Roger Federer made short work of Argentinian Leonardo Mayer to become the oldest man in 28 years to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final at the French Open on Sunday, while Rafael Nadal claimed his 90th Roland Garros win. The 37-year-old Federer, playing at Roland Garros for the first time since 2015, claimed a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win over world number 68 Mayer in a sweltering 32 degrees and will face either Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas or close friend and fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka in the last eight.
Federer, the 2009 champion in Paris, is the oldest man to make the quarter-finals of a Slam since Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open. "It's fabulous that I can spend this time in Paris," said Federer who last played the tournament in 2015 when he lost in the quarter-finals to Wawrinka. Tsitsipas defeated Federer in the last 16 of the Australian Open in January.
"I was prepared for the worst scenario, losing in the first round in three sets. But I am super happy with my performance. "I will need to play like this again against either Stan or Tsitsipas." Federer will be playing in his 54th quarter-final at a Slam, cementing his place on top of the all-time men's list.
Nadal will face either Japanese seventh seed Kei Nishikori or home favourite Benoit Paire in his 38th Grand Slam quarter-final. "I am very happy. Juan is a very good player so I congratulate him and his team," said Nadal. "It's an incredible feeling to be in another quarter-final at this tournament which has been the most special of my career."
The 32-year-old Spaniard has only been defeated twice in his French Open career and has a 10-2 record over Nishikori while he has yet to lose to Paire in four matches. British number one Johanna Konta continued her comfortable progress through the draw by seeing off Croatia's Donna Vekic to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-ffinal since Wimbledon in 2017 The 26th seed overpowered Vekic 6-2, 6-4 to set up a last-eight tie with either last year's runner-up Sloane Stephens or 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza.
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