PARIS — German second seed Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic edged closer to a possible French Open semifinal clash of generations, with the youngster edging out Karen Khachanov and the former champion seeing off Fernando Verdasco in the last 16 on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Zverev claimed his third successive comeback win in five sets to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, beating Russian Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Djokovic eased past Spanish veteran Verdasco 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 and will play in the last eight at Roland Garros for a record 12th time.
Zverev produced some stunning tennis in the closing stages of a dramatic fourth-round victory and will next face Dominic Thiem who reached a third successive quarterfinal in Paris by seeing off Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4.
World number 38 Khachanov has now lost at the last-16 stage at Roland Garros twice in a row, while Zverev ended his wait for a maiden major last-eight appearance at the 12th attempt.
“Well, I’m young, so I might as well stay on court, get some practice and entertain you guys,” smiled Zverev, who is bidding to become the first German man to win the French Open since 1937.
“Me and my brother (Mischa) are guys that spend three, four hours a day in the gym, lifting heavy weights, on the treadmill. It paid off today.”
The world number three, as he did in his wins over Dusan Lajovic and Damir Dzumhur, battled back from 2-1 down in sets to force a decider, before securing an impressive victory that featured 63 winners and 17 aces.
Thiem, the only man to beat Rafael Nadal on clay this year, held off a short-lived Nishikori revival on Court Philippe Chatrier to set up the meeting with Zverev.
“I think that’s the matchup most of the fans in Germany and Austria were hoping for when they saw the draw,” he said.
“He’s an amazing player. I mean, probably now the third-best after Rafa and Roger (Federer). So it’s going to be an amazing challenge for me.”
Djokovic, seeded 20 after a year of struggles with an elbow injury and mediocre form, was never in trouble against an erratic Verdasco, who needed treatment for a badly blistered left foot at the end of the second set.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion took the first two sets by a single break of serve and raced through the third as 34-year-old Verdasco ended with 48 unforced errors.
“I felt pretty good physically today, had no problems to go the distance in long rallies, and I won in three sets against a player who is in form, especially for this surface,” said the 31-year-old after his 200th clay-court win.
Former world number one Djokovic will face Italian surprise package Marco Cecchinato in his 40th major quarterfinal.
The world number 72, who had never won a Grand Slam match before this week, stunned Belgian eighth seed David Goffin 7-5, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.
STEPHENS POWERS THROUGH
US Open champion Sloane Stephens cruised past Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-0, 6-2 to book a last-eight spot for the first time.
Stephens, the 10th seed, had previously made the fourth round for four successive seasons and will next play either Australian Open champion and second seed Caroline Wozniacki or Russia’s Daria Kasatkina.
“Obviously… making the fourth round four times or whatever is pretty good, but to finally get over that hump of quarterfinals feels very nice,” said Stephens.
Wozniacki and 14th seed Kasatkina will return to Court Philippe Chatrier on Monday with the Russian leading 7-6 (7/5), 3-3, after their match was halted when darkness fell.
American 13th seed Madison Keys also reached her first Roland Garros quarterfinal with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu.
Keys, the US Open runner-up to Stephens last year, will face Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva for a place in the semifinals, after the world number 98 saw off Barbora Strycova 6-4, 6-3.
“First week, my goal is to get to the second week,” said 23-year-old Keys.
“Then once you get to the second week, every match obviously has more nerves, and there’s more on the line.” — AFP

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