Nadal into quarters, Muguruza out
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NINE-TIME champion Rafael Nadal surged into the French Open quarterfinals for a record-equalling 11th time yesterday, while reigning women’s title-holder Garbine Muguruza crashed out in the last 16.
Nadal continued his ruthless form at Roland Garros by dispatching Spanish 17th seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 to match Roger Federer’s mark of last-eight appearances in Paris.
The 14-time major winner is yet to drop a set, conceding just six games in the last two rounds as he strives to become the first man to win 10 titles at a single grand slam.
“I’m happy because Roberto is a very good player. It’s very important for me to be in the quarterfinals one more time,” said Nadal. “Probably I didn’t play as well as I did the other day, but I still played well.”
The 31-year-old Nadal is chasing his 15th grand slam title and first since 2014 — when he won at Roland Garros.
After losing the Australian Open final to Federer in a five-set thriller — and then twice more to Federer on hardcourts — Nadal has been in fine form on clay, winning titles at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid.
The only player to have beaten Nadal on clay this season is Austrian Dominic Thiem — who was playing Argentine Horacio Zeballos later.
Nadal, the 4th seed, will meet compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta, through to his first slam quarterfinal, for a spot in the last four after the latter stunned Canada’s Milos Raonic.
Carreno Busta, seeded 20th, needed seven match points to clinch a thrilling 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (6), 6-4, 8-6 win over the 5th-seeded Raonic in 4 hours and 17 minutes.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic will also become an 11-time quarterfinalist in Paris if the Serb defeats Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas later.
Two weeks past his 21st birthday, Karen Khachanov became the youngest man to reach the fourth round in Paris since 2009, beating 21st-seeded John Isner — the last American man in the tournament — 7-6 (1), 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3).
The Russian will next play top-seeded Briton Andy Murray.
No. 15 Gael Monfils of France was leading 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-3 against Richard Gasquet in the 3rd round when his countryman retired after getting treatment on his right thigh.
Kristina Mladenovic ensured France will have a woman in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1994 after dumping out 4th seed Muguruza 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
The French 13th seed is through to just her second slam quarterfinal — after the 2015 US Open — and will face American Venus Williams or Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky for a spot in the last four.
Danish 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki knocked off 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to reach the last eight for just the second time.
Wozniacki, who made her only other quarterfinal appearance at Roland Garros in 2010, will meet Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko next.
“Svetlana’s a great player, especially on clay so I knew it wouldn’t be easy,” said Wozniacki, a two-time US Open runner-up.
Second seed Karolina Pliskova advanced to round four with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Germany’s Carina Witthoeft.
Czech Pliskova, who had won just twice in five previous French Open appearances, will face Paraguay’s Veronica Cepede Royg for a quarterfinal spot.
World No. 290 and qualifier Petra Martic reached the last 16 with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Latvian 17th seed Anastasija Sevastova.
Croatia’s Martic, a former top 50 player whose ranking slumped after a back injury sidelined her for 10 months, will face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.
“When I got injured, my only hope was that I would get a second chance so I can play some of my best tennis again,” said Martic. “I still can’t believe that I’m sitting here.”
Fifth seed Svitolina downed Pole Magda Linette 6-4, 7-5.
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