Fernandez reaches French Open quarters

(UPDATED) PARIS: Filipino Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez reached the French Open quarterfinals for the first time on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

Fernandez, seeded 17th, and who was US Open runner-up last year, fired an impressive 40 winners past 2019 semifinalist Amanda Anisimova to secure a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win.

She next faces Martina Trevisan, the world number 59 from Italy who booked her place in the quarterfinals for the second time in three years, edging out Aliaksandra Sasnovich from Belarus 7-6 (12/10), 7-5.

Rafa, Novak seal QF clash

Rafael Nadal set up a blockbuster French Open quarterfinal against world No. 1 Novak Djokovic when he defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set fourth round epic and pledged to "fight until the end."

Nadal, the 13-time champion at Roland Garros and holder of a record 21 Grand Slam titles, triumphed over the Canadian 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in a match which lasted four hours and 21 minutes.

It was only the third time in his 17-year, 112-match career in Paris that Nadal had been stretched to five sets.

Nadal and Djokovic will meet for the 10th time at Roland Garros and 59th overall in a rivalry stretching back to 2006.

"We know each other well, we have a lot of history. The only thing I can say is that I will be focused, try my best and fight until the end," said Nadal on facing the defending champion on Tuesday.

Djokovic has been responsible for two of Nadal's three defeats in Paris — in the quarterfinals in 2015 and last year's semifinals.

Nadal hailed 21-year-old Auger-Aliassime, who has been working with his uncle and former coach Toni since April last year.

"Felix is a great player. He's very young with a lot of power and great mobility," said the 35-year-old Spaniard who has made the last-eight for the 16th time.

Djokovic also reached the quarterfinals for the 16th time when he eased to a 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 victory against 15th seed Diego Schwartzman of Argentina.

Djokovic is still to drop a set at Roland Garros after cruising through the first week.

He has also won 22 sets in a row, stretching back to his Italian Open title triumph in Rome earlier this month.

Auger-Aliassime said he was happy with his performance.

Djokovic or Nadal could face Spanish teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals.

The 19-year-old romped into his first French Open quarterfinal with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian Karen Khachanov.

"I had a great match from start to finish," said sixth seed Alcaraz who will face German third seed in the last eight.

The teenager defeated Zverev in the Madrid Masters final earlier this month after also knocking out Djokovic and Nadal.

It was a second successive straight-sets win for Alcaraz after saving a match point when winning a second-round thriller against compatriot Albert Ramos-Viñolas.

Zverev reached the quarterfinals for the fourth time by ending Spanish qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles' run in a 7-6 (13/11), 7-5, 6-3 victory.

Source: TheManila Times