French Open 2016, Day 7 as it happened: Djokovic marches on, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retires; Serena Williams, David Ferrer win

Novak Djokovic cruises into round of 16!

Djokovic, who can become just the eighth man to win all four Grand Slam tournaments should be emerge triumphant next weekend, beat Britain’s Aljaz Bedene 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 just before the light became too poor to play in.

The Serb, winner of the last three Grand Slam tournaments, has seen his chances of adding the French title considerably improved by the shock injury withdrawal of nine-time champion Rafael Nadal.

“It was important to finish this evening,” was Djokovic’s relieved comment on his late show before thanking the umpire for keeping the action going despite the gloom.

Leander Paes-Martina Hingis move into Mixed Doubles quarters after beating 4th seeds Mergea/Shvedova 2-6, 7-5, 10-6.

What a point!

#VintageVee pic.twitter.com/2Mdwcktyyc

— Chris Oddo (@TheFanChild) May 28, 2016

Venus Williams, 36 years old next month, is back in the 4th round at French Open for 1st time since 2010.

She defeated Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-0.

6th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retires due to an injury. 

He was in tears while leaving the court.

No6 seed Tsonga retires from his 3R match against Gulbis after leading 5-2 with injury. #RG16 pic.twitter.com/dbSr712984

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2016

11th-seeded David Ferrer came out on top from an all-Spanish match with Feliciano Lopez, winning 6-4, 7-6 (6), 6-1.

He’ll next face either seventh-seeded Tomas Berdych or Pablo Cuevas.

Huge celebration from @serenawilliams. How much do you think that win meant to her? #RG16 #InsideRG pic.twitter.com/cIl9hKxiLm

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2016

Serena Williams wins 6-4, 7-6(10) on her 5th match point.

It was a messy tie-break after a 2-hour rain delay but Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic hung in for as long as she could.

Play has resumed after the rains!

Kiki takes flight!
Holding her own in this tiebreak! #RG16 pic.twitter.com/rmC9JW6HV8

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2016

Schedule Update:

Djokovic-Bedene will move to Suzanne-Lenglen after Venus v Cornet ends

Goffin-Almagro will play third on Court 2.

The former Wimbledon champion with some happy scenes!

This is #live @rolandgarros . STARTING TO TAKE THE WATER OFF ✌🔝🤗🎾 more tennis to come soon #RG16 pic.twitter.com/tt95ndnMwe

— MARION BARTOLI (@bartoli_marion) May 28, 2016

Some good news!

Water being wiped from the covers. Will hopefully see some play soon. Some patches of lighter sky in the distance. #RG16

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) May 28, 2016

All the results so far:

Men’s Third Round:

Marcel Granollers (ESP) bt Rafael Nadal (ESP #4) w/o

Dominic Thiem (AUT #13) bt Alexander Zverev (GER) 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3

Women’s Third Round:

Timea Bacsinszky (SUI #8) bt Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 6-4, 6-2

Elina Svitolina (UKR #18) bt Ana Ivanovic (SRB #14) 6-4, 6-4

Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) bt Karin Knapp (ITA) 6-1, 6-1

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP #12) bt Dominika Cibulkova (SVK #22) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1

Play suspended on Phillipe-Chatrier just before the second set tie-break between Serena and Mladenovic.

Play has been suspended on Lenglen, Court 1, 6, and 17 due to weather.

It’s beginning to rain in Paris but play continues at Roland Garros.

Serena Williams is leading by a set against Mladenovic. 6-4, 5-5

Venus Williams’ match against Alize Cornet just started on Suzanne-Lenglen. 1-1.

David Ferrer leads the all-spanish battle with Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 7-6, 1-1.

It's so beautiful when the zebras show their emotions (: Thiem d. Zverev, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. #RG16 pic.twitter.com/PWcNmedlzc

— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) May 28, 2016

22-year-old Dominic Thiem (#13) downs 19-year-old Alexander Zverev 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

The Austrian plays Marcel Granollers in the round of 16.

22-year-old Dominic Thiem (#13) downs 19-year-old Alexander Zverev 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

The Austrian plays Marcel Granollers in the round of 16.

Thiem takes a two-sets-to-one lead after playing for almost two hours. Has really stepped up on the crucial points. 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3.

@rolandgarros fun to watch and sketch Battle of the Zebras between Thiem and Zverez in #FrenchOpen #RG16 pic.twitter.com/UzQ2BpHHX3

— Andrew Fraser (@cartoonsidrew) May 28, 2016

In the third set, Thiem saved two break points and then broke Zverev with some powerful hitting. 2-1.

The one-hander has been on song for the Austrian. Zverev frustrated at his service being broken and flung his racquet in anger.

Top seed Serena Williams is now in action on Court Philippe Chatrier. She’s playing the 26th seed, Kristina Mladenovic.

After a close first set, Thiem has an easier time closing out the second, 6-3. It’s a set apiece in this third round!

#8 Timea Bacsinszky notches her third consecutive straight sets win, reaching the Round of 16 with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Parmentier.

Upset! #18 Elina Svitolina avenges last year’s quarter-final loss to reach the Round of 16 with a 6-4 6-4 win over #14 Ana Ivanovic.

Alexander Zverev takes a 61-minute first set 7-4 in the tie-break against Dominic Thiem after saving 6 break points to hold for 6-5.

After surviving a tough hold and that 1st-set TB, a fist-pump from Zverev (vs. Thiem). #RG16 https://t.co/3CKsidmyNO

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2016

Three matches going on right now!

On Court Philippe-Chatrier, Swiss Timea Bacsinszky, seeded 8, is playing Frenchwoman Pauline Parmentier

Clash of the NextGen rising stars – Dominic Thiem and Alex Zverev is on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

And finally, on Court 1 we have Ana Ivanovic (#14) playing Elina Svitolina (#18).

Rafael Nadal dropped a bombshell by withdrawing from the French Open yesterday, but here’s why we shouldn’t write him off.

Rafael Nadal’s French Open dream is over, but resurrection is his best trick – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Hello and welcome to Day 7 of the French Open! Our live coverage will bring you regular updates and scores from across the grounds of Roland Garros.