FRENCH OPEN DIARY: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reaches her eighth Grand Slam quarter-final

FRENCH OPEN DIARY: Jamie Murray’s tournament ends with an unfortunate bout of food poisonings Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reaches her eighth Grand Slam quarter-final and Novak Djokovic will be tested by chess enthusiast Karen Khachanov

  • Novak Djokovic has dropped just one set in Grand Slam tennis this year
  • He remains on course to face Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open semi-finals
  • The 20-year-old Spaniard has reached his fourth Grand Slam quarter-final 

Novak Djokovic continued his impressive start to the French Open on Sunday with a straight sets win over Juan Palblo Varillas.

He remains on course to meat Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals, after the Spaniard reached his fourth Grand Slam quarter-final by beating Lorenzo Musetti.

 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova also reached the last eight of the women’s singles despite missing a year of tennis through injury.

Here, Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE rounds up some of the big stories from Paris.

Stan Sport is the only place to watch all the action from Roland-Garros with every match streaming ad-free, live and on demand. 

Novak Djokovic has dropped just one set across all Grand Slam tennis this year

Jamie Murray will play no further part in the French Open after being hit by a bout of food poisoning

Jamie Murray will play no further part in the French Open after being hit by a bout of food poisoning

Murray bows out

Jamie Murray’s French Open was over when he woke upon Sunday suffering a nasty bout of food poisoning. 

Murray was due to play his second round of the mixed doubles alongside American partner Taylor Townsend but felt terrible after eating at a Parisian fish restaurant and pulled out before the start of play. 

Women’s No 3 seed, Jessica Pegula, also had her tournament wrecked for a similar reason.

Pavlyuchenkova keeps fairytale alive

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is ranked world No 333 after missing a year of tennis with a knee injury but is continuing a fairytale in Paris to reach an eighth career Grand Slam quarter-final. 

She is unable to play Wimbledon due to her ranking but was asked if she will try for a wildcard. ‘Are you serious? After everything last year?’ she replied, noting the ban on Russians and Belarusians last year. 

‘I don’t think they will give me one. But actually, you’re right — thank you — I will ask and let you know in the next press conference.’

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reached the eighth Grand Slam quarter-final of here career

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reached the eighth Grand Slam quarter-final of here career

Chess on clay for Djokovic

Novak DJjokovic has dropped just one set in Grand Slams this year, to French qualifier Enzo Couacaud in Australia, but his quarter-final opponent here may give him a better test. 

Karen Khachanov is into the last eight of a Slam for the fifth time — with three of them coming in the last three majors — and the Russian is a keen chess player. 

Asked about his moves ahead of the meeting with the grand master, Khachanov said: ‘I’m not going to tell you my chess moves — because you will tell him! There are a lot of matches in Roland Garros, so a lot of checkmates are needed.’

Alcaraz in good company

Carlos Alcaraz is into his fourth Grand Slam quarter-final after making short work of Lorenzo Musetti on Sunday.

Since 2000, only two male players have made more before turning 21 — Rafa Nadal (six) and Novak Djokovic (five).

Carlos Alcaraz has reached his fourth Grand Slam quarter-final at the age of just 20

Carlos Alcaraz has reached his fourth Grand Slam quarter-final at the age of just 20

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