THE men’s Roland Garros draw boasts a hugely competitive mix of players, with the Round of 16 action overnight proving just how tight the contest still is, with all three seeded favourites completing straight sets victories and only the unseeded clash going an extra set on a huge day of action.

Second and fifth seeds Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas have set up a mouthwatering quarter finals clash with respective wins over Cristian Garin and Pablo Carreno Busta. Russian Medvedev has been in scintillating form at the Roland Garros despite a shaky past few events – having never won a clay match until this year – and was no different in this clash against the Chilean 22nd seed, requiring just over two hours to complete the 6-2 6-1 7-5 clean sweep.

“I learned that Roland-Garros, I need to play like on hard courts because [it] is bouncing low and fast. I don’t know if it was like this before and I was just unlucky with the draw,” Medvedev said. “Definitely what I learned, that I can move really well on clay. For this I need to have good shots. If you don’t have good shots, good players on clay, they start to move you all around the court… Here I’m able with these balls, with these conditions, to make shots that [are] not going to let my opponent attack me straightaway.

“Then I can take control of the game and be a great mover on clay. That’s one part that I learned.”

Comparatively, Garin is a clay court specialist. But he just could not sway the momentum in this clash, allowing Medvedev to hit a whopping 46 winners to 11 – including 14 aces to nil – throughout the contest. While Garin was better on the unforced error front, trailing Medvedev 29-32, the Russian was clinical off his first serve winning 86 per cent of points.

Fifth seed Tsitsipas was similarly challenged in the third set by another clay courter in 12th seed Carreno Busta, eventually requiring only four more minutes than Medvedev to claim the 6-3 6-2 7-5 victory, his 20th on clay for the season. Tsitsipas hit 41 winners for 17 unforced errors throughout the contest.

“I think I’ve played some of my best tennis when I don’t think much on the court, when everything is being done automatically, on autopilot,” Tsitsipas said. “I felt also my performance was at the top [against Carreno Busta]. So, yes, less thinking, more action.”

“In Grand Slams, it’s all about the endurance and being able to show up and do your job once every two days and do it well,” he said. “It’s demanding. It takes a lot of attention, a lot of effort. I’ve grown up into loving that process and wanting to repeat that.”

Meanwhile, sixth seed German Alexander Zverev downed Kei Nishikori in one hour and 54 minutes, extending his head to head over the Japanese talent to 5-1 and 3-1 on clay. Zverev will take on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the quarter finals, after the Spaniard overcame Federico Delbonis 6-4 6-4 4-6 6-4 in two hours and 56 minutes – over an hour longer on court than Zverev.

“Of course he’s had some fantastic matches, I think today was a fantastic match from his side,” Zverev said of Davidovich Fokina. “I have to come out here and I have to play my best and give myself the best chance to win.”

“I have to focus on myself,” said Zverev. “I feel like if I play my best tennis I’m difficult to beat.”

ROLAND GARROS ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

[2] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) defeated [22] Cristian Garin (CHI) 6-2 6-1 7-5
[5] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) defeated [12] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 6-3 6-2 7-5
[6] Alexander Zverev (GER) defeated Kei Nishikori (JPN) 6-4 6-1 6-1
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) defeated Federico Delbonis (ARG) 6-4 6-4 4-6 6-4

Picture credit: Nicolas Gouhier/FFT