Federer sets mark, Zvonareva exits
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Roger Federer set another grand slam record yesterday, extending his quarterfinal streak at major tournaments to 28 with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Olympic gold medal doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka at the French Open.
The 16-time major champion, who completed a career grand slam at Roland Garros in 2009, improved on the record he shared with Jimmy Connors at Roland Garros.
The last time Federer failed to reach the quarterfinals at a major was at the 2004 French Open, when he was the top seed but lost to Gustavo Kuerten in the third round.
Also yesterday, Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova knocked out the highest seeded player remaining in the women's draw, beating compatriot and No. 3 Vera Zvonareva 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
Later, Novak Djokovic was to again put his perfect season on the line, against Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Federer again dominated with his serve. He was broken once early in the third set, but broke back twice to remain one of the four players to have won every match in straight sets.
Besides his record 16 major titles, Federer also set a record of 23 straight grand slam semifinal appearances. That run ended at last year's French Open, when he was beaten in the quarterfinals. Federer set his quarterfinal streak in 28 consecutive grand slam tournaments, while Connors skipped some in his run.
In the next round, Federer will face either No. 7 David Ferrer of Spain or French No. 9 Gael Monfils.
Elsewhere, Fabio Fognini of Italy overcame a cramping left leg and five match points to outlast Albert Montanes of Spain 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 to reach his first grand slam quarterfinal. The match lasted 4 hours, 22 minutes, and by the end, the 49th-ranked Fognini barely could move.
The third-seeded Zvonareva followed No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and No. 2 Kim Clijsters out of the tournament after losing to Pavlyuchenkova, at 19 the youngest player still in the tournament.
No. 4 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus is now the highest seeded player left.
"I don't really want to comment on this, because, well, it's none of my business," Pavlyuchenkova, the 14th seed, said. "I'm just trying to do my thing, focusing on me. ... The rest, I don't really care."
It is only the third time that none of the top three women seeds has reached the quarterfinals at a grand slam tournament in the Open era, which began in 1968, and the first time at the French Open. It also happened at Wimbledon in 2008 - when the top four were eliminated by the end of the fourth round - and at the Australian Open in 1997.
