Paris: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will clash in a French Open quarter-final blockbuster in one of the sport’s most-eagerly awaited clashes of recent times.
World number one and top seed Djokovic eased into the last eight on Monday with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 win over France’s Richard Gasquet.
Defending champion Nadal, seeking a 10th Roland Garros crown, saw off unseeded American Jack Sock, 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.
It was Nadal’s 70th career win at the French Open against just one defeat and his 39th in a row at the tournament he has dominated for a decade.
“It’s the biggest challenge I can have on clay,” said Djokovic who needs a French Open title to complete the career Grand Slam.
“He’s lost just once here in his career.”
On facing Djokovic, sixth-seed Nadal said: “I will have to play my best tennis.
“He’s the world number one and is having a great season. It’ll be a complicated match.”
Nadal has beaten Djokovic in the 2012 and 2014 finals in Paris as well as the 2013 semi-finals and holds a career 23-20 edge in head-to-head meetings.
