A Spanish left-hander moved into the quarterfinals of the French Open on Sunday. No surprise there, although his name was not Rafael Nadal, but Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
With nine-times champion Nadal rocking the tournament on Friday when he pulled out with a wrist injury, the onus has fallen on some of his less-celebrated countrymen to carry the flag.
Ramos-Vinolas, ranked 55, had never been past the second round in 18 previous Grand Slam appearances, but swept past eighth seed Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-4, 6-4, to set up a clash with defending champion Stan Wawrinka.
His run has been even more surprising, as his previous four visits to Roland Garros resulted in first-round losses.
“I’m very happy. I didn't expect this,” the 28-year-old from Barcelona told reporters. “After losing last week 6-1, 6-1 against Wawrinka (in Geneva), I was a little bit down.
“I don't know why this week things seem to be falling into place, but I hope I will continue in that way.”
Reigning Champion Wawrinka posted a dazzling 7-6(5), 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-2 win over Serbia's Viktor Troicki.
In an entertaining match featuring between-the-leg shots, a mid-match rally with a bellboy, and an array of blinding backhand winners from Wawrinka, the Swiss third seed chalked up his fifth successive win over Troicki when the Serb netted a backhand.
Ninth seed Frenchman Richard Gasquet upset Japan’s Kei Nishikori, seeded fifth, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 to enter the last eight for the first time at Roland Garros.
Garbine Muguruza reached the women’s quarterfinals for the third year in a row, when a solid display earned her a 6-3, 6-4 victory against former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Muguruza, who has yet to make it to the last-four in Paris, played aggressively throughout, leaving little breathing space for the Russian 13th-seed, the 2009 Roland Garros champion.
‘Santina’ out Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza lost their cool as their hopes of holding all four grand slam titles were dashed following a 6-3, 6-2 defeat by Czech duo Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.
The top seeds appeared all at sea and their bid to complete the ‘Santina Slam’ ended after the Czechs blasted a service return winner to break Hingis in the final game.
Hingis and Mirza were left fuming at the umpire after a call went against them as they trailed 4-1 in the second set. Mirza tossed the ball in anger but the duo failed to win the argument, or the match, leaving Krejcikova and Siniakova to celebrate a memorable victory.
Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna entered the men’s doubles quarterfinals along with their respective partners.
Sixth-seeded Bopanna and Mergea did not lose serve even once as they defeated unseeded Marcus Daniell and Brian Baker 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-1.
Paes and Marcin Matkowski, seeded 16th, stunned fourth seeds Bruno Soares and Jamie Murray 7-6(5), 7-6(4) to enter the men’s doubles quarterfinals.
