Always ready with a good serve when needed, the Serbian staved off breakpoints in the next game to level for 3-3, took the 15th seed’s serve again and wrapped up set two after another break.

Schwartzman showed signs of frustration when Djokovic left him red-faced with a delightful drop shot to go 3-2 up in the third.

Djokovic, back on the grand slam scene after being barred by local authorities from playing at the Australian Open over his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19, ended the Argentine’s ordeal by winning his final service game to love.

Gauff through in women’s draw

In the women’s draw, teenager Coco Gauff reached the quarter-finals for the second year in a row when she destroyed Belgian Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-0.

The American needed a set to adjust before steamrolling the 31st seed with aggressive returns to stroll through.

The 18-year-old Gauff, who clinched her maiden claycourt title at the Emilia-Romagna Open last year, has been growing fond of playing on the slow surface.

“I definitely feel confident on the court. I feel like it really suits my game,” the 18th seed told a news conference.

“And I feel like in the previous tournaments this clay season I had some good wins, but it wasn’t really any outstanding results.

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“I feel like it gave me a lot to learn from, and I think I’m taking those tough matches that I lost this season and really learning from them and I guess showing that I’m doing better.”

With several top players, including third seed Paula Badosa, having already been knocked out, Gauff has a unique opportunity to make it to the last four of a grand slam for the first time.

But she is keeping her feet on the ground.

“I know that some of the higher seeds on my side definitely dropped out of the draw. But also, at the same time, I think, you know, the opportunity, I feel like it depends how you look at it,” she explained.

“For me I look at it in a way every day, no matter who you play, you have the chance to win the match no matter their ranking or their seed or anything.”

Elsewhere, the game’s other rising star, Leylah Fernandez, beat American 27th seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

“I think I’m improving more and more and understanding my game, that’s the most important thing,” US Open finalist Fernandez told reporters afterwards.

World No.1 Iga Swiatek is the only survivor among the top 10 women’s seeds at Roland Garros, but Fernandez said she was taking nothing for granted.

“Every time I step out on the court I still have something to prove,” said Fernandez, who will play Italian world No.59 Martina Trevisan for a place in the semi-finals.

“I still have that mindset I’m the underdog. I’m still young, I still have a lot to show to the people, to the public so that they can just enjoy the tennis match.”

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