WATCH: Men's quarters all end anti-climatically

Jun 08, 2017
Social

Paula Badosa knows "I’m going to retire young" but won't stop until doctors advise it's time

By Liya Davidov May 05, 2025
Opinion

The future of college tennis: how the professionalization of other sports impacts our industry

By David Mullins May 05, 2025
Your Game

Cage Match: Padel is the racquet sport for tennis players looking for a new challenge

By Jon Levey May 04, 2025
The Tennis Traveler

Where to find your favorite players in Rome during the Internazionali BNL d'Italia

By Liya Davidov May 03, 2025
Your Game

Gear Q&A: Friend or Foe

By Jon Levey May 03, 2025
Growing the Game

How best to celebrate tennis? May we suggest: National Tennis Month

By TENNIS.com May 02, 2025
Style Points

Madrid Open Fashion Roundup: Eight minimalist outfits we can't get enough of

By Stephanie Livaudais May 01, 2025
Social

Casper Ruud posts compassionate note to Iga Swiatek on X after Pole's Madrid defeat

By Ed McGrogan May 01, 2025
Second Serve

Milos Raonic embraces "servebot" moniker on 'Second Serve'

By Mitch Michals May 01, 2025

WATCH: Men's quarters all end anti-climatically

Four men are left standing at Roland Garros.

Published Jun 08, 2017

The men’s quarterfinals at the French Open looked promising on paper, but fell flat by the final set. There were different stories for each of the four matches, but the victors all rode their momentum with statement wins.

The most disappointing result was No. 20-seed Pablo Carreno Busta’s retirement after trailing 6-2, 2-0 against nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal. His abdominal strain proved incapacitating.

Advertising

Nadal has been near-perfect by dropping just 22 games. The short quarterfinal win will allow his 31-year-old body more rest and fresher legs to take on a dangerous Dominic Thiem in the semifinals.

Advertising

Thiem pulled off the most impressive finish in serving up a bagel in a 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-0 win over defending champion Novak Djokovic. The dismal competitive ending bolsters the young Austrian with increased confidence to take on Nadal.

On the upper half of the bracket, 2015 French Open winner Stan Wawrinka quietly bashed his way to his fifth consecutive straight-sets victory at Roland Garros. The Swiss figured to be in a battle against Marin Cilic’s powerful strokes, but Wawrinka’s footing and the extra time to hit big hops on clay led to the decisive rout.

Advertising

With the 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win, the 32-year-old became the oldest French Open semifinalist since Jimmy Connors, 32 years ago. Like Thiem and Nadal, Wawrinka has yet to lose a set, making him the slight favorite against world No. 1 Andy Murray.

Advertising

And how about Murray painting himself as the underdog? The 2016 French Open runner up was the only player to drop a set, but he swept the final three, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (0), 6-1.

If the Scot wins two more impressive matches at Roland Garros, it will clinch the most improbable major title of his career, especially with his struggles in 2017.

Advertising

· Get Tennis Channel Plus for Roland Garros to watch 200 live matches from up to five courts, starting with the Qualifying Rounds.

· Watch the Best of Roland Garros 2016 on-demand at any time

· Get Tennis Channel Plus for all of Roland Garros, as well as 650+ live events all year long

· Tennis Channel Plus is available on any streaming device, on mobile, always on the GO (desktop, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire)
· Subscribe today at BuyTCPlus.com