Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal remain on course for a potential final showdown at the 2019 Monte Carlo Masters after both players advanced to the quarter-finals on Thursday.
World No. 1 Djokovic smashed past American Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-0 and will face Daniil Medvedev in the last eight, while Nadal got the better of Grigor Dimitrov in a convincing 6-4, 6-1 result.
The upsets came in thick and fast outside the two top seeded stars, and No. 3 Alexander Zverev was among those shown the exit after he fell to Fabio Fognini 7-6(6), 6-1.
Tenth seed Medvedev surprised No. 6 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Nole in the quarters. Nadal's next opponent will be Guido Pella, who's out to cause another upset after he ousted 11th seed Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Fourth seed Dominic Thiem was stunned in a straight sets defeat to Dusan Lajovic, and Britain's Cameron Norrie fell at the hands of Lorenzo Sonego 6-2, 7-5.
Thursday's Results
(1) Novak Djokovic bt. Taylor Fritz: 6-3, 6-0
(2) Rafael Nadal bt. Grigor Dimitrov: 6-4, 6-1
Guido Pella bt. (11) Marco Cecchinato: 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
(10) Daniil Medvedev bt. (6) Stefanos Tsitsipas: 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
Dusan Lajovic bt. (4) Dominic Thiem: 6-3, 6-3
Lorenzo Sonego bt. Cameron Norrie: 6-2, 7-5
(13) Fabio Fognini bt. (3) Alexander Zverev: 7-6(6), 6-1
(9) Borna Coric bt. Pierre-Hugues Herbert: 6-4, 6-2
Friday's Schedule
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (10) Daniil Medvedev
Dusan Lajovic vs. Lorenzo Sonego
(2) Rafael Nadal vs. Guido Pella
Matches start at 10 a.m. BST/5 a.m. ET
Both Nadal and Djokovic were in flying form on Thursday and eased into the finals phase of the Monte Carlo Masters with a pair of relatively routine results.
King of clay Nadal is yet to drop a set at Monte Carlo Country Club this year and demonstrated his might in a confident closing segment against Dimitrov following a more tense opening half of the match.
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