Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic has yet to win the French Open and was beaten by Stan Wawrinka in last year's final MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images

Number one seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have finally booked their quarter-final places at the 2016 French Open after delays. Persistently poor weather conditions at Roland Garros had seen minimal play over recent days, but both players have now secured safe passage through to the last eight.

Djokovic dropped the first set against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, but recovered to take the second and had engineered a 4-1 lead in the third before the match was halted for a second time on Tuesday (31 May). Looking to finish things off quickly, he secured an immediate break and served out the set.

Bautista snatched a break of his own to lead 4-2 in the fourth, but the world number one and 11-time Grand Slam winner hit straight back before another break at 5-5 brought the finishing line into clear view. He spurned the first match point on offer before going to deuce and eventually wrapping up an entertaining and hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5 triumph. Djokovic will play either David Ferrer or Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals.

Williams, meanwhile, made short work of Ukraine's Elina Svitolina on Court Philippe Chatrier. The defending champion set up a meeting with unseeded Yulia Putintseva and hit 27 winners en route to a comprehensive 6-1, 6-1 victory over the No18 seed.