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June 1, 2016 / 11:26 AM

French Open round-up: Serena Williams in quarterfinals, Novak Djokovic breaks record

By
The Sports Xchange
American Serena Williams hits a shot during her fourth round women's match against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at Roland Garros in Paris on June 1, 2016. Williams defeated Svitolina 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
American Venus Williams reacts after a shot during her fourth round women's match against Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland at Roland Garros in Paris on June 1, 2016. Bacsinszky defeated Williams 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
American Venus Williams reacts after a shot during her fourth round women's match against Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland at Roland Garros in Paris on June 1, 2016. Bacsinszky defeated Williams 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Richard Gasquet of France hits a shot during his French Open men's quarterfinal match against Andy Murray of the United Kingdom at Roland Garros in Paris on June 1, 2016. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland reacts after winning her fourth round women's match against American Venus Williams at Roland Garros in Paris on June 1, 2016. Bacsinszky defeated Williams 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after a shot during his French Open men's fourth round match against Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain at Roland Garros in Paris on June 1, 2016. Djokovic defeated Bautista Agut 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Novak Djokovic of Serbia enlists the help of a ballboy to celebrate winning his French Open men's fourth round match against Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain at Roland Garros in Paris on June 1, 2016. Djokovic defeated Bautista Agut 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a shot during his French Open men's fourth round match against Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain at Roland Garros in Paris on June 1, 2016. Djokovic defeated Bautista Agut 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
American Shelby Rogers hits a shot during her fourth round women's match against Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania at Roland Garros in Paris on May 29, 2016. Rogers defeated Begu 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland meets a ballboy at the net after rallying with him during an injury delay during his French Open men's fourth round match against Viktor Troicki of Serbia at Roland Garros in Paris on May 29, 2016. Wawrinka defeated Troicki 7-6 (5), 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands hits a shot during her first round women's match against Angelique Kerber of Germany at Roland Garros in Paris on May 24, 2016. Bertens defeated Kerber 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to advance to the second round. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Defending champion Serena Williams stormed into the quarterfinals while sister Venus failed to advance in the French Open on Wednesday.

American Serena Williams, women's No. 1 in the world, moved closer to her record-equaling 22nd Grand Slam title with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over 18th-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in only 62 minutes.

No. 9-seeded Venus Williams lost to eighth-seeded Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland 6-2, 6-4.

Venus Williams, a seven-time major champion, took a 2-0 lead before dropping eight games in a row. She managed to produce only six winners in the match while committing 24 unforced errors.

Men's No. 1 Novak Djokovic wrapped up a rain-interrupted victory with little trouble to reach the quarterfinals as he pursues his first French Open title.

Djokovic, trying to win a fourth consecutive major trophy and complete a career Grand Slam, needed only 71 minutes Wednesday to finish off No. 14 Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5. The match was suspended because of rain Tuesday, with Djokovic leading 4-1 in the third set.

With his fourth-round win, Djokovic became the first man to break the $100 million mark in prize money.

"With my coaching team, we had some tough talks on Tuesday night," Djokovic said. "But I came back today with more intensity even though it was a tough mental and physical battle."

Djokovic enlists the help of a ballboy to celebrate winning his fourth round match against Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain on June 1, 2016. Photo by David Silpa/UPI

Serena Williams' match originally was scheduled for Monday, but showers forced cancellation of an entire day of play at Roland Garros for the first time in 16 years. More rain followed on Tuesday and allowed only two hours of play, sending the fourth-round matches on the top half of the women's draw to be pushed back again.

Williams hit 27 winners in her 62 minutes on court.

"I think it's definitely a whole new ballgame," Williams said. "I didn't play my best in the third round and I really wanted to come out and do a lot better and prove that I can do better than that."

Williams, who remains on track to become the first player to defend the title in Paris 2007, is now just three wins away from her 22nd major title, matching Steffi Graf's total and closing in on Margaret Court's all-time record of 24.

Afterwards, Williams refused to be drawn on her relentless record-chasing exploits.

"I think every day, for me, is important to get up for all my matches, you know, first round to the last round," Williams said. "I feel like the moment I step on the court that's all I see, is the ball and, you know, the opportunity to do the best I can."

Williams will face unseeded Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals, the first of a potential four matches in four days.

"Four in a row? When we play regular tournaments you play four, five matches in a row. It's what happens," Williams said. "It's something you just get used to. It's totally fine I think for me and for everyone."

Putintseva scored a rain-delayed 7-5, 7-5 win over No. 12 seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain.

Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal by beating 15th-seeded Madison Keys of the United States 7-6 (4), 6-3.

On the men's side, Djokovic will be on court for a third day in a row Thursday against seventh-seeded Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic, who beat 2013 runner-up David Ferrer of Spain 6-3, 7-5, 6-3.

Dominic Thiem of Austria, who reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal by beating Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-4.

Thiem will face 12th-seeded David Goffin of Belgium, who completed another rain-interrupted fourth-round match with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over Ernests Gulbis of Latvia.

  • Topics
  • Serena Williams
  • Roland Garros
  • Steffi Graf
  • Carla Suarez Navarro
  • American Serena Williams
  • David Ferrer
  • French Open
  • Grand Slam
  • Marcel Granollers
  • Novak Djokovic
  • Tomas Berdych
  • Venus Williams
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