Djokovic, chasing a 3rd Roland Garros championship and 23rd males’s Grand Slam title, eased previous 94th-ranked Peruvian opponent Juan Pablo Varillas, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
The 36-year-old Serb, champion in Paris in 2016 and 2021, will face 11th seed Karen Khachanov for a spot within the semi-finals.
Djokovic is without doubt one of the favourites to assert the French Open this yr with 14-time champion Nadal sidelined for the primary time since 2004 after failing to recuperate from a hip damage.
On Saturday, the day of his 37th birthday, it was revealed that Nadal would require a minimum of 5 months of rehabilitation following keyhole surgical procedure on his injured hip.
Which means he’ll possible not play once more till 2024 which will probably be his remaining season on tour.
“I actually hope that his rehabilitation course of can go nicely and that we will see him subsequent season,” mentioned Djokovic of Nadal who he has confronted 59 occasions in his profession.
He and the Spaniard are tied on 22 Grand Slam titles.
“He is so essential for our sport on and off the court docket, one of many biggest legends of tennis. We wish to see wholesome Rafa, no query about it, taking part in for what he has introduced his final season. Hopefully he is gonna be capable of do this.”
On his report 17th quarter-final in Paris, and 14th in a row, Djokovic added: “I’m very pleased with this report. I’ve put numerous effort into my sport and I’m very motivated to proceed.”
“Nonetheless, my consideration is already on the following match. I do know what my objective is right here. I am making an attempt to remain mentally the course and never look too far.”
Djokovic holds a commanding 8-1 profession lead over Khachanov, together with their solely earlier assembly on the French Open in 2020.
The Russian reached the quarter-finals for the second time with a 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 win over Lorenzo Sonego of Italy.
The 27-year-old Khachanov says he hopes his fondness for chess will assist his strategic and tactical battle of wills with Djokovic on Tuesday.
“You should play actually good chess to beat him,” mentioned Khachanov.
“I wish to play chess within the morning to start out the mind working and going. I feel there are some similarities right here.
“I feel while you open your head and you’re actually full into the sport, you see the sphere a lot greater. You see the doable photographs which you can also make troubles to the opponent. I feel there are some similarities. Possibly it helps me.”
