Courtesy-The Gurdian, Yonex USA, The Japan Times
On Saturday, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will compete in the last 16 of the French Open, but they will be hampered by a spearfishing enthusiast and a would-be estate agent. World No. 1 Djokovic plays 93rd-ranked Ricardas Berankis, who won in Paris in 2016 and is pursuing a 19th Grand Slam championship.
Last year, Djokovic overcame Berankis, 30, in the competition. When his opponent isn’t enjoying the perks of being Lithuania’s lone player in the top 400, he relaxes by spearfishing in the Baltic nation’s waterways.
Djokovic, who is attempting to become the first player in more than a half-century to win all four majors on numerous occasions, can reach the last 16 for the 12th year in a row if he defeats the sea-loving Lithuanian. The top seed has advanced to the third round with ease, having won both rounds in straight sets.
Nadal, who is seeded third this year and aiming for a 14th French Open and a record 21st Grand Slam, will face fellow left-hander Cameron Norrie. The Johannesburg-born Briton argues that if he hadn’t been a tennis pro, he would have become an estate agent.
The 25-year-old, rated 40, is having a breakthrough clay season, reaching the finals in Estoril and Lyon. He has previously faced Nadal twice this season, losing in the Australian Open and in Barcelona on clay, where the Spaniard triumphed in straight sets with only five games lost.
“I’ve discovered that he is, in fact, a human being. However, coming into his forehand can be total mayhem,” Norrie stated. Nadal advanced to the third round after defeating boyhood nemesis Richard Gasquet for the 17th round in 17 matches.
Roger Federer, who is tied for the most majors with Rafael Nadal, is attempting to reach the round of 16 in a Grand Slam for the 68th time. In the evening session, Federer, 39, takes against Germany’s 59th-ranked Dominik Koepfer, who won his sole French Open championship in 2009. Federer and Djokovic are seeded to play in the quarter-finals. Wins for the duo on Saturday will move that match-up one round closer.