Paris (AFP)

Three years that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had not tasted the joys of a Masters 1000 quarter-final! As he had done in 2016, the French climbed Thursday at this stage in Paris, just like Novak Djokovic who regained strength.

On the contrary, Jeremy Chardy gave in the 8th after a grueling course started in qualifying, while Gael Monfils, against Radu Albot, and Stan Wawrinka, against Rafael Nadal, continue in the evening their fight for a possible place at the Masters of London.

Tsonga, winner of the 2008 edition, will play his sixth quarter-final at Bercy and it could be against Nadal.

"Playing Rafa in the first round is painful, playing Rafa in quarters is normal," he said without hiding his satisfaction.

A year ago, the 34-year-old Manceau was 256th in the world. Invited to enter directly into the final table in Paris where he won in 2008, he traces for the moment a nice road.

In three rounds in front of a public who wears it, the 35th World has successively eliminated Andrey Rublev (22nd), Matteo Berrettini (9th) and, Thursday, Jan-Lennard Struff (36th) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 ( 8/6), not without having saved two match points.

"It was a really contested match, played at one or two points, it could have been the opposite scenario, so I'm very happy to be here tonight," he said.

Jeremy Chardy (65) did not have the same success, he who had three match points against Cristian Garin (42) before losing 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7- 6 (8/6).

- Debauchery of energy -

Tomb of ogre Daniil Medvedev (4th) in the previous round, the 34-year-old Palois paid the riot of energy that allowed him to reach the 8th after taking out qualifications.

"I was a lot more nervous (against Garin than against Medvedev) because I was physically tired, so I knew I was less well," admitted Chardy who, at 6 points to 3 in the tie-break of the deciding game missed three match points in a row.

"I'm a little his sponsor, he'll be able to put my name on his sleeve!", Joked the French about the Chilean who had already beaten him in April in Houston by saving five match points. Garin will face Grigor Dimitrov (27th), shot down by Dominic Thiem (5th), for a place in half.

Djokovic, who appeared very weak the day before, was clearly more convincing to eliminate Kyle Edmund (75) 7-6 (9-7), 6-1.

"I felt better, with more energy, more alert, more strength, more speed," he confirmed, in a voice always very hoarse.

- "Good direction" -

"I did not play very well from the bottom of the court in the first set, but I served well, it took me to the tie-break, and the second set is my best set of the tournament so far. I am convinced that I am going in the right direction and that it will go even better tomorrow (Friday) ", explained the world N.1 who will lose his throne in favor of Nadal at the end of the Parisian tournament.

The Serb will face Stefanos Tsitsipas (7th), the last player to beat him, early October in the quarterfinals in Shanghai, and who has spread Alex De Minaur in Paris (18th) 6-3, 6-4.

By winning on Thursday, both players signed their 50th win of the season and have joined in this very closed club Daniil Medvedev (59) and Roger Federer (51).

Nadal (2nd) can join them if he eliminates Wawrinka (16th). But the Swiss have an additional motivation to face the Spaniard: if he passes, he remains in the race for a place at the Masters of London (10-17 November) which brings together the 8 best players of the year.

Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Medvedev, Thiem, Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev - eliminated Thursday by Denis Shapovalov - are assured of the trip to London. There remains a place to take, for the moment held by Berrettini. But Wawrinka and Monfils can dislodge him in Paris.

© 2019 AFP