Djokovic into record 12th French Open quarter-final

Paris - Novak Djokovic reached a record 12th French Open quarter-final on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Spain's Fernando Verdasco.

Djokovic, the 2016 champion and 12-time Grand Slam title winner, has now also reached 40 quarter-finals at the majors.

The 31-year-old Serb, seeded at 20 this year after a year of struggles with an elbow injury and mediocre form, will face either Belgian eighth seed David Goffin or Italy's world number 72 Marco Cecchinato for a semi-final spot.

Verdasco, 34, had knocked out fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets in the third round.

However, his hopes of beating Djokovic for the first time in eight years weren't helped by a badly blistered left foot which needed treatment before the end of the second set.

Victory on Sunday was also Djokovic's 200th on clay courts.

Results from day eight of the French Open at Roland Garros on Sunday (x denotes seeding):

Men

4th rd

Novak Djokovic (SRB x20) bt Fernando Verdasco (ESP x30) 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

Dominic Thiem (AUT x7) bt Kei Nishikori (JPN x19) 6-2, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4

Alexander Zverev (GER x2) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS) 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3

Women

4th rd

Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) bt Barbora Strycova (CZE x26) 6-4, 6-3

Madison Keys (USA x13) bt Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROM x31) 6-1, 6-4

Sloane Stephens (USA x10) bt Anett Kontaveit (EST x25) 6-2, 6-0