Cilic overcomes Fognini fightback to make last eight in Paris

Croatia’s Marin Cilic reacts during his men’s singles fourth round match against Italy’s Fabio Fognini on day nine of The Roland Garros 2018 French Open tennis tournament in Paris on June 4, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Eric FEFERBERG

Third seed Marin Cilic overcame a typically colourful fightback from Fabio Fognini to make the French Open quarterfinals on Monday with a 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 win.

Cilic fired 44 winners past Fognini who twice needed treatment on an ankle injury.

The former US Open champion next faces fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro who brushed aside John Isner 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2012.

Cilic trails the big Argentine 10-2 in career meetings.