Paris: Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal stormed into a French Open quarter-final clash against David Ferrer on Monday with rock star Prince in the stands and King Juan Carlos on his mind.
World No.1 Nadal, who turns 28 on Tuesday, brushed aside outclassed Dusan Lajovic, the world 83 from Serbia, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1.
He was at his ruthless, efficient best against Lajovic who claimed a paltry 15 points off the champion’s serve.
In the other men’s singles fourth round match, Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer reached his 10th successive Grand Slam quarter-final with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1 win over South Africa’s Kevin Anderson.
Ferrer, last year’s runner-up, will face defending champion Rafael Nadal for a place in the semifinals.
Ferrer had beaten Anderson, who was hoping to be the first South African man in the last eight since Cliff Drysdale in 1967, at the same stage of the tournament last year.
Meanwhile, Italian Sara Errani reached the quarterfinals as the 10th seed defeated Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic 7-6 (7/5), 6-2. Errani won a bitterly contested first set that lasted 1hr 21min and saw eight breaks of serve, four from each player.
In the other women’s singles fourth round Andrea Petkovic reached her fourth Grand Slam quarter-final and credited her love of philosophy and classic literature for helping her career.
The lanky 26-year-old, was pushed all the way by Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens, ranked 148 in the world, before prevailing 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 in just over two hours.
The 26-year-old will now meet Italian Sara Errani,for a place in the semis.
