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Novak Djokovic defied age and fatigue to secure a dramatic five-set victory over Lorenzo Musetti at the French Open. The 37-year-old Serb battled back from a two-set deficit against his 15-year-younger opponent to win 7-5, 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0. This hard-fought win keeps Djokovic in contention for the World No. 1 ranking after the tournament.
Djokovic stages epic comeback at French Open
The match was a marathon, lasting over four hours. Djokovic initially seemed in control, but Musetti fought back to take a two-set lead. However, the world number one dug deep, showcasing his trademark resilience to dominate the final two sets and secure the victory.
Record-Tying win for Novak Djokovic
The drama of Djokovic's comeback extended beyond the court. The match concluded at a staggering 3:08 am, obliterating the French Open's previous record for the latest finish (1:25 am). This marathon victory wasn't just about survival; it propelled Djokovic into a historic tie. With his win over Musetti, Djokovic matched Roger Federer's record for most major singles match wins in the Open Era (369 wins). This achievement places him at the forefront of tennis history, alongside legends like Rafael Nadal (314 wins), Jimmy Connors (233 wins), and Andre Agassi (224 wins). Additionally, Djokovic extended his dominance over Musetti in their head-to-head record, improving to 5-1 despite Musetti's surprise clay-court victory over him in 2023.
Late start paves way for historic night
The stage for Djokovic's record-breaking comeback was set by an earlier schedule shuffle. Due to rain concerns, Grigor Dimitrov's match was moved indoors, pushing Djokovic's clash with Musetti past 10:30 pm. This late start likely contributed to the marathon five-setter.
Djokovic's Next Challenge With his hard-fought victory, Djokovic now sets his sights on the fourth round. His next opponent will be Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo, a 23rd seed who has impressively reached this stage for the second year running.
“I don't want to get into it [the schedule]. I have my opinions but I think there are great things to talk about in this match today,” Djokovic said after the match.
"Both Lorenzo and my performances stand out so I don't want to be talking about the schedule. I think some things could have been handled a different way but there's also a beauty in winning a match [so late," Djokovic added.
Djokovic's no.1 ranking on the line
Novak Djokovic, aiming for his fourth French Open title in a row, faces a double challenge. Not only does he need to win the entire tournament to retain his No. 1 ranking in the ATP rankings, but he also needs to reach the final to even have a chance.
Jannik Sinner eyes historic rise
On the other side of the net, young gun Jannik Sinner has a historic opportunity. If Sinner makes it to the final, he'll be guaranteed to become the 29th player in history to ascend to the No. 1 ranking.
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