Novak Djokovic (photo Lapresse)
Djokovic wins again: Cerundolo knocked out at Roland Garros. Nole, what a comeback! The dream of Sinner number 1 in the world fades away (for now).
Novak Djokovic wins another match with a legendary comeback. After overturning the challenge against Lorenzo Musettithis time the Serbian number 1 in world tennis wins one marathon of over 4 and a half hours against the Argentine tennis player Francisco Cerundolo by 6-1 5-7 3-6 7-5 6-3 (after being down 2 sets and 1 and a break in the fourth) reaching the quarter-finals at Roland Garros. A victory which however allows Nole to remain in first place in the ATP ranking ahead of Jannik Sinner. An incredible match in which the world no.1, after an easily won first set, started to feel problems and called the physiotherapist several times. The Argentine took advantage and won the second and third sets with Djokovic visibly standing still and apparently disconsolate. But those who consider the Serbian finished on the tennis court ignore his twenty-year history. For Djokovic a match “isn’t over until it’s over” and he manages to bring out grit and energy where no one else can find them (a skill he has in common with Nadal).
Djokovic beats Cerundolo at Roland Garros in a comeback. The match point
Novak Djokovic completes the comeback against Francisco Cerundolo to make it to his 59th Grand Slam quarter-final 💫#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/UYFLilgvg4
— Eurosport (@eurosport) June 3, 2024
Djokovic to the Roland Garros crowd: “Victory is yours”
“The victory is yours”, Novak Djokovic’s words to the French public after the victory against Francisco Cerundolo in the round of 16 of Roland Garros 2024. “The last two matches I was down two sets to one both with Musetti and here and you gave me a lot of support and the energy on the court changed a lot. I was 3-4 points away from losing the match today – he added – congratulations to Francisco for playing a very high quality match, well done. I don’t know how I found the strength to win today – he concluded – the only explanation I have is that it’s you for the support.”
Djokovic new records, overtaking Roger Federer
Novak Djokovic, record collector, adds two more to his game, both detaching Roger Federer with whom he co-owned them: 370th victory and 59th quarter-final reached in a Slam.
Djokovic withdraws from Roland Garros? ‘I don’t know if I’ll be able to play the quarterfinals.’ Anxiety about the match against Casper Ruud
“I don’t know if I will play the quarterfinals, I will wait and see”, the words of Novak Djokovic, world number one and first seed, after beating the Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, world number 27 and seeded 23rd. A difficult match for the 37-year-old from Belgrade who, after dominating the first set, had suffered a problem with his right knee which required treatment from the physiotherapist.
“I will do everything I can to get better as soon as possible, but nothing too much can be done. The knee is the knee, one of the main joints for movement. When I had muscle problems in Australia I managed to fix it but the knee is another thing. I’ve never had problems like this, thank God… maybe in 2011, but it was different then”, Djokovic’s words in the press conference.
“There was almost no earth due to the changing sun and heat conditions which brought humidity. There were areas where there was only concrete – says Djokovic, explaining what happened to him in that moment when he risked having to give in to the injury – and other slightly muddy ones. In the third game of the second set I slipped and hurt my knee. We will carry out all the necessary checks to understand if there have been any consequences or injuries. The first visit was positive but there is something wrong.”
“I finished the match without pain thanks to the medicines, but it could flare up again. There is only one good thing… that I will have a day of rest before the next meeting. But I’m honest: I don’t know if I’ll be able to go on the field and play against Ruud. I hope so, but we have to wait.”
The Roland Garros quarter-finals will be played on Wednesday and Nole should take the field against Casper Ruud (who beat Taylor Fritz 7-6 3-6 6-4 6-2 after three and a half hours of match) with whom he is ahead 5-1 in direct comparisons and who he beat a year ago in the final in Paris (but with whom lost the last match: in the semifinals in Monte Carlo). The hope of all the fans is that Djokovic can recover and play the match that counts for the semifinals of the Slam on clay.
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