Rafael Nadal powered into a record-equalling 11th French Open quarter-final with a 6-1 6-2 6-2 win over Spanish compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut on Sunday.
Carreno Busta, seeded 20th, failed to convert six match points in the deciding set before eventually grinding down last year's Wimbledon runner-up.
Despite being the favourite, Nadal will be wary going into the game against his compatriot with the victor awaiting a clash with either Novak Djokovic or Thiem who play in the other men's singles quarter-final of the day. Speaking of his win, Nadal who celebrated his birthday on Saturday said, "I'm happy because Roberto is a very good player".
"I am in the quarter-finals, and I am healthy and I am playing well". Since returning from the injury layoff earlier this year, the world number five has looked a different player and he has been unbeatable on the dirt.
Novak Djokovic could create a three-way tie later Sunday when he faces Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Busta is seeded 20 in the tournament and the quarter-finals place is his best return at a Grand Slam event.
Thiem's level of exhaustion in the drubbing Djokovic gave him at Rome is underrated, but combine that with the casual beatdown he took in the French Open semis previous year and it's hard to make a case for the Austrian to match that result.
In other matches of the mens category, Japans eighth seed Kei Nishikori survived a scare to beat unseeded South Korean Hyeon Chung in five sets.
Brooks Koepka wins US Open with 67 in final round
Matsuyama's 66 was the lowest round of the day , while England's Tommy Fleetwood (72) finished a shot back in fourth at 11-under. So, I think I didn't really understand the beef that it was getting for the low scores. "Then three-putt the next two holes".
Big-serving American John Isner, who was seed number 21, was knocked out in his third-round match by Karen Khachanov of Russian Federation, who won 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-3).
The 15th-seeded Monfils was leading No. 24 seed Gasquet 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-3 when play stopped. After thie loss, she bemoaned the lack of support for her saying, "I'm sad". And as Muguruza walked to the locker room after her defeat, she wagged a finger toward the stands as if to say, "Tsk, tsk!"
I think the audience was really tough today. "It's very important for me to be in the quarter-finals one more time", said Nadal, who turned 31 on Saturday.
Second seed Karolina Pliskova advanced to round four with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Germany's Carina Witthoeft.
Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki returned to the French Open quarterfinals for the first time since 2010, eliminating 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.
Seven-time major champion Venus Williams is bidding for a quarterfinal spot against No. 30 Timea Bacsinszky.
She will next face the victor of the match between Veronica Cepede Royg and Mariana Duque-Marina.
Comments