Rafael Nadal sets up a French Open quarter-final against long-time rival Novak Djokovic after winning an absorbing five-set battle with Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in Paris.Spain’s Nadal, 35, dropped sets for the first time at this year’s event but recovered to win 3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3.
Top seed Djokovic moved up a gear to beat 15th seed Diego Schwartzman. The 35-year-old Serb produced his best level so far in the tournament to win 6-1 6-3 6-3 in his fourth-round match.
Fifth seed Nadal fixed up a 59th career meeting with Djokovic – a men’s record by beating ninth seed Auger-Aliassime later on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev booked his place in the quarter-finals despite a patchy display against Spanish qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles as the third seed triumphed 7-6 (13-11) 7-5 6-3.The 25-year-old German will next face the winner of Sunday’s night session encounter between Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz and Karen Khachanov.
