Murray, Wawrinka make French Open last 16

2016 runner-up Andy Murray will face either John Isner or Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals, while Wawrinka will take on either Gael Monfils or Richard Gasquet.

Published : Jun 03, 2017 17:17 IST , PARIS

Andy Murray is into the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Andy Murray is into the quarterfinals of the French Open.
lightbox-info

Andy Murray is into the quarterfinals of the French Open.

 

Andy Murray downed longtime rival Juan Martin del Potro to reach the Roland Garros last 16 Saturday.

World number one Murray triumphed 7-6 (10/8), 7-5, 6-0 for his seventh win in 10 meetings with Del Potro whose challenge fizzled out after squandering four set points in the 87-minute opener.

Murray, the runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2016, will next face either John Isner of the United States or Russia's Karen Khachanov.

In a titanic first set, Del Potro wasted four set points then saved two before Murray pounced when the Argentine star narrowly miscued.

The 28-year-old slumped over the net and stayed that way during most of the changeover to catch his breath.

Del Potro, playing in Paris for the first time in five years after a series of wrist injuries, was quickly a break down in the second set.

He retrieved it when Murray served for the set in the 10th game before handing the advantage straight back.

Murray seized his lifeline, a fourth ace giving him a two-set lead.


Wawrinka rolls on

wawrinka
Wawrinka beat Italy's Fabio Fognini to reach the quarterfinals on Saturday.
 

Third seed Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 French Open champion, strode into the last 16 at Roland Garros on Saturday with a straight-sets win over Italy's Fabio Fognini.

The Swiss saved four set points as Fognini twice served for the opening set, with the volatile 28th seed then capitulating and Wawrinka powering to a 7-6 (7/2), 6-0, 6-2 victory.

Wawrinka will meet the lone remaining Frenchman for a place in the quarterfinal, facing either 15th seed Gael Monfils or 24th-seeded Richard Gasquet.

Cilic cruises past Lopez

GettyImages-691068636
Marin Cilic is yet to drop a set in this year’s tournament.
 

Seventh seed Marin Cilic established himself as a contender for the French Open title after sweeping past Feliciano Lopez 6-1 6-3 6-3 to reach the last 16 without having dropped a set on Saturday.

The 2014 U.S. Open winner, who warmed up for the year's second grand slam by capturing his first claycourt title in five years in Istanbul last month, delivered a near-perfect performance to equal his best-ever showing in Paris.

He whipped 31 winners past the helpless Spaniard, who at 35, was the oldest player left in the draw and needed repeated medical treatments for neck problems.

The 28-year-old Croatian completed his win with his eighth ace to set up a round of 16 clash with Kevin Anderson of South Africa.

Nishikori fends off Chung

Kei Nishikori
Nishikori upstaged a five-set marathon against Hyeon Chung.
 

Japan's Kei Nishikori fought off a fierce five-set challenge from rising South Korean talent Hyeon Chung to clinch a place in the French Open last 16 on Sunday.

Eighth seed Nishikori led two sets to one but trailed by a double break at 3-0 down in the fourth set when rain halted play on Saturday.

Chung forced the contest into a deciding set as play resumed on Sunday, but the world number 67 double faulted on match point to gift Nishikori a 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 0-6, 6-4 victory.

It was the first third-round meeting between two Asian players at Roland Garros, with 2014 US Open finalist Nishikori going on to play Fernando Verdasco for a place in the quarterfinals.

Anderson outlasts Edmund in five sets

Kevin Anderson matched his best run at Roland Garros by reaching the last 16 on Saturday with a five-set win over Britain's Kyle Edmund.

The world number 56, who made the French Open fourth round in 2013 and 2014, twice recovered from a set down to advance 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in just under four hours.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment