Novak Djokovic gave the impression to be feeling the consequences of fatigue on Monday as he confronted off towards Francisco Cerundolo following a grueling third-round match at Roland Garros towards Lorenzo Musetti.
Regardless of enduring 5 units and spending 4 hours and 29 minutes on court docket till 3:07 am on Sunday, the problem appeared surmountable for the Serb.
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Through the match, Djokovic needed to name upon the event physician and physiotherapist twice, expressing complaints about his knee because of the situation of the court docket and the floodlights.
His mobility appeared severely hampered. Nonetheless, not like most, Djokovic, a legend on the planet of tennis, refused to succumb to harm.
Cerundolo missed possibilities
Though Cerundolo had an opportunity to take a 5-3 lead within the fourth set, Djokovic managed to interrupt his serve, in the end forcing a tiebreak by serving out at 5-4. Regardless of his unwavering willpower, Djokovic appeared to lack the bodily power wanted to maintain his sport.
However, with sheer willpower, Djokovic managed to safe an important break within the twelfth sport, resulting in a decisive fifth set.
Though Djokovic initially took a promising 2-0 lead, it shortly slipped away. Djokovic attributed a slip through the match to the situation of the clay court docket, expressing his discontent in the direction of the groundskeepers.
Nonetheless, Djokovic emerged victorious, clinching the match with a scoreline of 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, after 4 hours and 39 minutes of intense play.
In a day marked by the sudden look of the solar, which had been absent all through the event in Paris, Djokovic displayed his mastery towards Cerundolo, who by no means appeared totally satisfied of his potential to defeat the Serbian maestro.
Most ‘Grand Slam’ matches received
- Novak Djokovic 370
- Roger Federer 369
- Rafael Nadal 314
- Jimmy Connors 233
- Andre Agassi 224
With 370 Grand Slam victories, Djokovic has set one more report in his illustrious profession, surpassing one of many few data held by Roger Federer.
Moreover, Djokovic additionally surpassed Federer in one other milestone, advancing to the quarterfinals of ‘majors’ for the 59th time, another than the Swiss legend. At 37 years outdated, Djokovic stays a formidable contender within the event, poised to defend his crown towards the likes of Jannik Sinner.
Awaiting the winner of the match between Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz within the quarterfinals, Djokovic stays the highest favourite to clinch one more Grand Slam title and retain his ATP crown.
