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View From The Baseline: French Open fourth round recap from Roland Garros

Mohab Ghobranios

The fourth round of the French Open has drawn to a close.

Here are the highlights and the lowlights of a set of cracking matches.

Player Of The Round

Austria's Dominic Thiem clenches his fist after winning a point as he plays Argentina's Horacio Zeballos during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium
Austria’s Dominic Thiem clenches his fist after winning a point as he plays Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium

Dominic Thiem has been impressive since the start of the French Open, and he showed that he can be a real contender to win the title when he swept aside Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos 6-1 6-3 6-1 to book a last-eight clash with Novak Djokovic after another quietly devastating performance.

Based on the current form, Thiem may be positioning himself as the main threat to Nadal winning a 10th crown in the French Open so far.

Shock Of The Round

France’s Kristina Mladenovic shakes hands with Spain’s Garbine Muguruza after defeating her in their fourth round match
France’s Kristina Mladenovic shakes hands with Spain’s Garbine Muguruza after defeating her in their fourth round match

Defending champion Garbine Muguruza crashed out of the French Open as she was beaten 6-1 3-6 6-3 in the fourth round by Kristina Mladenovic.

Mladenovic served 16 double faults but still came out on top in an absorbing clash to reach quarter-finals for the first time in her career.

Match of The Round

Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta hugs Canada's Milos Raonic as he celebrates winning his fourth round match
Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta hugs Canada’s Milos Raonic as he celebrates winning his fourth round match

Pablo Carreno Busta’s wrote another chapter in the breakthrough story, as the Spaniard reached another high on at Roland Garros. Playing in his first fourth-round match at a Grand Slam, the 25-year-old knocked out fifth seed Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-7(6), 6-4, 8-6 to advance to his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

Carreno Busta battled the 26-year-old Canadian for more than four hours and needed seven match points, but the Spaniard eventually prevailed to celebrate his first win against a Top 10 player, and to set up a clash with the tournament favourite Rafael Nadal.

Tearjerker Of The Round

The reigning French Open champion Garbine Muguruza had to leave her press conference in tears, following her defeat against French No 1 Kristina Mladenovic, as she was really unhappy about the conduct of the partisan French crowd.

Shot Of The Round

Stat Of The Round

Canada's Milos Raonic plays a shot against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium
Canada’s Milos Raonic plays a shot against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium

Fifth seed Milos Raonic of Canada committed a staggering 84 unforced errors as he was dumped out of the French Open fourth round by claycourt specialist Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6 7-6(2) 6-7(6) 6-4 8-6.

Quote Of The Round

“Clearly, there was a horrible tragedy in London, and in Manchester. Paris has had its issues too lately. I’m certain everybody will be part of me in sharing ideas and prayers with these affected by this.” – World primary Andy Murray paid tribute to the victims of the terror attacks in London and Manchester.