Novak Djokovic admits he is aware of completely nothing about Daniel Galan, the world quantity 153 from Colombia who stands in his manner of a spot within the final 16 at Roland Garros on Saturday. That could be simply in addition to Galan, a 24-year-old fortunate loser from qualifying, says he is not a “diehard follower” of the world primary. “I do not know a lot about him, to be sincere,” mentioned Djokovic, the 2016 French Open champion who’s chasing an 18th Grand Slam title. “I’ve by no means seen him play, so I will should clearly take a look at his matches, the movies, and attempt to put together myself with my group.
“I do know he performed right here, so he is bought various matches already in these situations, which undoubtedly helps.”
Djokovic, whose 2020 file now stands at 33 wins in opposition to only one loss, is bidding to develop into the primary man in half a century to win all 4 Slams twice.
His second spherical win over Ricardas Berankis was his 70th on the match. The 33-year-old has now received a minimum of 70 matches in any respect the majors.
Against this, Galan’s solely two wins on the Slams have are available Paris this week.
“As a baby I grew up with the rivalry between (Roger) Federer and (Marat) Safin,” mentioned Galan.
“Once I was older I admired (Rafael) Nadal for what he has achieved.”
Galan was one among 9 gamers outdoors the highest 100 to have reached the third spherical, essentially the most in Paris since 1985.
“Djokovic has no weaknesses, though I’m not saying that he’s invincible, in any other case he would by no means have misplaced a match,” added Galan, the primary Colombian to succeed in the third spherical of a serious since Santiago Giraldo in Paris in 2012.
Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas bids to make the fourth spherical for a second successive yr. He faces Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene, the world quantity 56.
Tsitsipas needed to come again from two units right down to defeat Jaume Munar within the first spherical however then swept previous Uruguayan clay court docket specialist Pablo Cuevas for the lack of simply seven video games.
Russian 13th seed Andrey Rublev, the champion on clay in Hamburg on the eve of Roland Garros, faces veteran South African Kevin Anderson who has been within the fourth spherical on 4 events.
‘Loss actually harm’
Within the ladies’s draw, 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko, who knocked out second seed Karolina Pliskova on Thursday, takes on Spain’s Paula Badosa.
The New York-born Badosa, ranked 87, is making her Roland Garros debut and marked the event by beautiful former US Open champion and 2018 Roland Garros finalist Sloane Stephens within the second spherical.
Australian Open champion and fourth seed Sofia Kenin is up in opposition to Romanian qualifier Irina Bara, ranked at 142. Kenin surprised Serena Williams on the identical stage of final yr’s match.
Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, the 2016 champion in Paris and seeded 11 this yr, performs Danielle Collins of america who’s having fun with her greatest run on the match.
French wildcard Clara Burel, simply 19 and ranked a lowly 357, faces skilled Chinese language participant Zhang Shuai who’s chasing a last-16 spot in Paris for the primary time.
Burel is Zhang’s second successive French opponent this week having defeated Alize Cornet within the second spherical.
“Because the begin of the week, it has been a bit loopy,” admitted Burel who made the third spherical by beating fellow teenager Kaja Juvan.
Juvan had defeated her on the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.
“That loss had actually harm so much.”
Promoted
Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, seeded seven, meets Leylah Fernandez for a last-16 spot.
The 100th-ranked Fernandez, simply 18, received the ladies’ title in Paris final yr and is now making waves on her primary draw debut after taking down 31st seed Magda Linette and 47th-ranked Polona Hercog.
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