The record-breaking Serb looks like the loser in Paris – but still manages to reach the round of 16
Deep in the night, Novak Djokovic just avoided an early exit at the French Open and set two records in the process. His 7:5, 6:7 (6:8), 2:6, 6:3, 6:0 win over Italian Lorenzo Musetti only ended at 3.07 a.m. on Sunday morning, which was later than any previous match at Roland Garros. The third-round victory was also Djokovic’s 369th at a Grand Slam. He thus equaled Roger Federer’s record.
“I have to congratulate Lorenzo Musetti. It’s a shame that someone has to lose. He played unbelievably,” said Djokovic after the tennis thriller on Court Philippe Chatrier, which only started shortly before 11.00 pm. “I was a bit lucky at the start of the fourth set,” Djokovic admitted, “he was the better player then.”
The world number one will face the 23rd seeded Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in the round of 16 on Monday. The Serb will need time to recover from the four-and-a-half-hour match. “It was perhaps the best match I’ve played here. With all the adrenaline, I can’t possibly sleep now. If there’s a party somewhere – I’ll come,” joked Djokovic.
The organizers of the Grand Slam spectacle in Paris had accepted the late finish; on the seventh rainy day in a row this year, they scheduled more matches under the closed roof of Centre Court and pushed back the night session with Djokovic. Play also continued on Court Suzanne Lenglen until after midnight: Here, last year’s finalist Casper Ruud (Norway) prevailed against Tomas Martin Etcheverry (Argentina) 6:4, 1:6, 6:2, 6:2.
