Medvedev, Tsitsipas Set QF French Open Showdown, Federer Out; Nadal v Sinner Mon.
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Off court, Roger Federer’s first ever withdrawal during a Grand Slam was the story of the men’s draw, but on court the favorites continued to advance.
Just one of the four matches went beyond three sets. Stefanos Tsitsipas overcame a break deficit in the third to beat former quarterfinalist Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-2, 7-5. Tsitsipas has now won a tour-best 37 matches.
“My performance was good. I was very mentally there in every single game,” Tsitsipas said. “Whether I was serving or not, I was very concentrated in the procedure, in the process.”
Daniil Medvedev was on Lenglen and in what was expected to be a tough encounter with guy who just beat him in Madrid, Cristian Garin, wasn’t. Medvedev reached his first French quarter blowing out the Chilean 6-2, 6-1, 7-5.
Medvedev needed treatment in the third and was down a break, but roared back. The Russian who was 0-4 at the French has now won four straight and is looking awfully dangerous.
“To beat me the opponent needs to play good. First two sets, he didn’t play good, so it was in my favor. Third set he started playing better, he could win it,” Medvedev said. “Was a tight set, tight encounter.
“Straight from the beginning of the match I could almost return every ball in the court.
“In Madrid, even if I was not playing bad, I felt that any shot could go somewhere where I didn’t want. You can make mistakes. I had only one break point in the first game on his serve, and that was my only break point in the match,” Medvedev said. “I was missing the returns because I didn’t feel confident in my shots and in my game.”
In the night session, Alexander Zverev breezed past Kei Nishikori beating the Japanese star for a third time in a month 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.
“I hope I continue playing the same way I did this match. Maybe even better,” Zverev said. “Now we’re in the quarterfinals, there’s only eight of us left, and the opponents are not getting easier. You need to perform at your best, play at your best.”
Since going down 0-2 in the first, Zverev has won his last 12 sets. He’ll take that streak into a match against first-time Slam quarterfinals Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The young Spaniard knocked out Federico Delbonis 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Tomorrow, Novak Djokovic begins his Italian part of the draw against teen Lorenzo Musetti. If he wins, he’ll face Matteo Berrettini likely Wednesday night.
Rafael Nadal has a rematch with Jannik Sinner. The 19-year-old Sinner had a set point in the first back in October. Nadal, who’s won his last 33 matches and 32 sets at Roland Garros, is 2-0 against Sinner having never dropped a set.
2020 semifinalist Diego Schwartzman battles the man who toppled Dominic Thiem, Jan-Lennard Struff.
MONDAY FRENCH OPEN SCHEDULE
** Court Philippe CHATRIER ** Début à 12h00
1 SD H Ons JABEUR (TUN) [25] contre Coco GAUFF (USA)[24]
2 SM H Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB) [1] contre Lorenzo MUSETTI (ITA)
Pas avant 16h00
3 SM H Rafael NADAL (ESP) [3] contre Jannik SINNER (ITA) [18]
Pas avant 21h00
4 SD H Marta KOSTYUK (UKR) contre Iga SWIATEK (POL)[8]
** Court Suzanne LENGLEN ** Début à 11h00
1 SD H Sloane STEPHENS (USA) contre Barbora KREJCIKOVA (CZE)
2 SM H Diego SCHWARTZMAN (ARG) [10] contre Jan-Lennard STRUFF (GER)
3 SD H Sofia KENIN (USA)[4] contre Maria SAKKARI (GRE) [17]
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