By Sandra Harwitt

The count continues for Novak Djokovic. The flawless Serbian is now working on a 42-0 match winning streak  – 40-0 this year.

That would seem to be pretty heady stuff just on that accord. There’s also the chance to win a first French Open title. And then there’s the possibility to attain the world No. 1 ranking for the first time, too. 

But Djokovic appears to have his head on straight and his priorities sorted. 

“I’m thinking about this tournament only,” he said, after beating Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday, in a match that was stopped because of darkness at one set apiece on Friday night. “I definitely want to go as far as I can in Roland Garros. And then, you know, if the No. 1 rankings come this week, I’ll be more than happy, definitely.

“But it’s not something I’m thinking about. My main priority is just taking one mach at a time, looking towards my next opponent, and try to perform better and better, match after match and get to the finals if I can.”

Djokovic won’t have to wait too long to play his fourth round match. He’s on Sunday’s card as his third round was started on Friday. He’ll take on Frenchman Richard Gasquet – a talented, but perplexing athlete who has struggled to realize his potential on a consistent basis. Djokovic leads Gasquet 4-1 in career meetings and won their only previous outing this year, in the Indian Wells quarterfinals.

Rafael Nadal, the current world No. 1 and defending champion, also advanced on Saturday. It was his easiest outing of three here this year, taking out Croatian qualifier Antonio Veic 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. In previous matches, Nadal was tested. He played his first ever five-set match at the French in the first round against John Isner. He was taken to a third set tiebreaker by fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar in the second round.

“I think I did a few things much better than the previous days,” Nadal said. “Happy for that. I have to continue this way. I think I played a solid match almost all the time.”
Nadal, who has won here five of the last six years, will face a more accomplished Croatian in Ivan Ljubicic in the fourth round. Lubicic has lost to Nadal six of eight times they’ve played, including here in  the 2006 semifinal.

Andy Murray -- Britain’s great hope – pulled through with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win over Michael Berrer despite turning his ankle in the fourth game of the second set. How he’ll mend to face Viktor Troicki in the fourth round on Monday is certainly of concern.

“I just rolled my ankle, and then, obviously pretty sore for the rest of the match,” said the fourth-seed. “As soon as I got done, did some icing.

“I’ve just got to wait and see how it pulls up or do all the right things to make sure, give it my best possible shot for the next match.”

The final two Americans in singles play – Vania King and Mardy Fish – took their final bows at the French Open on Saturday.

King lost to Petra Kvitova 6-4, 6-2. Fish went down to Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.