Former world number one Novak Djokovic says he wants to go all the way at the French Open after easing into the quarter-final stage of the tournament for the ninth successive year.
Djokovic, who has endured an injury-hit year, looked back to his best as he dispatched Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in straights sets, winning the fourth-round contest 6-3 6-4 6-2.
The Serbian will have been relieved to get the match over and done with quickly, having been taken into four sets by Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in the previous stage of the competition.
Next up for the 12-time Grand Slam champion is a last-eight clash against Italian Marco Cecchinato after he caused a huge shock by knocking out Belgian eighth seed David Goffin.
Djokovic says he is very happy with how things have panned out at Roland Garros so far but he is in no mood to stop in his quest for a second title at the clay-court event.
“To be able to win that first set and get ahead was crucial. I made that break at 3-1 and held my serve, and that helped because I knew that if we went the distance then I had a good chance,” he told reporters.
“Considering all the circumstances in the last 15 months it is quite an achievement to get to the quarters of a Slam. I always play well at a Slam and always build my form to peak at a Slam.
“Hopefully it will get even better. I don’t want to stop here.”
A win for Djokovic would set up a semi-final clash against either Austrian seventh seed Dominic Thiem or German second seed Alexander Zverev.
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