Jabeur scripts history for Arabs; Novak in French Open last 16 for 11th straight year

Novak Djokovic demolished Colombian lucky loser Daniel Galan to reach the Roland Garros last 16 for an 11th successive year on Saturday. World number one Djokovic swept past 153rd-ranked Galan 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 with his most challenging moment coming when he helped groundstaff lay more clay on the surface of Court Philippe Chatrier after rain had made it treacherous.

For Djokovic, the 2016 French Open champion who is chasing an 18th Grand Slam title, it was his 71st win in Paris. Djokovic took his 2020 record to 34 wins against just one loss as he continues his bid to become the first man in half a century to win all four Grand Slam titles twice.

Next up is Russian 15th seed Karen Khachanov who put out Chile’s Cristian Garin.

JABEUR MAKES HISTORY: Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur on Saturday became the first Arab woman to make the last 16 at Roland Garros with a 7-6 (9/7), 2-6, 6-3 win over Belarusian eighth seed Aryna Sabalenka.

Jabeur, seeded 30, who made the quarter-finals at the Australian Open in January, faces either 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza from Spain or Danielle Collins of the United States for a place in the last-eight.

The 26-year-old Jabeur is a former junior champion in the French capital.

ALTMAIER COMES GOOD: German qualifier Daniel Altmaier, ranked at 186 in the world, stunned seventh seed Matteo Berrettini of Italy to reach the Roland Garros last 16 on Saturday with a hat-tip to Stan Wawrinka, Rocky and early morning Zoom calls.

The 22-year-old Altmaier triumphed 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, becoming just the fourth man since 2000 to reach the round of 16 on his Grand Slam debut.

Victory also means an unexpected financial windfall for the German who is guaranteed to make at least $221,400 by reaching the last 16 having earned just $173,600 in his entire six-year professional career.

It’s been a long, tough road for Altmaier who says three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka is his “great role model”.

A succession of injuries to his back, shoulder as well as hip, caused by a freak slip on a tennis ball on a hard court which sidelined him for most of 2018, put his career, which had shown some promise with a quarter-final run at Antalya in 2017, on hold. Just over 12 months ago, his ranking had slumped to 515.

For Altmaier, the help of Wawrinka has been invaluable and he paid tribute to the 2015 Roland Garros champion after the win on Saturday, pressing an index finger to his temple to mark the breakthrough in the style of the veteran Swiss star.

“He also helped me a lot when I was injured,” said Altmaier.

ZHANG EMULATES LI: Zhang Shuai on Saturday became the first Chinese woman to reach the last 16 at Roland Garros since former champion Li Na in 2012.

Zhang, 31, defeated French wildcard, and world number 357, Clara Burel 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 and will next face either seventh seed Petra Kvitova or 18-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez.

The 39th-ranked Zhang will be looking to equal her best performance at the Slams which she achieved in 2016 when she came through qualifying to reach the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.

She also made the last eight at Wimbledon in 2019.

Zhang, the only Chinese woman in the draw in Paris this year, has tasted Grand Slam success before, winning the Australian Open doubles title with Sam Stosur last year. It was a dramatic contrast to her mood at the end of 2015 when she was pondering retirement from the sport.

KENIN ADVANCES: American fourth seed and Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin made the last 16 at Roland Garros on Saturday with a 6-2, 6-0 defeat of Romanian qualifier Irina Bara.

Kenin will face either France’s Fiona Ferro or another Romanian, Patricia Maria Tig for a place in the quarter-finals.

Agence France-Presse