Novak Djokovic rallies for latest win in French Open history

PARIS — Novak Djokovic’s French Open title protection — and his maintain on No. 1 within the rankings — are nonetheless alive because of a 7-5, 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 comeback victory over 22-year-old Lorenzo Musetti in a third-round match that lasted 4½ hours and didn’t conclude till Sunday after 3 a.m., the most recent end in match historical past.

It’s Djokovic’s 369th win at a Grand Slam match, tying Roger Federer for essentially the most in tennis historical past.

Djokovic briefly seemed as if he is likely to be in hassle in opposition to Musetti however as a substitute ran away with the ultimate set and now will proceed his bid for a report twenty fifth Grand Slam title and fourth at Roland Garros.

Gasping for breath whereas leaning over with palms on knees, or taking a lot time between factors that he earned a warning, the 37-year-old Djokovic seemed to be exhausted at instances in opposition to his a lot youthful opponent from Italy. Musetti was propelled to the lead by a one-handed backhand, a deft contact on the internet and a 5-for-5 success fee on break possibilities.

However Djokovic is a decided problem-solver. And as soon as Djokovic received headed in the fitting course within the fourth set, because of taking part in extra aggressively on service returns and nearer to the baseline throughout groundstrokes exchanges, the Thirtieth-ranked Musetti couldn’t face up to the cost.

One telling stat: Djokovic improved to 39-11 in fifth units over his profession; Musetti fell to 2-6.

Djokovic has spent extra weeks atop the ATP rankings than anybody, but when he fails to return to the ultimate on the French Open, he’ll cede that spot to Musetti’s countryman, present No. 2 Jannik Sinner.

That is as a result of a loss on this match would have been the most recent in a collection of disappointing ends in 2024 for the oft-dominant Djokovic, who received 12 of the previous 20 Grand Slam occasions he entered and hasn’t been crushed this early at a significant because the Australian Open in January 2017.

Not solely hasn’t he earned a trophy at any match this season, however he hasn’t even reached a last.

That is why, every week in the past, Djokovic assessed his mindset when arriving in Paris with a 14-6 report this 12 months: “Low expectations and excessive hopes.”

These phrases additionally may need described Djokovic’s ideas coming into the fourth set in opposition to Musetti, who by no means has been previous the fourth spherical at any Slam.

The bundled-up spectators often chanted Djokovic’s first identify, or his two-syllable nickname, “No-le.” Musetti heard loads of help in Courtroom Philippe Chatrier, too. The sound reverberated off the underside of the retractable roof, which was closed due to showers that arrived earlier Saturday, the fifth day in a row with rain.

That climate was partially accountable for Djokovic and Musetti not setting foot on court docket till 10:30 p.m., greater than two hours later than initially deliberate. Match organizers moved an extra contest into the safe-from-rain primary stadium forward of Djokovic-Musetti to attempt and ensure the third spherical would get accomplished on time.

“I do not wish to get into it,” Djokovic mentioned when requested concerning the choice to maneuver his match. “I’ve my opinions, however I feel there are nice issues to speak about as we’re speaking about this match at present and each Lorenzo and my efficiency, which stands out.

“I do not wish to be speaking about schedule. I feel some issues might have been dealt with totally different method, however there’s magnificence as nicely. I suppose successful the match as nicely at 3:30 a.m. if it is the final one of many match, but it surely’s not.”

This was a rematch from the 2021 French Open, when Musetti was simply 19 — and making his Grand Slam debut — and took the primary two units off Djokovic, each in tiebreakers. However Djokovic didn’t go away, grabbing the following two units, and Musetti finally retired from the match due to decrease again ache and cramps whereas trailing 4-0 within the fifth.

As soon as once more, Musetti took the lead earlier than succumbing in opposition to Djokovic.

