PARIS: Aryna Sabalenka powered into the French Open last 16 for the first time with a straight-set win over Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday, after women's third seed Jessica Pegula was dumped out of the tournament by Elise Mertens.
In the men's section, Italian Lorenzo Sonego battled back from two sets down to knock out seventh seed Andrey Rublev and reach the last 16 for the second time.
The world number 48 was two points from defeat during a fourth-set tie-break but prevailed 5-7, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 after three hours and 42 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Sonego will face Russian 11th seed Karen Khachanov for a possible quarterfinal meeting with Djokovic.
"Incredible comeback today," he said. "I played more aggressive than in the first and second sets because when he's aggressive it's tough to compete against him."
Eleventh seed Khachanov ended Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis' run with an entertaining 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) win.
PEGULA DUMPED OUT
American Pegula's hopes of a deep run in Paris were ended in comprehensive fashion by Belgian Elise Mertens.
The 28th seed cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory to reach the fourth round for the third time.
World number three Pegula, who only has two WTA Tour titles to her name, has still never passed the quarterfinal stage of a Grand Slam tournament.
"I'm very happy to win in two sets. She's a very good player," said Mertens.
The former Australian Open semifinalist will next face 2021 runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Belarusian second seed Sabalenka is yet to drop a set in the tournament after a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win against world number 82 Rakhimova.
Sabalenka is one of the favourites for the championship after a fine start to the year, including securing her maiden Grand Slam triumph in Melbourne and lifting the Madrid Open title.
"It's really good to have a Grand Slam in your pocket -- it gives you so much confidence," she said.
Sabalenka will face either former US Open champion Sloane Stephens or Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva in the fourth round.
Russian Daria Kasatkina, a semifinalist last year, raced into the second week by thrashing American Peyton Stearns 6-0, 6-1 in under an hour.
The ninth seed will face either compatriot Anna Blinkova or Elina Svitolina on Sunday for a place in the quarterfinals.
Ukrainian Svitolina has reached the third round on her first Grand Slam appearance since the 2022 Australian Open.
She is now on a seven-match winning run after also winning the title in Strasbourg last week, beating Blinkova in the final. -- AFP
FRENCH OPEN RESULTS
Men (third round)
Karen Khachanov (x11) bt Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5)
Women (third round)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova bt Anastasia Potapova (x24) 4-6, 6-3, 6-0; Elise Mertens (BEL x28) bt Jessica Pegula (USA x3) 6-1, 6-3; Daria Kasatkina (x9) bt Peyton Stearns (USA) 6-0, 6-1; Aryna Sabalenka (x2) bt Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-2
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