Djokovic and Khachanov join the quarter-finals

The round of 16 of the 2023 edition of Roland-Garros began on Sunday June 4, notably seeing the Serbian Novak Djokovic join the Russian Karen Khachanov in the next round.

• Novak Djokovic sweeps away Juan Pablo Varillas

Everything seemed already planned on the Philippe-Chatrier court, even before the start of the match. With his usual ease, the double winner of the tournament (2016, 2021), the Serbian Novak Djokovic (3^e) easily overcame his obstacle of the day, the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas (94^e), in less than two hours of play (6-3, 6-2, 6-2).

Having won these first four duels three sets to nil, he advances as the undisputed favorite against the Russian Karen Khachanov, his future opponent in the quarter-finals. In the event of victory, he could find world number one Carlos Alcaraz, the Spaniard being in his part of the table.

Juan Pablo Varillas, logically defeated, signs his best career in Grand Slam.

• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova knocked down Elise Mertens

Opening the round of 16 of the French Open on Sunday, Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (333^e) managed to get rid of the Belgian Elise Mertens (28^e) in three sets (3-6, 7-6 [7-3], 6-3). Roland-Garros finalist in 2021 (beaten by the Czech Barbora Krejcikova), the native of Samara reached the quarter-finals of the Porte d’Auteuil tournament for the third time in her career (2011, 2021, 2023).

Although she is the lowest ranked player in the remaining women’s table, it is difficult to attach the term “outsider” to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who will present herself as a certain threat to her next opponent: the Czech Karolina Muchova (43^e) or her compatriot Elina Avanesyan (134^e).

• Karen Khachanov discouraged Lorenzo Sonego

Lorenzo Sonego (48^e), confident, thought he had the upper hand over Karen Khachanov (11^e), at the end of the third set. At one set everywhere, the Italian led the decisive game from four points to nothing, before losing his means.

Yet far from being infallible, it was enough for the Russian to consolidate his game and his mind, a winning recipe, which allowed him to pocket the third set, then to overthrow his opponent of the day without a hitch (1-6, 6-4, 7-6 [9-7]6-1).

Quarter-finalist for the second time in his career at Roland-Garros, the Russian could chain a third consecutive semi-final in Grand Slam, if he manages to get rid of his next opponent, to be determined between the Serbian Novak Djokovic (3^e) and the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas (94^e).