Federer crashes out of French Open

Roger Federer was knocked out in the last 16 of the French Open, losing 6-7(5), 7-6(3), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to 18th seed Ernests Gulbis of Latvia, his worst result at Roland Garros since 2004.

The fourth seed and 2009 champion was second best for most of the match, making an unusually high number of unforced errors on the Philippe Chatrier show court.

Gulbis chased down every shot and struck the ball with real venom and fully deserved his first place in a grand slam quarter-final since 2008, clinching the finest victory of his career when Federer’s sent a backhand wide.

He will play Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in the last eight after the sixth seed bet American John Isner.

Djokovic sails through

Novak Djokovic easily beat 13th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 in only 1.5 hours to reach the
quarterfinals for the 20th major tournament in a row.

The second-seeded Djokovic needs a title at Roland Garros to complete a career Grand Slam.

He lost the 2012 final and in last year’s semi-finals – both times to Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic improved to 12-5 against Tsonga, including winning their last 10 matches and the past 15 sets they’ve played.

In the quarterfinals, Djokovic will face No. 8 Milos Raonic of Canada, who beat Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

Murray wins marathon

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray won a five-set marathon spread over two days against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany to reach the last 16 of the French Open.

The seventh seed from Britain won 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 12-10.

The thrilling tennis of the evening before continued with no sign of the leg problems which had Murray grimacing previously as the pair resumed at two sets all and 7-7.

Kohlschreiber saved Murray’s match point at 9-8 with a brave overhead but the Brit made no mistake on his second, scything a backhand return past his opponent.

Kohlschreiber had shown tremendous composure as he served to stay in the match six times but finally succumbed at the seventh time of asking.

Murray plays 24th seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain who beat 12th seed Richard Gasquet of France in another resumed match.

Elsewhere, Tomas Berdych knocked out the last US player in the men’s tournament with a routine 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over John Isner.

In the woman’s tournament Eugenie Bouchard’s meteoric rise continued when the baby-faced Canadian demolished Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-2 to claim a quarter-final spot. 

The 18th seeded Bouchard, who reached the Australian Open semi-final this year, blazed away with 30 winners in just 52 minutes on court Philippe Chatrier.