• French Open, Day Eight

Federer and Djokovic on collision course in Paris

Roger Federer has been in imperious form in Paris © Getty Images

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Novak Djokovic remains on a collision course with Roger Federer after the pair strolled into the French Open quarter-finals.

Djokovic repelled the challenge of home favourite Richard Gasquet, while Federer maintained his perfect start after beating fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets to book his place in the last eight.

Federer shrugged off a brief lapse to reach his 28th consecutive grand slam quarter-final with a 6-3 6-2 7-5 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier, a new Grand Slam record surpassing the previous mark set by Jimmy Connors.

The No. 3 seed has enjoyed a blistering start at Roland Garros, blazing through his opening three matches, and it looked like the 16-time grand slam champion was on course for another routine win after cruising through the opening two sets.

But when Wawrinka stole an early break in the third set, it looked like the 2009 champion would drop his first set in Paris. However, from 4-1 down, Federer battled back to claim the third set, and with it his place in the last eight.

Federer is now just match away from a mouthwatering semi-final against Novak Djokovic after the second seed extended his unbeaten start to the season to 41 matches with a 6-4 6-4 6-2 win over Richard Gasquet.

Gasquet produced some gutsy tennis as he opted for a high-risk approach against the Serb, but despite saving match point with an ace, it merely delayed the inevitable as Djokovic marched into the last eight.

Having passed two tricky tests in flying colours, Djokovic will have a perceived easier time of things against quarter-final opponent Fabio Fognini.

The world No. 49 is likely to be feeling the effects of a gruelling five-set victory over Albert Montanes. After nearly four-and-a-half hours of scintillating tennis by two clay-court specialists, Fognini eventually emerged victorious 4-6 6-4 3-6 6-3 11-9.

Having twice battled back from a set down to take the match to a deciding set, Fognini was two points from defeat at 7-6 in the fifth. Fognini cramped up and despite clearly struggling with his mobility, Fognini hit a series of winners while rooted to the baseline as Montanes was left to rue five match points wasted.

Federer, meanwhile, will have to wait to discover the identity of his quarter-final opponent after the thrilling encounter between David Ferrer and Gael Monfils failed to reach a conclusion.

In a topsy-turvy clash, Monfils won the opener, only for Ferrer to fight back. Monfils clinched a gripping third, before Ferrer grabbed an early break when darkness descended on Court Suzanne Lenglen with the scores poised at 6-4 2-6 7-5 0-2.

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