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Roland Garros Day 7: Djokovic powers on, Kenin and Kvitova through

  • Matt Trollope

Novak Djokovic continued his imperious march through the French Open draw as the fourth round line-up was completed on Saturday in Paris. 

The 2016 champion was joined on the winner’s list by Stefanos Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov – who will clash in the last 16 – while women’s Grand Slam champions Sofia Kenin and Petra Kvitova also advanced.

DRAW: French Open women's singles

However, two other former French champions, Garbine Muguruza and Jelena Ostapenko, bowed out.

Djokovic dominant, Khachanov next

World No.1 Djokovic crushed Colombian lucky loser Daniel Elahi Galan 6-0 6-3 6-2, smacking 38 winners to 18 in the two-hour outing to improve his 2020 win-loss record to 34-1.

A potentially tougher test looms in the last 16, with Djokovic to face No.15 seed Karen Khachanov. The Russian reached the second week at Roland Garros for the fourth straight year after beating Cristian Garin in four sets.

DRAW: French Open men's singles

Another Russian, Andrey Rublev, also advanced; the Hamburg champion has now won eight straight matches thanks to a 6-3 6-2 6-3 dismissal of Kevin Anderson.

Dimitrov, meanwhile, progressed to the fourth round for the first time in 10 visits to Paris after opponent Roberto Carballes Baena retired when trailing two-sets-to-love. 

He will next face fifth seed Tsitsipas, who triumphed in similar fashion when Aljaz Bedene, trailing by two sets, could not continue due to an ankle injury.

Upset of the day

The biggest shock of Day 7 appeared to come early, when German qualifier Daniel Altmaier stunned No.7 seed Matteo Berrettini 6-2 7-6(5) 6-4.

Incredibly, the 22-year-old, ranked No.186, has never before played a Grand Slam tournament – not even the qualifying rounds. He will next face Pablo Carreno Busta, who beat Roberto Bautista Agut in four.

The day ended with perhaps an even bigger surprise, when Garbine Muguruza – among the leading favourites for the women’s title – unravelled against Danielle Collins in a night match on Chatrier.

The two-time major champion forged ahead 3-0 and 4-2 in the final set before double faults and errors flooded her game. 

Collins, an AO 2019 semifinalist, reeled off four straight games to clinch a 7-5 2-6 6-4 victory, and moves into the fourth round in Paris for the first time.

Kenin, Kvitova carry on

Sofia Kenin, the player who beat Muguruza in this year’s Australian Open final, suffered no such stumble.

After being stretched to three sets in her first two matches, she went up a gear on Saturday, winning 12 games in a row from 2-0 down to dispatch qualifier Irina Bara.

Sofia Kenin has since reached the fourth round at both the US and French Opens after her Australian Open breakthrough in January. Her win over Irina Bara in the third round improved her 2020 win-loss record to 21-8. (Getty Images)

The 6-2 6-0 win sets up a clash with WTA Palermo champion Fiona Ferro, whose three-set win over WTA Istanbul champion Patricia Maria Tig saw her join fellow French players Caroline Garcia and Hugo Gaston in round four.

Seventh seed Kvitova advanced with a 7-5 6-3 win over talented Canadian teen Laylah Fernandez and will next face Zhang Shuai, who ended French wildcard Clara Burel’s run.

Ons Jabeur ousted Aryna Sabalenka in an entertaining three-setter and will next face Collins, while Paula Badosa followed up her win over 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens by surprising 2017 French champion Ostapenko 6-4 6-3.

Stat of the day

Djokovic has dropped just 15 games in his first three matches – the fewest he has ever surrendered when winning his opening three rounds of the French Open.

It is even more dominant than Rafael Nadal’s start to the tournament; the 12-time champion has dropped 19 games so far at Roland Garros in 2020.

This is Djokovic’s 16th French Open campaign; he was appearing in the third round for the 15th straight year.

He has not exited before the quarterfinals since 2009, when he lost in the third round to Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Quotes of the day

“I think a lot of people kind of just assumed that I'm a really aggressive baseliner, and I play mindless tennis at times and then I just go after every shot. I think I have shown through a lot of the matches here that I'm able to do some things that maybe people wouldn't assume that I'd be able to do.”
- Danielle Collins, on her success across different surfaces and at different major tournaments.

“It's something that I cherish and appreciate. Being able to compete in a second week gives me a lot of confidence I think. It feels great. You feel like you're part of a prestige.”
- Stefanos Tsitsipas, who advanced to the last 16 at the French Open for the second straight year.

“I'm not a clay player. I mean, I'm enjoying play on the clay, I grew up on the clay, but definitely there is more kind of specialists of the clay players here in the tournament. (But) I was in the semifinals 2012. I know how it is. I know I can play well here. That's important for me.”
- Petra Kvitova, who recovered from 1-5 down in the first set against Leylah Fernandez and saved two set points before reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time since 2015.

“I was struggling to find the right attitude, the right energy. I was nervous. When I tried to calm down, I was too calm. I was struggling every single aspect of the game. Today I was losing, and I was seeing everything dark.”
- Matteo Berrettini, after being shocked in straight sets by qualifier Daniel Altmaier.

“I hope they play for five hours and get tired, and I'm going to be relaxing right now.”
- Ons Jabeur, before she knew whether she would play Collins or Muguruza in the fourth round. 

Tweet of the day

It is understandable why Khachanov is expressing his love for the French Open, given that in four main-draw appearances he has reached the fourth round (2017, 2018) and the quarterfinals (2019) before returning to the second week in 2020.

Day 8: Ones to watch

Fourth-round action commences on Chatrier with a rematch of last year’s battle at the same stage of the tournament between No.1 seed Simona Halep and Polish teenager Iga Swiatek.

Following that, young American qualifier Sebastian Korda takes on idol Rafael Nadal – the three-time defending champion who is gunning for a 20th Grand Slam title – before what promises to be an entertaining clash between third seed Elina Svitolina and former world No.4 Caroline Garcia.

ORDER OF PLAY: French Open Day 8

Court Suzanne Lenglen features a marquee match-up between No.6 seed Alexander Zverev and young gun Jannik Sinner; Sinner is one of three Italians in action on Lenglen, with Martina Trevisan up against fifth seed Kiki Bertens and Lorenzo Sonego taking on 12th seed Diego Schwartzman. 

On Court Simonne Mathieu, a massive opportunity awaits two players ranked outside the top 100; the winner of the Nadia Podoroska-Barbora Krejcikova match will reach the quarterfinals.