Rafael Nadal knocked out Jannik Sinner in straight sets to reach the French Open quarterfinals for the 15th time while Novak Djokovic came back from two sets down to advance on Monday.
Third seed Nadal extended his remarkable Roland Garros run after beating the 19-year-old Sinner 7-5, 6-3, 6-0, having won 104 matches out of 106 since his debut in 2005.
“I started well but was a little too defensive. I gave him the chance to come inside the court and play his best shots. That was a mistake,” said Nadal.
The Spaniard will face 10th seed Diego Schwartzman of Argentina in the quarter-finals as he aims for his 14th title at Roland Garros and a record-setting 21st Grand Slam to move clear of Roger Federer’s 20.
Current world No. 1 Djokovic was outplayed early by world No. 76 Musetti in the first two sets but fought back with the heart of a champion by winning 19 successive points at the end of the third set and the start of the fourth to avoid a shock fourth-round exit at the French Open, 6-7 (7), 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-0, 4-0.