Injured Djokovic Stages Thrilling Comeback To Reach 15th French Open Quarter-final
In a stunning display of determination and resilience, Novak Djokovic fought through both injury and a formidable opponent to secure his 15th consecutive French Open quarter-final berth. The top seed overcame a tenacious challenge from Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, clawing back from a precarious position to win 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 after an arduous four hours and 39 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.
A Battle Against Injury and Adversity
The match, which saw Djokovic battling a right knee injury sustained on the tournament's notoriously slippery courts, seemed destined for an early end in Cerundolo's favour. The Serbian star, 2-1 down in sets and trailing 4-2 in the fourth, appeared to be on the brink of an unexpected exit. "I was maybe three or four points away from losing this match," Djokovic admitted post-match. "I’m not sure how I won this match."
Djokovic's victory, however, was not without significant concern for his future in the tournament. Despite his impressive comeback, he expressed uncertainty about his ability to compete in the upcoming quarter-final against last year's finalist, Casper Ruud. "I don’t know what will happen tomorrow or after tomorrow if I’ll be able to step out on the court and play. I hope so. Let’s see what happens," he said, attributing his injury to the unusually slippery court conditions. Djokovic also noted his repeated requests for more frequent court sweeping, suggesting that the injury might have been preventable.
From Early Dominance to a Gruelling Struggle
Djokovic's path to the fourth round was marked by intense matches, including a gruelling five-set battle against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, which concluded at 3:07 am on Sunday. Initially showing no signs of his knee trouble, Djokovic dominated the first set against Cerundolo. However, early in the second set, he required a medical time-out due to the apparent knee injury, and from there, his movement appeared hindered.
Cerundolo capitalised on Djokovic's visible discomfort, managing to secure the second set after finally converting a breakpoint on his 13th attempt. The Argentine, ranked 23rd, surged ahead by taking the third set and found himself just two games away from victory in the fourth set.
A Remarkable Turnaround
Despite his physical struggles and increasing frustration, Djokovic's legendary resilience came to the forefront. He managed to break Cerundolo’s serve and level the fourth set at 4-4, then forced a decisive fifth set by clinching the set on his fourth set point during a tense 12th game. "Well done supervisors, ground staff, everyone, the court is not slippery at all," Djokovic sarcastically remarked after a tumble that left him covered in clay, highlighting his ongoing frustration with the court conditions.
The final set saw Djokovic take an early 2-0 lead, only for Cerundolo to rally back and level the score. However, the Serbian's determination proved too strong for the Argentine to overcome. Djokovic secured the decisive break with a powerful forehand that just clipped the baseline, bringing the dramatic match to a close on his first match point when Cerundolo’s backhand was called out by the chair umpire after initially being ruled in.
Looking Ahead Amid Uncertainty
Djokovic's triumph sets up a highly anticipated rematch against Casper Ruud, the runner-up of last year's final. Yet, the Serbian star's future in the tournament remains uncertain due to his knee injury. His comments post-match indicated a cautious outlook: "Could this injury have been prevented? Possibly," he said, reflecting on the conditions that may have contributed to his struggles.
As Djokovic aims for his 370th Grand Slam match win, which would break his tie with Roger Federer, the tennis world watches with bated breath to see if he can recover in time to continue his quest for another French Open title. Whether he steps onto the court on Wednesday or not, his remarkable comeback against Cerundolo has already cemented this year's tournament as one of the most memorable in recent history.