Novak Djokovic eases into Rafael Nadal quarter-final at French Open

Novak Djokovic set up a quarter-final meeting with old rival Rafael Nadal at the French Open with an impressive straight-sets victory over Diego Schwartzman on Sunday. The reigning champion, bidding to equal Nadal's men's record of 21 Grand Slam titles, eased to a 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 victory in his last-16 tie against 15th seed Schwartzman. Nadal, the 13-time champion at Roland Garros, defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set fourth round epic. He triumphed over the Canadian 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in a match which lasted four hours and 21 minutes. "I have a lot of respect for him (Schwartzman). He's a good person off the court," said Djokovic. "He's a clay specialist... But I played well and held my serve."

Djokovic is playing in a major tournament for the first time this year after being deported from the Australian Open, where Nadal won his 21st Slam, over his Covid vaccination status. The world number one is still to drop a set at Roland Garros after cruising through the first week. "I've made a good start but I have a lot of work to do," added Djokovic who will face Nadal for the 10th time at Roland Garros if the 13-time champion defeats Felix Auger-Aliassime later Sunday. The 35-year-old is looking for a third French Open title after securing a second crown last year by defeating Nadal in the semi-finals and coming back from two sets behind to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. Djokovic took his head-to-head record against Argentinian Schwartzman to 7-0 with a clinical display, in which he saved seven of the eight break points he faced.

He is into a 16th French Open quarter-final and has not failed to reach that stage since 2009. The Serbian star saved two break points in the third game of the match before