New Zealand doubles player Michael Venus has won through to the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time.
In a remarkable comeback Venus and his American partner Ryan Harrison beat the Indian pair of Purav Raja and Divij Sharan 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 in their third round match at the French Open overnight.
In doing so Venus is the first Kiwi male to reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam since Brett Steven and his American partner Pat Galbraith at Wimbledon in 1998.
"It's really exciting" Venus said.
"I've been wanting to be in this position in these Grand Slams for a long time now. I've been knocking on the door but haven't quite got over the line. We were almost out of that match today, very lucky to be where we are and just really excited."
Venus had made it to the third round at Grand Slams five previous times; Wimbledon in 2015 and 2016, the Australian Open in 2014 and 15 and the US Open in 2014.
The win will take him from his current rank of 39 to the cusp of the world’s top 30.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal returned to Roland Garros after his birthday celebrations and showed no signs of slowing up, hammering compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1 6-2 6-2 in a fourth round performance that was also an emphatic statement.
Nadal destroyed his opponent on Court Suzanne Lenglen to move into the quarter- finals and one step closer to a 10th French Open crown.
Nadal, who turned 31 on Saturday and celebrated with two cakes, will next face another Spaniard, Pablo Carreno Busta, for a place in the semi-finals.
His countryman Carreno Busta, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the last 18 months, going from a ranking of 67 at the start of 2016 to world No.21, sent Canadian world No.6 Milos Raonic packing in five sets.
Carreno Busta, underpowered against Raonic, ground out the win 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (8-6) 6-4 8-6 as 84 unforced errors spewed from the Canadian's racquet.
The win was Carreno Busta's first over a top-10 player.
Joining the Spanish duo in the quarters is defending champion Novak Djokovic who got past another Spaniard in Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Djokovic outclassed Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 6-3 and will face rising Austrian star Dominic Thiem in a rematch of their 2016 semi-final, which Djokovic won 6-2 6-1 6-4.
Thiem advanced to the quarters with an easy 6-1 6-3 6-1 win over Argentine world No.65 Horacio Zeballos.
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