Nadal to face Djokovic
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Defending champion Rafael Nadal will face Novak Djokovic in a thrilling quarterfinal of the French Open as both players won their respective matches comfortably on Monday.
On the other hand defending champion Maria Sharapova was sent packing from the French Open at the fourth-round stage on Monday, but top seed Serena Williams survived a scare to seal her quarterfinal place.
Nadal clinched his 70th win at Roland Garros on Monday when a 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 victory over America's Jack Sock put him into the quarter-finals.
Similarly Djokovic eased into the quarter-finals on Monday with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 win over France's Richard Gasquet to set up a showdown with nine-time champion Nadal.
On facing Djokovic in the last-eight, 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."
Sharapova, seeded two, was beaten in straight sets 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 by Lucie Safarova, the 13th seed from the Czech Republic who will now meet Garbine Muguruza of Spain in the last eight.
Williams, meanwhile, lost the first set against compatriot Sloane Stephens on the same Court Philippe Chatrier but came back to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 and set up a quarterfinal clash with Sara Errani of Italy.On a bright Paris morning the Russian second seed, who was looking to become the first woman to successfully defend the French Open title since Justine Henin in 2007, was punished for an erratic display from beginning to end.
Meanwhile, Roger Federer and Andy Murray swept into the French Open quarterfinals as the tournament waited to see if Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic could tee-up a Paris blockbuster.
Second seed Federer, the 2009 champion, made the last eight for the 11th time with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over France's Gael Monfils and goes on to face Davis Cup-winning teammate Stan Wawrinka.
British third seed Murray ended the hopes of another home player, seeing off unseeded Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
He will next take on seventh-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer.
Federer raced through the final two sets on Monday in just over an hour after the last-16 tie was delicately poised at a set apiece when it was suspended in the chilly gloom of Sunday evening.
Federer will take a 16-2 career advantage over Wawrinka into Tuesday's quarterfinal, including a win on clay in Rome earlier this month.
Murray, twice a semifinalist in Paris, will face 2013 runner-up Ferrer for a place in the last four.
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