Schwartzman, Kasatkina, Halep, Nadal reach French Open last eight

Serena's withdrawal gives Sharapova quarters place

FE Team | Published: June 04, 2018 22:02:17

Serena Williams appearing at a press conference on Monday at Roland Garros to confirm her withdrawal from the women's singles — Internet

PARIS, June 04 (AFP): Argentinian Diego Schwartzman staged a thrilling comeback from two sets down to stun sixth seed Kevin Anderson and reach the French Open quarter-finals for the first time on Monday.
The 11th seed was totally outplayed in the first two sets, but twice broke Anderson when the South African was serving for the match en route to a 1-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2 victory.
The 25-year-old, who also reached the quarter-finals at last year's US Open, will face either 10-time champion Rafael Nadal or German Maximilian Marterer for a last-four place.
Meanwhile, Russian 14th seed Daria Kasatkina stunned world number two and Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final at Roland Garros on Monday.
Kasatkina raced away with the last three games of the tie which had been halted at 3-3 in the second set late Sunday because of bad light.
In another match, world number one Simona Halep, the runner-up in 2014 and 2017, routed Belgian 16th seed Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-1 to reach the French Open quarter-finals for the third time on Monday.
Top seed Halep will take on either German 12th seed Angelique Kerber or Caroline Garcia, the seventh-seeded Frenchwoman who made the last-eight in 2017. Halep won in 59 minutes with the second set taking just 22 minutes.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal moved a step closer to an incredible 11th French Open title on Monday by seeing off German Maximilian Marterer in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals.
The world number one's 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) victory over the world number 70 saw him equal the record of 12 last-eight appearances at Roland Garros, which was set by Novak Djokovic the day before.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams announced her shock withdrawal from the French Open on Monday with injury just minutes before her scheduled fourth-round clash against long-time rival Maria Sharapova.
The 36-year-old said she had suffered a pectoral muscle injury in her third-round win over Julia Goerges and "can't serve at all".