French Open: Ivanovic hits quarterfinals

Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic has reached the quarterfinal stage for the first time since winning the tournament in 2008 after ninth-seeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova 7-5, 3-6, 6-1.

Encouraged by partner Bastian Schweinsteiger, Ivanovic struck some powerful winners to steam ahead in the first set, hoping to secure her first quarterfinal place at a Grand Slam since the Australian Open in 2014.

The 27-year-old and her opponent had to sit out for more than two hours because of a rain delay that has caused havoc to Sunday's schedule with several games rescheduled, including Maria Sharapova's clash against Lucie Safarova.

"It's amazing to be in the quarter-finals again. To be honest, coming into the tournament I didn't really expect that at all," said Ivanovic who faces 19th-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the last-eight.

"But I really worked hard for each match. I worked hard even before the tournament to reach the quarter-final again."

Quarterfinals shape up

Last year's US Open rookie Kei Nishikori is the first Japanese player in 80 years to reach the quarterfinal at Roland Garros with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia.

"To (reach) the quarterfinal, that's the first goal for these two weeks," said Nishikori who went out at the first round stage last year.

The 25-year-old will play No. 14 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who turned out an excellent performance to beat the seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer and Gael Monfils will continue their match tomorrow with the spoils shared after two sets before the match was halted due to darkness.

The winner of that clash will take on eighth-seeded former Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka who defeated Giles Simon of France 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.