There
was no stopping Rafael Nadal at the French Open on Friday, but holder Novak
Djokovic was pushed hard before joining him in advancing.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal advanced to the fourth round of
the French Open in sharply contrasting fashion on Friday, the Serbian reigning
champion battling hard to avoid an upset after his long-term rival produced
another exhibition of Roland Garros mastery.
Nadal annihilated
Nikoloz Basilashvili as he targets a 10th title in Paris and 15th overall, but
it was a very different affair for Djokovic, who twice had to come from
behind to beat Diego Schwartzman in a five-set thriller.
David Goffin and
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez both retired hurt and Grigor Dimitrov bowed out, but
Milos Raonic and Dominic Thiem remain in the hunt for a quarter-final berth.
If Nadal is the King of Clay, Roland Garros must be his
favourite palace. And the Spaniard held court in supremely commanding fashion
on Friday, beating the unfortunate Basilashvili 6-0 6-1 6-0, the most
comprehensive victory of his illustrious career at the grand slam venue in
Paris.
Georgian
Basilashvili could only hit five winners in the match, which lasted –
by slam standards – a particularly brisk 94 minutes.
"The score is
quite embarrassing but I have to accept it," said Basilashvili, before
departing the throne room, as Roberto Bautista Agut prepares to petition the
sovereign in the fourth round, having seen off Jiri Vesely in straight sets.
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