Top seed Novak Djokovic has hit another line umpire, as he passed his first real test at this year's French Open, battling past Russian Karen Khachanov 6-4 6-3 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals for the 14th time.
The 33-year-old claimed a fourth successive straight-sets victory in his latest quest for a second French Open title, but the result was nowhere near as straightforward as the score suggests.
Djokovic faced stiff resistance, before taking the first set and had an anxious moment, when his attempted return off one Khachanov serve ricocheted off his frame and struck a line judge in the head, reviving memories of his US Open debacle.
Khachanov saved four set points at 2-5 in the second set, before Djokovic moved two sets clear.
Djokovic appeared to be in cruise control when he led 2-0 in the third, but Khachanov took the next three games and had two break points for a 4-2 lead.
The Serb held and regained control to ease into his 47th Grand Slam quarter-final, where he will face either German qualifier Daniel Altmaier or 17th seed Pablo Carreno Busta, the man Djokovic faced at New York, when he was defaulted for hitting a line judge with a ball.
"My gosh, it was very awkward déjà vu," says Djokovic of his latest incident. "I'm actually trying to find the linesperson and see if he's OK, because I saw he had a little bit of a bruise, like redness, in that place in the head where the ball hit him."
"I hope he's fine. I mean, he definitely dealt with it in a very strong and brave way, but it was a hit, because I was very close.
"Obviously, because of what happened in New York, people are going to make the story out of this. It has happened to me and to many other players in the last 15 years that I've been on the tour.
"I've seen it a lot when the ball ricochets from the racquet and the frame, hits someone in the stands, or someone that is close to you or line umpire. Yeah, it was a very awkward situation."
Rublev books rematch with Tsitsipas
Meanwhile, Russian Andrey Rublev has reached his second successive Grand Slam quarter-final, hitting back to beat Hungary's Marton Fucsovics 6-7(4) 7-5 6-4 7-6(3).
The world No.12 looked in big trouble when he trailed by a set and 5-2, but rallied to end the run of Fucsovics, who had shocked Rublev's compatriot Daniil Medvedev in the opening round.
Rublev, 22, will now take on Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the player he beat to win the Hamburg claycourt title last week.
Both recovered from two sets down to win their opening matches here.
"It's funny, both of us had tough, tough week in Hamburg, tough final," Rublev has told reporters. "Then both of us was down in the first round two sets to love here.
"Now we are here and we're going to play each other in quarters - it's like a nice story. I hope it's going to be interesting."
The experienced Fucsovics was trying to become the first Hungarian man to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final for 39 years and will rue a missed opportunity.
As well as building a commanding early lead, he also had three set points, when Rublev served at 4-5 0-40 in the fourth set, but hit two backhand errors.
Rublev then dominated the tiebreak with aggressive tactics.
Rublev has already shown his battling qualities this year at Roland Garros, coming back from two sets down in the first round against American Sam Querrey.
Reuters
