Novak Djokovic: Going Into the Del Potro Match I was More Nervous Than Usual [Video]

After beating Juan Martin Del Potro after a very convincing final two sets over Juan Martin Del Potro of a match resumed from last night, the hot Novak Djokovic admitted he had some serves facing the US Open champion.

“I knew before we played this match that it’s going to be a definitely difficult opponent to beat,” Djokovic said at the French Open today. “A player who can equally play well on different surfaces. He has played here I think semifinal couple years ago. So he’s a very powerful groundstroke player. If he serves well, he can I think he can beat anybody, really. So I knew that.

“You know, obviously I went to the match a bit more nervous than, you know, usual. We both made a lot of unforced errors at the start. Then we had some great, great periods of the match where we played really well. But there wasn’t a consistency, I think, in both of us. I think I was managing to control my game a little bit better today than I did yesterday. I think that resulted with the win.”

After splitting the first two sets and calling it a night Friday evening at 9:15pm Paris time, Djokovic won the final two comfortable cruise to victory 63 36 63 62.

The Serb has won 42 consecutive matches and is 40-0 in 2011. The next player to try and end the streak tomorrow in French favorite Richard Gasquet who is playing some great tennis himself.

“Richard is I think playing one of the best tennis of his life,” Djokovic said. “I think he has a lot of confidence, self belief on the court. He has the crowd obviously behind him. He seems like he’s striking the ball better than ever, in my opinion, you know. He’s more consistent I think mentally, as well. He believes that he can win against top players. It’s going to be open match.”

That match will take place Sunday afternoon in Paris. Djokovic leads Gasquet 4-1 in their meetings winning the last two very easily.

Gasquet, who had the day off today, won in four sets Friday over Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil. It’s Gasquet’s first trip to the French Open fourth round.