Defending champion wins a four-and-half-hour epic to maintain alive his hopes of successful a twenty fifth Grand Slam title.
Novak Djokovic’s bid for a twenty fifth Grand Slam briefly hung by a thread on a chilly and damp night time at Roland Garros however the Serbian battled again for a 7-5, 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 win over Lorenzo Musetti within the latest-ever French Open end.
The reigning champion showcased the iron will that has made him one of many sport’s biggest gamers, to keep away from defeat in an exciting third-round contest, which received beneath method at 10:37pm native time (20:37 GMT) on Saturday.
Some four-and-a-half hours later, at 3:06am (01:06 GMT) on Sunday morning, the followers who had huddled up beneath rugs because the 37-year-old orchestrated his very good fightback rose to their ft to carry the roof of the primary show-court.
“He performed a incredible match and got here very near victory,” Djokovic stated on the court docket about Musetti.
“I used to be in nice difficulties however due to your help within the fourth set, I turned a unique participant. It was maybe the most effective match I’ve performed right 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, due to 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 degree at 4-4 earlier than saving a set level in a high-quality tiebreak to degree the match.
The thirtieth seed took his sport up a couple 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, out of the blue rediscovered his rhythm to wrap up the fourth earlier than pulling away from his exhausted opponent within the decider.
“Who’s going to sleep now?” Djokovic added. “It’s inconceivable to sleep, a lot adrenaline. When you’re having a celebration, I’m coming.”
The title protection continues to be alive 🙌#RolandGarros @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/iis8IUKCMI
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2024
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.
Within the girls’s draw, second seed Aryna Sabalenka beat finest pal 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 savour with victory over Sebastian Ofner, the brand new crowd favorite 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 she or he joined the followers in celebration.
“I’ll keep in mind this second till the tip of my life,” stated a beaming Gracheva, who obtained her French passport in 2023 after dwelling within the nation for greater than 5 years.
“It implies that everybody accepts me, that I’m residence right here.”
Whereas Gracheva was the centre of consideration 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 be 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.
