French Open: Novak Djokovic battles back in epic, while title rival Zverev is pushed to the limit
- Djokovic avoids crashing to worst defeat in 15 years, battling back to beat Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in game that ends at 3.07am
- Rain-wrecked schedule forces games to be moved to show courts, and matches to run through the night
Novak Djokovic avoided crashing to his worst defeat at the French Open in 15 years in the early hours of Sunday morning, while title rival Alexander Zverev was also pushed to the limit.
Defending champion and 24-time grand slam title winner Djokovic came from two sets to one down to beat Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti 7-5, 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a third round tie that ended at 3.07am local time.
His victory, which took fours and 29 minutes, also allowed the 37-year-old world No 1 to equal Roger Federer’s record of 369 grand slam match wins.
His reward is a clash with Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina for a place in the quarter-finals.
“I need to say congratulations to Lorenzo Musetti it’s a shame someone had to lose,” Djokovic said. “He played an incredible match. He was very, very close to winning.”
It was almost 10.45pm on Saturday night when Djokovic and Musetti eventually took to Court Philippe Chatrier after a seventh day of rain had prompted officials to squeeze extra matches onto the covered show courts.
