Novak Djokovic’s quest for a twenty fifth Grand Slam title teetered on the sting throughout a cold, damp Saturday night time at Roland Garros.
However, the Serbian celebrity mounted a outstanding comeback, clinching a 7-5, 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Lorenzo Musetti within the latest-ever end on the French Open.
Displaying the indomitable spirit that defines his greatness, the defending champion battled by way of an electrifying third-round match that started at 10:37 p.m. native time on Saturday.
Nearly 4 and a half hours later, at 3:06 a.m. on Sunday morning, followers who had wrapped themselves in blankets in the course of the match rose to their ft, roaring with pleasure as Djokovic sealed his gorgeous turnaround, sending the stadium right into a frenzy.
“He played a fantastic match and came very close to victory,” Djokovic mentioned on court docket. “I was in great difficulties but thanks to your support in the fourth set, I became a different player. It was perhaps the best match I have played here.”
Djokovic recovered from an early lack of serve and went toe-to-toe with the Italian within the draining first set earlier than edging in entrance with an important break within the twelfth sport because of some unbelievable defending.
The world primary lowered his head and gasped for air following that prolonged rally however was quickly in cruise management within the second set with a spectacular drop that gave him a 3-1 lead.
Musetti, although, broke again and drew stage at 4-4 earlier than saving a set level in a high-quality tiebreak to stage the match.
The thirtieth seed took his sport up a number of notches to interrupt and surge forward within the third set earlier than sealing it comfortably as alarm bells started to ring for a fading Djokovic.
Djokovic, who ranted concerning the state of the floor to the umpire, abruptly rediscovered his rhythm to wrap up the fourth set earlier than pulling away from his exhausted opponent within the decider.
“Who’s going to sleep now?” Djokovic added. “It’s impossible to sleep, so much adrenaline. If you’re having a party, I’m coming.”
Zverev scare
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev additionally survived a scare in a night marathon to maneuver into the fourth spherical with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (10-3) victory over Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
In the ladies’s draw, second seed Aryna Sabalenka beat greatest good friend Paula Badosa 7-5, 6-1 in a testing conflict, whereas Russian-born Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva received loads of new admirers after she stored the flag flying for her adopted nation.
After Corentin Moutet had given French supporters a Friday night time to savor with a victory over Sebastian Ofner, new crowd favourite Gracheva lit up one other soggy day with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Irina-Camelia Begu.
The final Frenchwoman left within the girls’s draw was handled to a rousing rendition of the nationwide anthem “La Marseillaise,” and he or she joined the followers in celebration.
“I’ll remember this moment until the end of my life,” mentioned a beaming Gracheva, who acquired her French passport in 2023 after residing within the nation for greater than 5 years. “It means that everyone accepts me, that I’m home here.”
While Gracheva was the focal point within the afternoon, fellow Moscow-born participant Elena Rybakina continued to fly beneath the radar because the fourth seed cruised previous Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2.
Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, the twenty first seed, closed out a 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 victory over American Ben Shelton beneath the Suzanne Lenglen roof, as rain delayed motion on the outer courts.
When play resumed, Alex De Minaur accomplished a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over Jan-Lennard Struff to turn into the primary Australian man into the Paris fourth spherical since Lleyton Hewitt in 2007 and launched a seek for a superfan who spurred him on.
Source: www.dailysabah.com