French Open 2024: Novak Djokovic emulates Roger Federer's towering record after victory over Lorenzo Musetti in 3rd round

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.

ALSO READ: Team India nowhere to be seen as Adam Gilchrist, Michael Vaughan predict T20 World Cup 2024 champions and runners-up

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.

ALSO READ: 'Guys could feel that on hamstring and calves': Rahul Dravid reveals New York's brand new ground may lead to injuries

“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.

 

ALSO READ: Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund to win record-extending 15th Champions League title as Toni Kroos hangs his boots in style

 

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.

 

MORE ON SPORTS TAK:

'Don't even want to watch World Cup...': Riyan Parag's bizarre answer on being asked to name top 4 in T20 WC 2024

Not against India, Babar Azam breaks silence on Pakistan's most heartbreaking loss in T20 World Cup 2022, says 'It was very hurtful...'

Big blow to Bangladesh, pacer gets six stitches on bowling hand after warm-up game against India

'I don't really have an answer to that question and I don't make those decisions': Mitchell Marsh on lack of gap between IPL and T20 World Cup 2024

USA's Aaron Jones surpasses legends like Virat Kohli, breaks nearly 17-year-old T20 World Cup record with unbeaten 94 in run chase vs Canada