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French Open: Djokovic edges closer to Grand Slam record with spot in quarterfinals

The Serbian is currently tied with Spain's Rafael Nadal at 22 majors

Published: Sun 4 Jun 2023, 7:54 PM

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  • Reuters

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Serbia's Novak Djokovic gestures during his match against Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas. — AFP

Serbia's Novak Djokovic gestures during his match against Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas. — AFP

World number three Novak Djokovic inched closer to a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title by crushing Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas 6-3 6-2 6-2 on Sunday to reach the French Open quarterfinals.

The Serbian, who is currently tied with Spain's Rafael Nadal at 22 majors, was untroubled by his 94th-ranked opponent, the first Peruvian in 29 years to reach a Grand Slam fourth round, on a windy day on Philippe Chatrier court.


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He attacked Varillas at every opportunity to avoid being drawn into lengthy baseline battles that had seen the 27-year-old win all his three previous rounds in five-set marathons.

Varillas lost the vast majority of the shorter rallies and could not find a way back into the match as Djokovic set up a quarterfinal against 11th seed Karen Khachanov.

A two-time champion in Paris, Djokovic has now reached the quarterfinals at the French Open for a record 17th time, one more than 14-time champion Nadal who is absent this year due to injury.

Pavlyuchenkova not expecting red carpet

Russian players will be allowed to take part in Wimbledon this year but Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is not expecting the grasscourt Grand Slam to roll out the red carpet for them.

Pavlyuchenkova, whose ranking of 333rd does not guarantee her an entry into the main draw in London, has just reached the quarterfinals at the French Open -- a performance that would normally open the door for a wild-card entry at Wimbledon next month.

Asked if she would apply, Pavlyuchenkova laughed.

"Are you serious?" she told a press conference. "Do you think after the situation last year they would give me a wild card this year?"

Wimbledon announced in March that it had lifted its ban which prevented athletes from Russian and Belarus playing last year following Russia's conflict with Ukraine in February 2022.

"No grass season for me this year," said Pavlyuchenkova, who will face world number one and defending champion Iga Swiatek for a place in the last four in Paris, three years after reaching the final.



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