Another day of French Open action has seen the women's singles draw open up even more, while the men's top seeds are showing they mean business at Roland-Garros.
The Sporting News wraps up all action from Day 7 at the French Open.
Medvedev pushing for world number one return
Second-seed Daniil Medvedev looks back to his best after recently having surgery and smashed Miomir Kecmanovic 6-2 6-4 6-2 in the third round.
The Russian was briefly crowned world number one earlier this year before Novak Djokovic reclaimed top spot and Medvedev is determined to ensure he doesn't stay on the list of short reigns with the highest ranking.
"The first I saw was Pat Rafter being there for one week, and he's an absolute legend, and Carlos Moya was somewhere there," said Medvedev.
"I didn't know these stats, and if somebody asked me how long were Rafter and Moya number one, I'd say, 'I don't know, six months, one year?'
"So it's something nobody can take away from me. Not that many players could take it while they play tennis. It's a great motivation to try to come back there."
The ATP's decision to strip Wimbledon of ranking points will favour Medvedev with the Russian not allowed to compete at the Grand Slam event this year due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Should he win his first French Open this year and Djokovic get knocked out before the final, the world number one ranking is set to be his for a lot longer than just one week.
Defying the laws of physics 📐@DaniilMedwed | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/yU4CQHRTsx
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2022
Swiatek's path to French Open final gets even easier
Women's world number one Iga Swiatek was always a strong favourite heading into Roland-Garros but her path to another Grand Slam title keeps getting easier.
The young Polish star comfortably won her third round match against Danka Kovinic on Saturday 6-3 7-5.
While Swiatek is still yet to drop a set, her biggest rivals have all stumbled with no other top 10 seed remaining at this year's French Open in the women's singles.
Saturday saw third-seed Paula Badosa retire after being a set down against Veronika Kudermetova and seventh-seed Aryna Sabalenka was also beaten 4-6 6-1 6-0 by Camila Giorgi.
Swiatek will now face unseeded Qinwen Zheng in the fourth round with her next closest rival now 11th-seed Jessica Pegula.
31 consecutive match wins ✅@iga_swiatek reflects after her third round defeat of Danka Kovinic.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/i3djWAbQpt
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2022
Nadal's uncle in awkward position ahead of fourth-round clash
Rafael Nadal will take on Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round on Sunday with his Canadian opponent coached by his uncle Toni.
Nadal was coached by Toni until 2017 when his uncle decided to focus on running a tennis academy instead.
But Toni returned to the tour in 2021 to work with Auger-Aliassime on a part-time basis.
Nadal believes his uncle will be able to support both of them and knows nothing will break their close bond.
"I want the best for him and he wants the best for me," Nadal said.
"I don't think he will be able to want me to lose, without a doubt. But he's a professional and he's with another player.
"I don't know what's going to happen, if he's going to stay in the box or not, but I don't care. I have zero problem with that.
"We are family more than anything else. Not only family; we are a family that we stay together all the time. He's not only an uncle. He's more than that."
