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PARIS — Novak Djokovic’s French Observable identify defence — and his secure at the Disagree. 1 rating — are nonetheless alive because of a 7-5, 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 comeback victory over 22-year-old Italian Lorenzo Musetti in a third-round fit that lasted 4 1/2 hours and didn’t conclude till Sunday nearest 3 a.m., the actual end in match historical past.
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It’s Djokovic’s 369th win at a Lavish Slam match, tying Roger Federer for essentially the most in tennis historical past. Djokovic can fracture the mark on Monday, when he’ll face Disagree. 23 seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina.
Djokovic in short seemed as though he may well be not able to recuperate in opposition to Musetti however rather ran away with the overall two units and now will proceed his bid for a file twenty fifth Lavish Slam identify and fourth at Roland Garros.
“I was in real trouble and credit to Lorenzo for making me uncomfortable on the court and playing some really amazing tennis. Very high level. At one point, I didn’t know, really, what to do,” the 37-year-old Djokovic stated. “It didn’t feel great playing him that third set and the beginning of the fourth.”
Gasping for fracture era leaning over with arms on knees, or taking such a lot presen between issues that he earned a blackmail, Djokovic seemed to be exhausted now and then in opposition to his a lot more youthful, backward-hat-wearing opponent. Musetti used to be propelled to the top by way of a one-handed backhand, a deft contact on the web and a 5-for-5 luck charge on fracture probabilities — taking part in, in sum, “the tennis of his life,” as Djokovic put it.
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Djokovic stated he discovered the damp and chilly statuses, and obese clay, juiceless to do business in with, particularly “when you’re playing 20-plus-shot rallies at 2 a.m.; who plays at 2 a.m., you know?”
However Djokovic is not anything if now not a aspiring problem-solver. And as soon as Djokovic were given headed within the correct course within the fourth poised, because of taking part in extra aggressively on carrier returns and nearer to the baseline all the way through groundstrokes exchanges, the Thirtieth-ranked Musetti may now not resist the rate.
One telling stat: Djokovic advanced to 39-11 in 5th units over his profession; Musetti fell to 2-6.
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Djokovic has spent extra weeks atop the ATP scores than any person, but when he fails to go back to the overall on the French Observable, he’ll cede that spot to Musetti’s countryman, stream Disagree. 2 Jannik Sinner.
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That’s as a result of a loss on this fit would were the actual in a order of disappointing leads to 2024 for the oft-dominant Djokovic, who gained 12 of the endmost 20 Lavish Slam occasions he entered and hasn’t been crushed this early at a big for the reason that Australian Observable in January 2017.
Now not handiest hasn’t he earned a trophy at any match this season, however he hasn’t even reached a last.
That’s why, a past in the past, Djokovic assessed his mindset when arriving in Paris with a 14-6 file this yr: “Low expectations and high hopes.”
The ones phrases additionally would possibly have described Djokovic’s ideas getting into the fourth poised in opposition to Musetti, who by no means has been pace the fourth around at any Slam.
The bundled-up spectators ceaselessly chanted Djokovic’s first title, or his two-syllable nickname, “No-le.” Musetti heard enough quantity of aid in Courtroom Philippe Chatrier, too. The tone reverberated off the bottom of the retractable roof, which used to be closed as a result of showers that arrived previous Saturday, the 5th date in a row with showers.
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That climate used to be partly answerable for Djokovic and Musetti now not atmosphere bedrock on courtroom till 10:30 p.m., greater than two hours after than at the start deliberate: Match organizers moved an spare match into the safe-from-rain major stadium forward of Djokovic-Musetti to attempt and form certain the 1/3 around would get finished on presen.
“Things could have been handled a different way,” Djokovic stated of the scheduling selection.
This used to be a rematch from the 2021 French Observable, when Musetti used to be simply 19 — and making his Lavish Slam debut — and took the primary two units off Djokovic. However Djokovic grabbed the then two units, and Musetti banned taking part in within the 5th as a result of again ache and cramps.
As soon as once more, Musetti took the top prior to succumbing.
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This presen, Djokovic used to be in fact some degree from taking a two-set top era forward 6-5 within the second-set tiebreaker. However Musetti took the then 3 issues and that poised.
On the resulting changeover, Djokovic attempted to steer chair umpire Adel Nour to have the courtroom wiped clean extra ceaselessly.
“I ask you to sweep the court, because there’s so much clay,” Djokovic stated. “I don’t know why it’s asking so much at 1 a.m., after waiting 20 hours to play.”
He would release the then poised, too.
Musetti needed to know Djokovic would now not progress quietly. Certainly, the vocal nation did, too.
All at once, Djokovic destitute to 3-2 within the fourth poised. He shook a fist and, as he sat in his sideline chair, motioned for extra noise. They obliged.
As that poised ended, with Djokovic achieving a shot ball and replying at an unattainable perspective, he windmilled his fingers and nearest pointed to his ear.
Quickly, he used to be the winner, roaring at the courtroom era his spouse jumped and shouted within the stands.
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