The three warm-up laps are over, the title race can really begin.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the men's table, as well as Iga Swiatek in the women's, very calmly reached the round of 16 at Roland Garros, Saturday, June 5, while waiting for Roger Federer in the evening.

By winning his third game this year at Porte d'Auteuil, Nadal has also set a new record: with now 103 wins (for two losses), the Spaniard is the most prolific player in a single Grand Slam tournament, ahead of Federer's 102 at the Australian Open (and 101 at Wimbledon).

Djokovic's personal best is 82 wins in Melbourne.

Djokovic and Nadal at cruising speed

Favorites from the top of the table, they join in the second week and without having conceded a single set, those at the bottom of the table, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev.

Djokovic walked around the Philippe-Chatrier court to dismiss Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis (93rd) 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 in 1h32.

“I was solid, I varied a lot in the exchanges,” summed up the world No. 1 while moderating the severity of the score: “It may have seemed simple, but it was not. It was cooler today than Thursday so the ball bounced less. But I was able to adapt.

The Serbian, finalist last year, reached the round of 16 at Roland Garros for the twelfth time in a row, which represents a record in the Open era (since 1968).

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer stopped eleven consecutive eighths on Parisian soil, between 2005 and 2015.

At 34, Djokovic is aiming for a 19th Grand Slam title to come one step closer to the record co-held by Nadal (35) and Federer (40 in August).

© Pierre René-Worms

Nadal, he made a few faults on the Suzanne-Lenglen court (29 in total) which allowed the Briton Cameron Norrie (45th) not to be totally overwhelmed (6-3, 6-3, 6-3).

"Sometimes I played good tennis, sometimes I could do better," commented the world No.3.

"There are things I need to do better, but I'm confident I think I can do it," he warned.

He therefore remains more than ever the favorite for a 14th Parisian coronation, synonymous with a record 21st Grand Slam title.

Chance of the draw, Djokovic and Nadal, who could face each other in the semi-finals this year, will play Monday against two Italians, rising stars of the circuit.

The Spaniard will face Jannik Sinner (19th), whom he beat 7-5, 6-4 in May in the second round of the Masters 1000 in Rome on his way to a 10th title.

"What happened in Rome remains in Rome," Nadal said, however.

The Serbian will play against Lorenzo Musetti (76th) who, at 19, participates in his first Grand Slam tournament.

Theoretically, the winner of the 8th between Djokovic and Musetti could face Roger Federer for a place in the last four.

The Swiss (8th) was to play his third round match on Saturday night session against the German Dominik Koepfer (59th).   

The Swiatek express is launched

Unexpectedly last year, the Polish student tumbled at 19 and won her first Grand Slam title without conceding a single set.

Suddenly this year, Swiatek, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Monday, is being watched.

And already, she went through the first week at a pace comparable to that of last year, without losing a single race.

In total, after her victory on Saturday against Anett Kontaveit (31st) 7-6 (7-4), 6-0, she is therefore at 20 sets won in a row at Roland Garros.

"I did not go far from not making this record last today," she admitted.

But, after the forfeits of Naomi Osaka (2nd) and Simona Halep (3rd), as well as the abandonment of Ashleigh Barty (N.1) and the defeat of Aryna Sabalenka (4th), the demonstration of the second set poses Swiatek as the tournament favorite.

No player has kept her title at Roland Garros since Justine Hénin, who even won three times in a row in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

With AFP

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR