the unseeded Italian upset David Goffin of Belgium. The pair have never played before on Tour but have trained togther several times in Monte Carlo.
“This is the best moment of my life,” said the 70th-ranked Cecchinato. “Maybe is a dream, because now I'm very, very happy for this match.”
Keys unlocks the clay
American Madison Keys completed a Grand Slam quarter-final sweep as she fired 17 winners past Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania, 6-1, 6-4.
Having grown up on hard courts, clay has been the most difficult surface to master for Keys, who reached her first Grand Slam final at last year’s US Open and has now made the last eight in all four slams.
“I like it a little bit more now,” said Keys, who will play Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan after she beat Czech Barbora Strycova, 6-4, 6-3 to reach her second French Open quarter-final.
“It's always a little bit easier to like it when you're in the quarter-finals, though,” added Keys.
Sloane Stephens, who beat Keys in New York for her maiden Grand Slam title, continued her good run of form as she raced past Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit, 6-2, 6-0 to book her first Roland-Garros quarter-final.
Quote of the day
“I’m falling in love with your accent more every single day.
The love-in between Zverev and a radio reporter from Yorkshire, England, continues.
End of the road for Williams sisters
A day before her fourth-round showdown with Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams was knocked out in the third round of the doubles alongside her sister, Venus, as they were beaten 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-0 by the 13th-seeded pair Andreja Klepac of Slovenia and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain.
