Novak Djokovic continued his return to form by reaching his ninth straight quarter-final at Roland-Garros after beating Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday afternoon.

The scoreline might suggest that Djokovic had an easy afternoon, but it was quite the opposite as it took the first three games 29 minutes to be completed. Games two and three of the first had 16 deuces as both men eventually held serve. In the very next game, Djokovic got the only break of the first set to take a 3-1 lead. Verdasco never got close to breaking back and Djokovic went on to take the first 6-3.

Djokovic started the second by breaking Verdasco at the first time of asking, but a horror game from him in the sixth allowed the Spaniard to break back. However, the Serbian did not let that bother him as he broke back the very next game. He eventually took the second 6-4.

In the third, Djokovic had two break points and he took them both, one in the first and another in the fifth. He saved two break points of his own serve to win the third and final set 6-2.

Earlier on Sunday, Alexander Zverev defeated Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Court Suzanne-Lenglen to reach the very first Grand Slam quarter-final of his career. His fourth-round victory was the third successive match where Zverev has toiled to a five-set win.

On the women’s side, Madison Keys strolled passed Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-1, 6-4 in a match that lasted just 66 minutes. She will face Yulia Putintseva in the quarter-finals.

Sloane Stephens also booked her place in the quarter-finals after crushing Anett Kontaveit 6-2, 6-0 in just 54 minutes.

Sunday’s other men’s singles results:

Dominic Thiem defeated Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4
Marco Cecchinato defeated David Goffin 7-5, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3

Sunday’s other women’s singles results:

Yulia Putintseva defeated Barbora Strycova 6-3, 6-3.

Photos: Rolandgarros.com