Paris: Novak Djokovic became the first man to reach the French Open quarter-finals for 10 successive seasons while Kei Nishikori set-up the toughest challenge on a clay court — facing Rafael Nadal.
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Top seed and world No. 1 Djokovic continued his bid to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously for the second time by thrashing Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
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The 32-year-old will now face either ninth-seeded Italian Fabio Fognini or fifth seed Alexander Zverev in what will be his 13th appearance overall in the quarter-finals in Paris.
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“It was tricky with the rain, but that’s Paris,” said the 2016 champion after playing in drizzly conditions. “I’m really confident with my serve. I hope it continues like that.”
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Only Australian great Rod Laver has held all four majors at the same time twice before, after his calendar Grand Slams in 1962 and 1969.
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Japanese seventh seed Nishikori came back from 1-4 and 3-5 down in the final set to beat Benoit Paire of France and set-up a Roland Garros quarter-final clash against Nadal.
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Nishikori won 6-2, 6-7, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 in a shade under four hours to reach his third last-eight match at the French Open.
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“He almost had it today,” said Nishikori who had led two sets to one when the last-16 tie was suspended on Sunday.
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“He served for the match at 5-3 but I just tried to fight and play one point at a time.”
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The 29-year-old Japanese could have wrapped it up in the fourth set when he had two match points but squandered both, the second on a double fault.
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Paire, the world No. 38 who was trying to make the quarter-final of a Slam for the first time, was eventually undone by 15 double faults and 79 unforced errors.
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Nishikori has only defeated 11-time French Open champion Nadal twice in 12 meetings with both of those wins coming on hard court.
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The Spaniard, celebrating his 33rd birthday on Monday, has won all four of their meetings on clay.
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“It’s going to be a tough match, he’s the greatest ever clay court player,” said Nishikori.
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In the women’s draw, the players who stunned top seed Naomi Osaka and 23-time major winner Serena Williams got a taste of their own medicine.
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American 14th seed Madison Keys reached the quarter-finals for the second successive year with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Katerina Siniakova, the conqueror of US and Australian Open winner Osaka.
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Keys, who went on to reach the semi-finals in 2018, next faces Australian eighth seed Ashleigh Barty.
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“I was really happy to close it out as playing three sets in these heavy conditions does not sound like much fun,” said the 24-year-old Keys.
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“I love clay courts and Paris and I am happy to play another match.”
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Barty beat Sofia Kenin, who stunned Williams in the third round, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, on Court Philippe Chatrier.
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“It’s my first time this week playing on this beautiful court and I just wanted to come out here and enjoy it,” said the 23-year-old.
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