Djokovic cruises into last eight in Paris

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, June 1, 2014. Djokovic won 6-1, 6-4, 6-1. AP

PARIS – Novak Djokovic swept into the French Open quarter-finals on Sunday with a one-sided 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 win over top home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The second seed, seeking in Paris to become just the eighth man in history to complete the career Grand Slam, hardly broke sweat as Tsonga struggled in vain to find his length and timing.

The Serb set the tone by winning the first five games of the keenly anticipated fourth round tie before Tsonga managed to get on the scorecard.

And when he broke twice early in the second, it was already clear that Tsonga was heading for the exit door much to the dismay of the Parisian crowd.’

“It was a very good match for me. I prepared well tactically with my team,” Djokovic said.

“I started with much intensity and quality and I am very happy with my game today.”

“When I play in the Grand Slam events – the biggest in our sport – I am inspired to play my best tennis. I just hope I can continue with this into next week.”

Djokovic will play eighth seed Milos Raonic for a place in the semi-finals, having edged the Canadian in three sets in the Rome quarter-finals last month.

Djokovic has now reached the last eight in 20 straight Grand Slam events dating back to Wimbledon 2009 – the third best record in Grand Slam history.

His best showing to date at Roland Garros was a run into the 2012 final when he lost in four sets to Rafael Nadal.

Tsonga’s exit means that just one Frenchman remains in contention at Roland Garros this year – Gael Monfils, who plays Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the fourth round on Monday.