French Open 2017: Novak Djokovic comes through strong to beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas

ByEurosport

Updated 04/06/2017 at 21:22 GMT

Defending champion Novak Djokovic made it into the quarter-finals of the French Open with a straight-sets win over Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic (L) is congratulated by Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas

Image credit: Getty Images

Ramos-Vinolas, seeded 19th at Roland Garros, threatened a shock when he broke Djokovic in his very first service game.

Highlights: Djokovic sees off Ramos-Vinolas

Eurosport Player tennis pass – four Grand Slams for £39.99!

ATP Rome

Nadal: Murray was the only player close to level of Federer, Djokovic and myself

Yesterday at 21:23

But Djokovic struck back and took the first set on a close tie-break, going on to win 7-6(5) 6-1 6-3.

The world number two lost one sensational point in a rally which went on for 41 strokes.

But the general tone of the final two sets was Djokovic's dominant form as he approached some of his best tennis at times.

"After that (first set) I started playing with fewer errors and that was good. That gave me a lot of confidence," Djokovic said in a courtside interview.

The quarter-finals sees Djokovic take on sixth seed Dominic Thiem, who destroyed Horacio Zeballos 6-1 6-3 6-1 earlier on Sunday.

"Now it is the quarters in a grand slam and facing Dominic is not easy," the world number two said.

Djokovic: He made my life difficult

"He is a one of the best players in the world, especially on this surface. Now I have a day to rest and get ready."

Djokovic thrashed the youngster 6-1 6-0 when they met in Rome last month. But what that score does not reveal is that Thiem was weakened having beaten claycourt king Rafa Nadal the previous round.

Certainly Thiem, who has lost all five of his previous meetings with the Serb, is showing no signs of concern.

"I have to change something compared to the last matches," he said breezily. "Yeah, I also have some experience to play against him. I will talk to my coach, to my team."