Novak Djokovic moved into the quarter-finals of the French Open with a 6-4 2-6 6-1 6-2 victory over American Robby Ginepri.
Serbian star powers into last eight with victory over American
Novak Djokovic moved into the quarter-finals of the French Open with a 6-4 2-6 6-1 6-2 victory over American Robby Ginepri.
Ginepri recovered from losing the opening set to take his first set off Djokovic in five meetings, as he went hit-for-hit with the Serbian from the baseline.
However, world number three Djokovic came storming back to clean up the next two sets and complete victory in two hours and 17 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.
23-year-old Djokovic rattled off 12 of the last 15 games to make the last eight of the grand slam event he has twice made the semis in, in 2007 and 2008.
"With the kind of game I performed in the third and fourth sets, I think I have a good chance against anybody on the court now," insisted the third seed.
"It took me time to get into a rhythm out there and get warmed-up, but I'm not a morning person.
"He was very aggressive from the start. He played well. I was lucky to pull out that first set. Second set, as usual in these tournaments, went the other way for my opponent.
"Unfortunately I lost focus. But I overcame it. Third and fourth were really, really good. I was aggressive, I was serving well, and playing from all over the court."
Melzer progresses
Next up for Djokovic will be Jurgen Melzer after the 22nd seed continued his Roland Garros run with a four sets win over Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili.
Melzer, the first Austrian to reach the last eight in Paris since former champion Thomas Muster in 1998, proved more consistent on another gloomy Paris morning to prevail 7-6 4-6 6-1 6-4 after two hours and 54 minutes.
Gabashvili missed three set points in the opener as he dropped his first set of the tournament but levelled the match with some eye-catching winners.
Melzer, making his first appearance in the last 16 of a major, then took command, cantering through the third set before breaking serve decisively in the ninth game of the fourth.
The Austrian left-hander, who put out Spanish ninth seed David Ferrer in straight sets in the third round, was delighted to set up a clash with Djokovic despite adverse conditions.
"It's very slippery out there on Court Suzanne Lenglen," said the 29-year-old, who is now the oldest man left in the draw.
"I was 5-4 down, set point down. But I was still in it, and then set points again down in the tiebreaker. Somehow I cruised through that set.
"I knew he had played a lot of matches and he would have to win three more and I wasn't going to make it easy for him. I made him hit a lot of balls."
