It’s almost time for the King of Clay to take centre stage. Reigning champion Rafael Nadal is next up against another rising NextGen star in the shape of Italian, Jannik Sinner. Can the teenager pull off a huge result and be only the third man to ever beat the 20-time Grand Slam champion at Roland Garros? We’ll soon find out!

GAME, SET AND MATCH! - NADAL 7-5 6-3 6-0 SINNER. Nadal saves break point before serving out the match at the second attempt from deuce and helping himself to a third-set bagel. The Spaniard was unplayable at times but at other points he showed there are areas he’ll be keen to tighten up going forward, particularly with his serve. Sinner was the better player for a chunk of the first set but his form dipped as Nadal’s rose and he never truly looked like producing a major upset. The No.3 seed marches on after a two-hour and 17-minute tussle and will meet Diego Schwartzman in the last eight.

BREAK! – NADAL 7-5 6-3 5-0 SINNER. This is all over bar the shouting. Nadal has worn Sinner down and this time he doesn’t look like letting up. The teenager guesses right on Nadal’s attempt to clock up double break point and launches an astonishing crosscourt backhand pass. However, Jannik follows up with a terrible forehand wide with the point on his racket and then shows where his state of mind is at with a double fault. Nadal will now serve for the match.

NADAL 7-5 6-3 4-0 SINNER. Sublime. Nadal dances into position again and sizzles a crisp crosscourt backhand winner to back up the double break to love.

BREAK! – NADAL 7-5 6-3 3-0 SINNER. The error count continues to climb at an alarming rate for Sinner and that’s often the case when tiring under the incessant spin and relentless probing of Nadal. The Spaniard breaks again and is firmly in charge, but he’ll be mindful of what happened in the last set.

NADAL 7-5 6-3 2-0 SINNER. Service troubles? What service troubles? Nadal thunders an ace down the middle T to clinch a love hold. He’s looking strong again now. Can Sinner launch another comeback in what has been a topsy-turvy affair at times.

BREAK! – NADAL 7-5 6-3 1-0 SINNER. Supreme from Nadal. He steps on the after-burner at 30-15 down and scorches a crosscourt backhand winner. He paints his untouchable patterns before unloading a backhand up the line and concludes another break with a ridiculous winner right to the very corner of Sinner’s right corner.

SET! - NADAL 7-5 6-3 SINNER. How wrong can you be? Nadal hits the high notes again, nailing the forehand winners and serving it out to love. He’s two sets to the good but it’s been a real rollercoaster for both players so far.

BREAK! – NADAL 7-5 5-3 SINNER. Nadal goes on the attack and sets the early tone with a bullet backhand winner down the line. Sinner double faults to open the door and an improvised lob on the slide conjures up triple break point. Sinner saves one but then drags a loose backhand well wide. Nadal re-establishes the advantage but given his service wobbles this will not be routine.

BREAK! – NADAL 7-5 4-3 SINNER. Nadal is double faulting for fun out there and it’s giving Sinner an avenue back into this match. The Spaniard fires down his seventh at 30-0 and another efficient game turns sour. Nadal unloads a forehand long and it’s another break point for the No.18 seed. A huge serve saves it but Sinner has the bit between his teeth and lets out a roar when he claims a second bite of the cherry. A picks up a Nadal drop shot and rifles a crosscourt winner. From 4-0 down and a double break, he’s back on serve!

NADAL 7-5 4-2 SINNER. Jannik stays in contention with a hold to 30 and will feel he’s no longer on the wrong end of Nadal’s purple patch. Next up, it’s an important service game for Rafa.

BREAK! – NADAL 7-5 4-1 SINNER. Nadal bounces back down to human mode. Sinner finally remembers what it’s like to hit some winners and then chalks up a break point when he out drop shots the No.3 seed. Nadal loses focus and another double fault gifts the 19-year-old one of the breaks back.

BREAK! – NADAL 7-5 4-0 SINNER. My word, Nadal has motored through the gears and found an almost halcyon level from mid-way in that first set. He corks a ridiculous backhand down the line to break again. The scary thing is that he’s still some way off his clay-court best.

NADAL 7-5 3-0 SINNER. Make that seven in a row. Sinner slides from side to side, defending like crazy as Spain’s Raging Bull rockets off a succession of forehands. Yet another double fault offers the Italian a glimmer of hope but Nadal comes out on top in a pulsating rally to back up his break and continue the charge.

BREAK! – NADAL 7-5 2-0 SINNER. That is wonderful from Nadal. The forehand is penning Sinner back behind his baseline and he’s then moving in to clean up with volleys at the net. The Italian sees a 30-0 lead evaporate and is broken once again. That’s six games on the run for the King of Clay.

NADAL 7-5 1-0 SINNER. Nadal survives a mid-game crisis as a 40-0 cruise turns into a real tussle from deuce. The Mallorcan shows brilliant footwork to get into position to unload a crosscourt forehand and goes on to maintain his momentum.