Novak Djokovic faced a tough battle in his fourth-round match at the French Open, dropping two sets before rallying to victory over Francisco Cerundolo in five sets — 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
The world’s top seed will now move on to the quarterfinals, where he will face either Casper Ruud or Taylor Fritz on Wednesday. Djokovic’s win also marked his 59th Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance, surpassing Roger Federer’s record.
Despite his victory, Djokovic’s health remains a concern after he struggled with a leg injury during the match. “I don’t know what will happen tomorrow or after tomorrow if I’ll be able to step out on the court and play,” Djokovic expressed after the match. “I hope so.”
Having defeated Ruud in last year’s final, Djokovic knows he will face a tough opponent in the quarterfinals. Ruud has been in good form recently, reaching the past two tournament finals.
Djokovic started strong in the match against Cerundolo but suffered an injury to his knee in the first set, which may have contributed to his two-set deficit. Despite facing skepticism from fans about the extent of his injury, Djokovic received medical treatment and continued to battle on the court.
The late-night match against Musetti on Saturday may have also impacted Djokovic’s performance, but he managed to push through and secure the win against Cerundolo after a grueling 4-hour, 39-minute battle.
Djokovic’s resilience and determination were on full display as he navigated through the match, thanking the fans for their unwavering support. Their energy and encouragement played a crucial role in his comeback victory.
“I want to say a big thank you because once again like the last match, the win is for you and helped by you,” Djokovic expressed in French. “The last match, I was two sets to one down, and at the fourth set, 2-2, you gave me so much energy — so really, thank you. What can I say, I was maybe four points away from losing this match, but Francisco played with so much quality. Well done.”