French Open day eight: Daddy Novak Djokovic gets family support, it starts with love for Elina Svitolina

French Open
Elina Svitolina delighted

We look back at day eight of the French Open as Elina Svitolina set up enticing quarter-final clash against Aryna Sabalenka after continuing her brilliant return to Grand Slam tennis by beating Daria Kasatkina.

Svitolina will be the second Ukrainian opponent faced by Belarusian Sabalenka, who recovered from losing a 5-0 lead in the first set to beat Sloane Stephens 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 in the first night session women’s match.

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz continued their march towards a probable semi-final meeting with identical 6-3 6-2 6-2 victories – Djokovic over Juan Pablo Varillas and Alcaraz against Lorenzo Musetti

Djokovic’s son Stefan also got a taste of the action as he teamed up with his father pre-match at Roland Garros.

Picture of the day

Daria Kasatkina plays a shot

Daria Kasatkina steps into the light to play a backhand (Christophe Ena/AP)

Tweet of the day

 

Djokovic had some help warming up for his match from his eight-year-old son Stefan.

And Stefan and Tara were on hand to greet dad after the match.

Another family affair

Gael Monfils was on hand to provide support for his wife Elina Svitolina ahead of her clash against Daria Kasatkina.

Stat of the day

0 – The number of players from Grand Slam nations who made it to the fourth round of the men’s singles.

Mix-up of the day

It was a case of “yours, mine, definitely mine” during Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegulas doubles match.

Great Danes

The past and the present of Danish tennis met at Roland Garros on Sunday. Caroline Wozniacki is now a mother of two and is playing in a Slam legends event for the first time.

Fallen seeds

Men: Lorenzo Musetti (17)
Women: Daria Kasatkina (9), Elise Mertens (28)

Who’s up next?

Victories for Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff on Monday would set up a rematch of last year’s final.

Swiatek takes on Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko, who will be looking to join Svitolina in the last eight, while Gauff meets Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

In the men’s event, fourth seed Casper Ruud meets Nicolas Jarry and sixth seed Holger Rune plays Francisco Cerundolo, while Alexander Zverev features in the night session again, this time up against Grigor Dimitrov.

Elina Svitolina Novak Djokovic

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