French Open 2018 day eight: Zverev and Thiem through, Djokovic in action – live!

A double break has given Djokovic a healthy cushion, paving the way for Djokovic to steamroller his way to racking up this victory. He’s now 4-1 up, and, barring a miracle, Fernando Verdasco looks to be heading out.

Verdasco uses some spicy Spanish to bemoan Djokovic continually hitting the baseline, much to his frustration. He’s getting redder and redder. Djokovic is coasting here, with his serve – and Verdasco’s inconsistencies – holding fort for him. Djokovic leads 6-3, 6-4, 3-1 ...

Djokovic is 2-0 up and bumbling his way through the third set and, also in the third, Marco Cecchinato has thrashed David Goffin 6-0. The Belgian is struggling with a shoulder injury. After that, only Caroline Wozniacki is still to come – she faces Daria Kasatskina later this evening. And that’s that, in readiness of the big one tomorrow afternoon; Williams v Sharapova:

Thunder and lightning are expected to light up Court Philippe Chatrier on Monday, and that’s only the weather forecast. After the deluge of words that accompanied the most anticipated collision of this French Open there is a gathering conviction here that Maria Sharapova will emerge from her fourth-round match on Monday celebrating her first win over Serena Williams in 19 matches, leavened only by the obligatory nod of consolation.

The best double-act of 2018? Hamburg’s Alexander Zverev and Yorkshire’s Jonathan Pinfield:

The Phillipe-Chatrier court is being watered, no doubt with Djokovic’s words of complaint still ringing in their ears. Over on Suzanne-Lenglen, Marco Cecchinato is storming towards taking the third set. He’s 4-0 up there.

Verdasco has the trainer on, with a sole full of blisters in need of attention. That looks pretty uncomfortable. He needs a layer of Vaseline and a bit of TLC. As for Djokovic, plenty of time to ponder how he’s going to put the finishing touches to this second set. He leads 5-4, with the Spaniard edging his way back into it until this medical timeout.

Over on Suzanne-Lenglen, the third set is getting under way after David Goffin cancelled out Marco Cecchinato scooping the first. It’s 5-7, 6-4, 0-1 ...

Djokovic 6-3, 5-3 Verdasco. He races through to 40-0 with some trademark, thudding serves. Eight points in a row help him to within a game of two sets. And, frankly, his play has been pretty stodgy – by his standards at least.

It’s neck and neck, with Djokovic poking his head in front to 4-3. It’s not spectacular, though. Elsewhere, the Williams sisters have come unstuck. They won’t be adding to their 14 grand slam women’s doubles titles Venus and Serena Williams after slipping to defeat to third seeds Klepac/Sanchez.

“Allez Djoko!” comes the cry from one local. He’s not having a blast out there, despite taking the first set and leading the second. He’s just been pegged back a little by Verdasco, with the Spaniard putting a spring in his step after prospering in another scrappy game. Djokovic 3-2 Verdasco.

Djokovic is having a moan about the clay surface on Chatrier, just a few seconds after breaking Verdasco’s serve to go 1-0 in the second. He urges the umpire and court staff to “use some common sense”. He’s not a happy bunny and asks if only they will act if somebody breaks their ankle out there. Djokovic is adamant it’s too slippery and slithery on court.

Djokovic ekes out a couple more games to find himself at 4-2 in the first. His crashing serve has been crucial in helping him to this point because he’s struggled to find his groove. He’ll be happy nevertheless. Elsewhere, Marco Cecchinato, who has never gone beyond the fourth round in Paris, has just taken the first set against David Goffin 7-5. Super tennis by the Italian.

Another marathon game climaxes with a mini-battle at deuce. The word égalité will be ringing in the ears of Djokovic and Verdasco tonight, after this erratic start between the pair of them. After more than 11 minutes, Djokovic makes it 2-1 after half-an-hour of painful play. On Suzanne-Lenglen, Cecchinato is 3-2 to the good in the first against Goffin.

