French Open: Injury scare for Djokovic, Nadal through

Novak Djokovic receives medical treatment during his French Open second round match against Luxemburg's Gilles Muller yesterday

Paris: World No 1 Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal stayed on course for a French Open quarter-final yesterday as teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis provided a glimpse into the sport's future.


Novak Djokovic receives medical treatment during his French Open second round match against Luxemburg's Gilles Muller yesterday

Top seed Djokovic survived a worrying injury scare to reach the third round with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Gilles Muller of Luxemburg.

Nadal, chasing a 10th Paris title, enjoyed a 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 breeze past Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro.

Djokovic's win over 33-year-old Muller was his 24th consecutive victory this year as he took another step towards a first ever Roland Garros title and a career Grand Slam.

However, he needed a medical timeout leading 5-4 in the second set for treatment on what appeared to be a right groin strain. It didn't affect him too much as he quickly wrapped up the second set with a service game to love.

He eventually wrapped up the tie on Court Suzanne Lenglen after just an hour and 45 minutes, hitting an impressive 35 winners.

The 28-year-old goes on to face 19-year-old Kokkinakis who saved three match points to beat fellow Australian Bernard Tomic 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 8-6 to make the third round of a major for the first time.

Sixth seed Nadal will face Andrey Kuznetsov for a place in the last 16 after the Russian defeated Austria's Jurgen Melzer 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (7/0), 7-5.

Murray made to sweat
Meanwhile, British champ Andy Murray booked his place in the third round too but had to work hard for the same. The scotsman survived a feisty four-set encounter against Portugal's Joao Sousa before going on to prevail 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.