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PARIS. — World number one Novak Djokovic became the first player to reach the $100 million prize money mark when he made the French Open tennis quarter-finals for the 10th time yesterday.
The 29-year-old Serb started the tournament with $99 673 404 in the bank and the 294 000 euros ($328 303) he earned by beating Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut took him past the landmark figure.
Top seed Djokovic defeated the Spanish 14th seed 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5 to move into a 28th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final and 36th in all.
He will today take on Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych, who beat Spanish 11th seed David Ferrer 6-3, 7-5, 6-3.
Djokovic has a 23-2 career stranglehold on Berdych who will be playing in his third Roland Garros quarter-final.
Djokovic, seeking a first French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, was 4-1 ahead of Bautista Agut in the third set when play was halted due to rain on Tuesday.
The Serb quickly wrapped up the next two games yesterday and despite falling a break down to trail 2-4 in the fourth, he stormed back to claim victory on a second match point.
“With my coaching team, we had some tough talks on Tuesday night,” said Djokovic, who had struggled in the heavy conditions of the previous day when he had uncharacteristically dropped serve five times.
“But I came back today with more intensity even though it was a tough mental and physical battle.”
Roger Federer, who sat out Roland Garros through injury, has made $98 011 727 from prize money and stands second on the all-time list behind Djokovic.
Meanwhile, defending women’s champion Serena Williams powered into the French Open quarter-finals yesterday, but Timea Bacsinszky dumped out sister Venus as the Swiss continued her love affair with Paris.
Serena reached the last eight at Roland Garros for the 10th time after pulverising 18th seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-1, 6-1 in just over an hour on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The world number one continues her pursuit of a record-equalling 22nd Open era Grand Slam title against 60th-ranked Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.
The 34-year-old American faces the likelihood of playing four matches in four days as she targets a fourth French Open crown, but Serena played down concerns about the schedule.
“Four in a row? I think for us…when we play regular tournaments you play four, five matches in a row. It’s what happens,” she said.
“In Rome I played four in a row? Five? I don’t know. But, you know, in Miami and Indian Wells you just play every day. It’s something you just get used to. It’s totally fine I think for me and for everyone.”
Swiss eighth seed Bacsinszky ended any prospect of Serena facing sister Venus in the semi-finals after dumping out the elder Williams in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Bacsinszky, who reached the semi-finals in Paris a year ago, reeled off nine of 10 games after trailing 0-2 in the first set to lay the foundation for her victory.
“If I could play here every day of my life, I would do it,” said Bacsinszky, who will meet unseeded Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens next.
Bertens reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final after defeating American 15th seed Madison Keys 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. — AFP.
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