South Africa’s Kevin Anderson wasted an opportunity to reach the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros for the first time after succumbing to a five-set defeat to Diego Schwartzman.

Anderson came out guns blazing and broke Schwartzman’s serve three times to win the first set 6-1. The only positive in the first for Schwartzman was that he broke his opponent’s serve to get on the board.

Anderson won the first two games of the second to make it six games in a row. Schwartzman finally held his own serve in the third game of the set, but he lost serve in his next service game as the Saffa took a 4-1 lead in the set. The rest of the set went to serve as he took the second 6-2 for a 2-0 lead.

Unforced errors cost Anderson dearly in the third as he broke the Argentinian in the seventh and looked on his way to a three-set victory. But while serving for the match at 5-4, Anderson let it slip. His 24 unforced errors gifted Schwartzman the third set, 7-5.

Both men struggled to hold serve early in the fourth until Anderson held the third after saving three break points to take a 2-1 lead. He was serving for the match at 5-4, but he once again failed to close out the match as Schwartzman got a crucial break and the fourth set went to a tie-break.

Unfortunately, the South African completely imploded during the tie-break as Schwartzman won it 7-0 to take the match into a deciding fifth set, which was a complete disaster for Anderson – who could not win a game on his own serve. Both men traded two breaks each to start the decider. But after that, Schwartzman won four games in a row with a 1-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (0), 6-2 victory.

Rafael Nadal reached the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros for the 12th time after comfortably defeating Maximilian Marterer 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4). Nadal is on course to win the tournament for an incredible 11th time. He will face Schwartzman for a place in the semi-finals.

There was a big upset on the women’s side as Daria Kasatkina reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final by defeating the No 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki 7-6 (5), 6-3. The second was tied 3-3 when light suspended play on Sunday. Kasatkina returned a set, having overcome some early nerves to claim a seesaw opener, and pushed her way through the day’s first game.

A lengthy seventh game resulted in Kasatkina getting the only break of the second set. She served out the match to reach her first quarter-final in a Grand Slam. Wozniacki, however, will have to wait another year to try and progress further than the quarters at Roland-Garros.

World No 1 Simona Halep had no such trouble as she needed just 60 minutes to pass Elise Mertens in a 6-2, 6-1 victory.

The much-anticipated clash between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova never took place as Williams confirmed an injury-enforced withdrawal.

Other men’s results:

Marin Cilic defeated Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-3
Juan-Martin del Potro defeated John Isner 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

Other women’s results:

Angelique Kerber defeated Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2
Garbine Muguruza defeated Lesia Tsurenko 2-0 (retired)

Photo: Nicolas Gouhier / FFT