Djokovic back on cruise control

PARIS, June 4 (Reuters) Novak Djokovic underlined his growing stature in tennis to charge into the French Open quarter-finals for the second successive year with a 6-3 6-3 7-6 victory over Fernando Verdasco today.

The Serbian sixth seed had been two points from defeat in his previous five-set thriller against French journeyman Olivier Patience but maintained cruise control against the 51st-ranked Spaniard.

With both players squandering a string of break points in the third set, Djokovic stepped on the accelerator in the tiebreak and sealed it 7-1 after Verdasco misfired a shot into the stands.

The result means three Serbians have reached the quarter-finals of a grand slam for the first time after Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic made it through in the women's draw.

Djokovic will face either 16th seed Marcos Baghdatis or Russian Igor Andreev for a place in the semi-finals.

REUTERS BJR VC2025