(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will clash in a French Open quarter-final blockbuster tomorrow in one of the sport's most-eagerly awaited clashes of recent times.
World number one and top seed Djokovic eased into the last eight on Monday with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 win over France's Richard Gasquet.
Defending champion Nadal, seeking a 10th Roland Garros crown, saw off unseeded American Jack Sock, 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.
It was Nadal's 70th career win at the French Open against just one defeat and his 39th in a row at the tournament he has dominated for a decade.
"It's the biggest challenge I can have on clay," said Djokovic, who needs a French Open title to complete the career Grand Slam.
"He's lost just once here."
On facing Djokovic, sixth seed Nadal said: "I will have to play my best tennis.
"He's the world number one and is having a great season. It'll be a complicated match."
Nadal beat Djokovic in the 2012 and 2014 finals in Paris as well as the 2013 semi-finals and holds a career 23-20 edge in head-to-head meetings.
But Djokovic is the overwhelming favourite to break that stranglehold this year after claiming a 26th successive win on Monday.
The 28-year-old has lost just twice all year and has not been defeated since February.
Against Gasquet, he was almost unplayable.
He carved out an astonishing 23 break points and was just broken once as his concentration wavered in the third set.
The in-form Serb also fired 47 winners as he reached a 24th successive Grand Slam quarter-final. Nadal could also have had an easier afternoon.
The Spaniard, who will be 29 on Wednesday when he faces Djokovic, had
a match point in the 10th game of the third set before the 22-year-old Sock kept his campaign alive.
But the young American paid a heavy price for his nine double faults and 44 unforced errors.
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