Federer leads over-30s into record French Open show

Roger Federer bids to reach the French Open quarter-finals for the 11th time on Sunday when he faces home favourite Gael Monfils.

Second seed Federer, the 2009 champion in Paris, is one of six men over the age of 30 to make the last-16 -- the most since 1969, when there were eight.

Monfils, seeded 13, has defeated Federer in each of their last two meetings on clay -- at the 2014 Davis Cup final and this year in Monte Carlo.

But 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer has won all three of their previous clashes at Roland Garros and went on to reach the final after each meeting -– in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

Monfils is one of three Frenchmen in action Sunday -- 14th seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga tackles fourth seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic while Gilles Simon, seeded 12, faces eighth-seeded Swiss Stan Wawrinka.

Japan's fifth seed Kei Nishikori, who benefitted from a walkover in his third round match, faces world number 74 Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia.

Defending women's champion Maria Sharapova, also the winner in 2012 and runner-up in 2013, faces Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova for a place in the quarter-finals.

Sharapova, who has been battling a cold throughout the first week, has a 4-1 record over the 28-year-old Czech whose only win came in the pair's first meeting in Madrid five years ago.

Seventh-seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 champion, faces Russian ninth seed Ekaterina Makarova who has reached the last-16 for the first time.

Sunday's other fourth round ties see Ukraine 19th seed facing the last Frenchwoman in the draw, Alize Cornet.

Italian veteran Flavia Pennetta plays Spain's Garbine Muguruza who beat Serena Williams last year on her way to the quarter-finals.

French Open order of play on showcourts on Sunday, the eighth day of the 2015 tournament at Roland Garros (x denotes seeded player; 0900 GMT start):

Court Philippe Chatrier

Elina Svitolina (UKR x19) v Alize Cornet (FRA x29)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x14) v Tomas Berdych (CZE x4)

Gael Monfils (FRA x13) v Roger Federer (SUI x2)

Flavia Pennetta (ITA x28) v Garbine Muguruzu (ESP x21)

Court Suzanne Lenglen

Ana Ivanovic (SRB x7) v Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x9)

Kei Nishikori (JPN x5) v Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS)

Stan Wawrinka (SUI x8) v Gilles Simon (FRA x12)

Lucie Safarova (CZE x13) v Maria Sharapova (RUS x2)
Source: AFP