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Djokovic sets up Gulbis clash

Black Sunday for hosts as two Frenchmen crash out

Last updated: 1st June 2008

Djokovic: pleased with his serve

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World number three Novak Djokovic ended French interest at the fourth-round stage with a 6-4 6-3 6-4 win over local favourite Paul-Henri Mathieu.

The Australian Open champion was never in any danger and cruised through to set up a meeting with unseeded Latvian Ernests Gulbis.

"I was serving very well and it's very encouraging for the continuation of the tournament," the Serbian said in a courtside interview. "This is something I definitely want to have as a weapon."

Djokovic broke the Mathieu serve in the fifth game of the opening set to steal an early march, and the Australian Open champion saved three break points at 5-4 to take the first set.

A 25-minute rain break early in the second set with the score at 2-2 briefly threatened to upset the apple cart as Djokovic lost his serve in the second game after the restart.

But the Belgrade-born star hit back straight away, breaking 18th-seeded Mathieu for the third time in as many break points in the set as he closed out the second.

A single break in the third did for Mathieu, who became the second home hope to crash out on Sunday after Michael Llodra was sent tumbling earlier in the day.

Triumph

Gulbis was the man who put Llodra to the sword to set up an encounter with Djokovic in the last eight.

The 19-year-old rarely looked flustered as he posted a 6-4 7-6 6-3 triumph on Suzanne Lenglen Court to continue his impressive form at Roland Garros.

A single break of serve was enough to claim the first set for Gulbis, who ousted the likes of James Blake and Nicolas Lapentti on his way to the last 16 in only his second French Open.

The breaks of serve were shared in the second set but Gulbis held his nerve in the tie-breaker to go two sets clear and once again claimed a crucial break to take the third.