PARIS, France (AFP) —Rafael Nadal said he doesn’t “feel old”, after moving a step closer to an incredible 11th French Open title yesterday by beating German Maximilian Marterer to reach the quarter-finals the day after his 32nd birthday.

The world number one’s 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) victory over the world number 70 was his 900th win at tour level.

It also saw him equal the record of 12 last-eight appearances at Roland Garros, which was set by Novak Djokovic the day before.

Top seed Nadal, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, is now on his own in third on the all-time list for most match wins at Grand Slam events with 234 victories after passing Jimmy Connors.

“I don’t feel old. But I am 32, and I have been here since 2003, so it’s a long way, a lot of years,” he said.

“I started very young. That’s a real thing. But, no, I feel happy to be here.”

Nadal powered 39 winners past Marterer, who pushed the Spaniard as hard as he could without ever threatening an upset.

He will face Argentinian Diego Schwartzman for a semi-final spot, after the 11th seed staged a thrilling comeback to down sixth seed Kevin Anderson 1-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion has now won 37 consecutive sets at Roland Garros, just four short of Bjorn Borg’s record set between 1979 and 1981.

Nadal was caught cold in the opening stages as some big hitting from Marterer brought him the first two games.

But it didn’t take Nadal long to figure out his opponent, reeling off four straight games en route to an inevitable one-set lead.

Schwartzman fought back from two sets down to stun Anderson and reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

Fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro brushed aside John Isner 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2012.

Del Potro will next face fellow former US Open champion and third seed Marin Cilic who needed five sets to beat fiery Italian Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 on the back of 44 winners.