The defending champion is already 1:2 down in sets against the Italian Musetti. Then he follows up with a show of power and beats Federer’s record. After that he wants to go to a party.
The world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic only just avoided being knocked out in the third round of the French Open in a memorable five-set thriller. The 37-year-old Serb converted his first match point at 3:06 a.m. to win 7:5, 6:7 (6:8), 2:6, 6:3, 6:0 against the Italian Lorenzo Musetti. The 24-time Grand Slam tournament winner had to fight for four and a half hours to reach the round of 16. There the defending champion will face the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo.
He was full of adrenaline and certainly couldn’t sleep, Djokovic said with a smile in an interview on Court Philippe Chatrier in French: “So, if there’s a party somewhere, I’m going! Let’s go!” He paid Musetti “great respect. I told him at the net that he played an incredible match. He was very close to winning it.” After trailing 1:2 in sets against the brilliantly playing Italian, the top seed Djokovic turned up the heat and showed a show of power at the end.
With his 369th victory in a Grand Slam match, the Serb equaled the record of the Swiss tennis icon Roger Federer. With his 24 Grand Slam tournament victories, he has long since surpassed Federer (20) and also Spain’s tennis star Rafael Nadal (22).
Djokovic said before his first serve at the Stade Roland Garros that he was starting this year in Paris with “small expectations and big hopes”. This season, the former dominator on the tour has not yet found his rhythm and has not yet won a tournament. “Of course that affects me,” Djokovic admitted.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
