Djokovic Triumphs in Epic Five-Set Battle against Musetti
At 3:06 a.m. on Sunday, Novak Djokovic emerged victorious in a thrilling five-set battle against an excellent Lorenzo Musetti at Roland Garros. Djokovic defeated Musetti with scores of 7-5, 6-7 (6-8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in what he described as one of the most challenging matches of his career. He praised Musetti for his incredible tennis and acknowledged the difficulties he faced during the match: “Lorenzo made my task very difficult. He brought everything together, making winning points on both sides. At a certain point, I didn't really know what to do anymore. I was in real difficulty.”
Despite the struggles, Djokovic found his rhythm in the fourth set, thanks in large part to the supportive crowd: “At 2-2 in the fourth set, they started chanting my name. I felt energized and became a different player from that moment on. I needed it and I only lost one game.” His reflections on the match were not only about overcoming a formidable opponent but also about setting a record: “I heard it was the latest at Roland Garros. I'm happy to be part of the story with Lorenzo. I told him it was a great battle, even if it's hard to swallow when you lose... He can be proud of himself.”
The Physical and Mental Toll on Djokovic
In front of the media, Djokovic didn’t hide his exhaustion after the marathon match. He emphasized the challenging conditions: “The conditions were very heavy, it was cold, it was difficult to win free points on serve. We had to work on all points. I had to push my limits physically. Playing rallies of more than twenty shots at 2 a.m. against someone who is playing the tennis of his life, who makes you play every point, it's not easy.”
Djokovic also mentioned his thoughts about the match scheduling, although he refrained from extensive comments: “I don't want to comment too much. I have my opinion. I think things could have been done differently. There are some nice things to say about this match. Winning at 3:30 in the morning is good if it's the last match of the tournament but that's not the case... We'll have to recover very quickly.” Djokovic's win adds another memorable chapter to his storied career as he continues to chase a record number of Grand Slam titles.
- Djokovic entered Roland Garros 2024 with great expectations, looking forward to claiming his first Olympic title in a couple of months. Despite being a favorite, he struggled in the initial rounds. Still, he showed resilience by defeating Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Roberto Carballes Baena, even though he wasn’t as dominant as usual.
- The third-round match between Djokovic and Musetti was particularly significant, given their history. In 2021, Musetti made his Grand Slam main draw debut on the same court against Djokovic, who eventually won the tournament. This time, the match was broadcast on Amazon Prime, beginning at 8:15 p.m., and continued late into the night, ending in early morning hours.
