ITF

ITFWorld // SUMMER 2018 31 Djokovic ensured the last eight men's Grand Slam singles titles have been won by a player aged 30 or older Anderson came through a marathon semifinal battle with John Isner Diego Schwartzman, only for a rain break to disrupt the Argentinian's rhythm. Nadal went on to crush Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets in the semifinals. In the quarterfinals Thiem had beaten Alexander Zverev, who paid the price for three successive five-set matches. In the semifinals Thiem beat Marco Cecchinato, who had never previously won a Grand Slam main draw match but made a big breakthrough at Roland Garros, with Djokovic among his victims. Nadal, who has now won 86 of his 88 matches at Roland Garros, equalled Margaret Court's record for the most singles titles won at one Grand Slam tournament after the Australian's 11 victories on home soil. It was also his 17th Grand Slam singles title, leaving him just three short of Federer's all-time record, and the sixth successive Grand Slam event won by either the Spaniard or the Swiss. Nadal then attempted to equal Bjorn Borg's record as the only man to complete the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double three times. He got past the fourth round for the first time since 2011 but after beating Del Potro over five thrilling sets in the quarterfinals the world No 1 lost to Djokovic in the semifinals in another dramatic five-setter. The other semifinal was a record-breaking encounter between John Isner and Kevin Anderson, who won 76(6) 67(5) 67(9) 64 2624 after six hours and 35 minutes. Isner hit 53 aces, which took his tournament total to 2014, beating Goran Ivanisevic's 2001 record. It was ➝

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