This time, Djokovic was truly some extent from taking a two-set lead whereas forward 6-5 within the second-set tiebreaker. However he despatched up a so-so lob that become an overhead winner by Musetti, erasing that chance for Djokovic. Then Djokovic missed a forehand vast to provide Musetti his first crack at a set level, which was transformed with a volley winner.

On the ensuing changeover, Djokovic received right into a back-and-forth alternate with chair umpire Adel Nour over whether or not the clay court docket must be cleaned extra often.

“So it is [a] downside to brush the court docket each 5 video games?” Djokovic requested. “I ask you to brush the court docket, as a result of there’s a lot clay. I do not know why it is asking a lot at 1 a.m. after ready 20 hours to play.”

He would drop the following set, too.

Musetti needed to know Djokovic wouldn’t go quietly. Certainly, the bundled-up and vocal followers did, too.

Out of the blue, Djokovic broke to 3-2 within the fourth set. He shook a fist and, as he sat in his sideline chair, motioned to followers for extra noise. They obliged.

The same scene performed out as that set ended, with Djokovic making a future to succeed in a ball and get it again over the online at an unimaginable angle. He windmilled his arms after which pointed to his ear.

Quickly, he was the winner, roaring on the court docket whereas his spouse jumped and shouted within the stands.

Earlier Saturday, fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev rallied from 4-1 within the fifth set to beat Twenty sixth-seeded Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (3) and advance to the fourth spherical.

Zverev, who received the Italian Open final month, has reached the semifinals on the previous three French Opens and averted his earliest exit at Roland Garros since dropping within the first spherical in 2017.

Zverev’s trial in Germany for allegedly inflicting bodily hurt to a girl started on Friday. The prosecution accuses Zverev of pushing his ex-partner in opposition to a wall and choking her throughout an argument in Berlin in Might 2020.

Griekspoor fell in need of reaching the fourth spherical of a significant match for the primary time and his report in opposition to top-five gamers dropped to 0-11.

In different males’s third-round play, former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev received 7-6 (4), 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 in opposition to Tomas Machac and Twenty first-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime beat No. 15-seeded American Ben Shelton 6-4, 6-2, 6-1.

Their match was halted by rain on Friday night time. Shelton was bothered by a left shoulder difficulty and had it labored on by a coach.

“Enjoying a set final night time with soaked balls, muddy balls, it type of simply, I suppose, aggravated my shoulder a little bit bit,” Shelton mentioned. “However I went on the market and did what I might at present and gave one hundred pc.”

His exit was adopted a number of hours later by that of one other American, No. 14 Tommy Paul, who was crushed by No. 23 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. That left one U.S. males’s participant left within the bracket: No. 12 Taylor Fritz, who outlasted unseeded Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 5-7, 6-3 at night time to earn a debut look within the fourth spherical in Paris.

Fritz, who has been to the quarterfinals at every of the opposite three majors, is the primary participant from his nation to succeed in the boys’s spherical of 16 at Roland Garros since 2020.

It was clear in the course of the restart of Shelton’s match that he was not capable of produce his common high-powered serves — even earlier than his left shoulder was massaged by a coach. Auger-Aliassime, who received to the US Open semifinals in 2021, claimed Saturday’s preliminary 5 video games to shut out the opening set and lead 4-0 within the subsequent.

“I felt like my intentions had been clear, and my execution was proper, and I used to be capable of do what I needed to do,” mentioned Auger-Aliassime, who now performs No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, “and on the similar time, get free factors from his aspect and capable of return his serve fairly nicely.”

For the fifth consecutive day, rain interrupted play. Shortly earlier than 1 p.m., rain got here once more with a cold wind and the temperature dropped to 14 levels (57 F).

Medvedev wore leg heaters throughout his first set in opposition to Machac, who beat Djokovic final week within the Geneva Open semifinals, then eliminated them for the second set.

There was an uncommon second late within the match when chair umpire Damien Dumusois collected a pigeon that fell onto the court docket.

The Related Press and ESPN’s D’Arcy Maine contributed to this story.