12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic sprinted into the French Open quarterfinals after a clinical 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over former top-ten player Fernando Verdasco on Sunday. Djokovic struggled to find his rhythm early on, but his class eventually told as he romped home in two hours and 25 minutes.
After the marathon came the sprint for Djokovic. His class eventually told; his forehand too cute, his power piercing through a vulnerable and creaking Verdasco. The Spaniard, too often a nearly man at grand slams, failed to make any real in-roads and struggled to repel the Serb on serve, a serve with which he ultimately polished off the match. It was a game with unforced errors aplenty and few glimpses of quality. Nevertheless, Djokovic is through.
Both players were engaged in a battle of wits right at the start of the contest. Djokovic was employing a skidding serve and was getting some real purchase on it, winning a couple of free points against his left-handed opponent to hold on to his serve for 1-0. Djokovic got three break points on Verdasco’s serve in the next game, but was unable to accomplish the break as the Spaniard eventually held on to his serve after a marathon 22-points.
The cat and mouse game between the pair continued in the next few games and it was the former champion, who broke that deadlock as he broke his opponent for a 3-1 advantage. Novak looked very nearly his old self in this particular game as he was continuously able to turn defense into offense. Djokovic backed up the break with a comfortable hold to make it 4-1.
With another solid service game, Djokovic moved to within a game from the first set, which he ultimately won in 55 minutes. Undoubtedly it was a slog for Djokovic because he struggled to find his groove initially, but was able to raise the level of his game whenever required to thwart the challenge of an adversary, who was definitely playing exceptionally well.
The opening game of the second set began on a dramatic note with both players complaining to the chair umpire about the court conditions. But, it was Verdasco, who lost his concentration and his serve to give Djokovic an immediate 1-0 advantage. However, Djokovic failed to maintain his advantage as he lost his serve in the sixth game when he looked to be physically struggling on serve.
But Djokovic broke back, again, to love, and then raced through a love hold with the help of some trademark, accurate serves. Eight points in a row helped him to within a game of two sets. Another lengthy game followed, but Verdasco managed to keep Djokovic at bay to force the former top ranked player to serve it out. And the Monte Carlo resident duly obliged his fans as he stormed to clinch the vital game and the set for a two sets to love lead in the match.
Djokovic picked up from where he left off as he secured another break of serve to start the third set. And even though Verdasco had a real opportunity to get the break right back, he failed at it as he sent a forehand long. Djokovic, meanwhile, put his foot on the accelerator to double his lead to 2-0.
Djokovic was provided a healthy cushion of a double break as Verdasco’s inconsistency led to his downfall in the fifth game. In the end, it took Djokovic just 33 minutes to triumph in set No. 3 and book his place in the French Open quarterfinals. Beyond doubt there were moments when the former World No. 7 challenged him, but Novak fought bravely and eventually it was him, who prevailed.
Djokovic will take on Marco Cecchinato of Italy for a place in the semifinals on Wednesday. The Italian notched up a 7-5, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 win over eighth seed David Goffin to set up his date Djokovic in the last 8.
