PARIS: Novak Djokovic swept into the French Open quarterfinals for the 14th straight year on Sunday.
Third seed Djokovic, who is chasing a record 23rd men's Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros, ended the surprise run of Peruvian outsider Juan Pablo Varillas in straight sets.
Djokovic, a two-time champion in Paris, won 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 against the 94th-ranked Varillas to book a meeting with Russia's Karen Khachanov, the 11th seed who overcame Lorenzo Sonego in four sets.
"I had never played my opponent before. I knew he was a clay court specialist and that I had to earn the victory. It was the best I played this week," said Djokovic.
The 36-year-old Djokovic has yet to drop a set through four rounds. He is into a record 17th French Open quarter-final after making the last eight at a major for the 55th time.
"I am very proud of this record. I have put a lot of effort into my game and I am very motivated to continue," added Djokovic.
Varillas, 27, was the first player from Peru to reach the second week of a Grand Slam since Jaime Yzaga made the US Open quarterfinals 29 years ago.
Djokovic raced 4-0 ahead in the opening set only for Varillas to break in the next game and then have a chance to get back on serve in the seventh game.
But once Djokovic held for a 5-2 lead it was plain sailing for him as he closed out victory in just under two hours.
He holds an 8-1 record against his next opponent Khachanov, who recovered from a bad start to down Sonego 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 to reach his third straight Slam quarterfinal.
"I didn't know what to do in the first set but I said just fight my way through," said the Russian.
"I served for the third set, got broken and was 4-0 down in the tiebreak. It was just like the last match and I won that anyway."
Pavlyuchenkova fights back
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the 2021 runner-up, became the first woman through to the quarterfinals after rallying from a set and a break down to dump out Belgian 28th seed Elise Mertens 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
The Russian, whose ranking has plunged to 333 after a serious knee injury, is the lowest-ranked Grand Slam quarterfinalist since the 2017 US Open.
Pavlyuchenkova will take on Karolina Muchova for a place in the last four after the Czech saw off lucky loser Elina Avanesyan 6-4, 6-3. -- AFP
French Open results
Men (fourth round)
Novak Djokovic (SRB x3) bt Juan Pablo Varillas (PER) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; Karen Khachanov (x11) bt Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7), 6-1
Women (fourth round)
Karolina Muchova (CZE) bt Elina Avanesyan 6-4, 6-3; Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova bt Elise Mertens (BEL x28) 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3
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