Down on court 1, the Williams sisters trail Klepac and Sanchez 4-6, 3-4 in the doubles third round. Maybe Serena’s just saving herself for the big one tomorrow, circa 3pm on Chatrier.

Verdasco holds after a 22-point game. 1-1. This could be the longest day. Djokovic making unenforced errors is not a good sign for him or his racquets.

Another lengthy game. Djokovic gets three break points on Verdasco’s first service game, but is pulled back to deuce each time. He then goes for a winner but misses his target. Verdasco is similarly wasteful when he has a chance to win the game. Deuce after deuce after deuce.

On Suzanne-Lenglen, David Goffin and Marco Cecchinato are getting under way. The Italian won the first game.

Will Djokovic smash his racquet this time? He really wasn’t very happy during his game with Bautista-Agut.

Djokovic wins the first game and holds serve but it took a while. That was a battle of wits, just as the whole match is expected to be. Djokovic is employing a skidding serve to his left-hander opponent, and getting some real purchase on it. Verdasco hits long three times in succession to take it to game point, but then foxes Djokovic with a thrashing drive. After that he middles a failed Djok sdrop shot to take it to deuce.

Djokovic will serve first after a jaunty, friendly knock-up between him and Verdasco.

Djokovic and Verdasco take to the court in the baking hot sunshine to very warm applause from the home crowd. Verdasco, the Spanish veteran, is a slippery customer.

Putintseva is in her second successive quarter-final at Roland Garros. She puts her success down to playing in Paris, the “beautiful city”.

Next up on Chatrier? Djokovic v Verdasco. My esteemed colleague John Brewin will guide you through the beginnings of that one.

Stephens is eating up the ground on Chatrier, she’s making it look like a real doddle out there. Kontaveit’s decision-making has left a little to be desired at times but she’s more than capable of the spectacular. But after a fourth double fault puts the game on a plate for Stephens, the Estonian goes long at the end of a healthy rally. Stephens leads 2-6, 0-3, having gobbled up eight games in a row. Over on Suzanne-Lenglen, Putintseva is 3-1 up in the second after taking the first 6-4.

The France footballer Kylian Mbappé, born to the northeast of Paris, is among the spectators at a roasting Chatrier, where it’s around 26C. None other than Mike Tyson is taking in Stephens’ duel with Kontaveit too – how the latter could do with finding some fight.

On Suzanne-Lenglen, Barbora Strýcová trails the unseeded Yulia Putintseva, of Kazakhstan, 4-2 in the first set. Putintseva knocked out Johanna Konta in the round of 128 en route to here and the 23-year-old is making another fine impression this afternoon.

Both Stephens and Kontaveit were in action yesterday, the former recording a marathon 8-6 third-set win. As for Kontaveit, she ousted Petra Kvitová, the No 8 seed, in straight sets – both tie-breaks. In the early stages on Chatrier here, they’re level-pegging at 1-1, with Stephens sending an angling, effortless forehand straight down the line. Lovely stuff.

What’s coming up? Sloane Stephens, the US open champion and No 10 seed, will duel with Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, on Chatrier. After that, Djokovic will take on Verdasco. If that doesn’t get the pulse racing, then we’ll be dipping in and out of Strycova v Putintseva. If Mahut and Herbert can seal a straight sets win on court 1 in the men’s doubles, then the Williams sisters will take centre stage there against Klepac/Sanchez.

Dominic Thiem is in good spirits. “I love the clay here,” he says. “It was my first time on Phillipe-Chatrier not playing against Rafa so I could enjoy the court a little bit more. The first two sets but he raised his level after that. It was a 50-50 match then, but my advantage was I had already two sets.”

Over on Chatrier, Thiem has poked his nose in front of Nishikori in the fourth set. He leads 4-3, with two sets already in the bag. Presumably Zverev might pop over to take a look, because he will meet the winner in the last eight. The way he’s talking though, Zverev won’t fear anyone.