Djokovic Downs Musetti In Latest Finish Ever At French Open; Ruud, Fritz Advance, Zverev Wins Thriller
Novak Djokovic set another record Saturday night at the French Open, and probably one he didn’t want. The Serb is now in possession being the winner of the latest finish in French Open history, as he came from 2 sets to one 1 down to defeat Lorenzo Musetti 7-5, 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a match that ended at 3:07am, the latest finish ever at Roland Garros.
Djokovic looked somewhat lethargic early but still managed to build a commanding lead up 7-5, 4-1. But things quickly changed. Djokovic’s energy dropped even further as the talented and fresher-looking Musetti found some confidence.
The Italian would storm back and steal the second and the match was knotted over two hours in and at 1am.
Musetti would keep rolling in the third but then left the court at the start of the fourth. At that point, Djokovic went into his lockdown mode and Musetti looked cooked. Djokovic would get the break and eventually took the last seven games and ten of the final 11.
It wasn’t quite a copy of his 2021 win from two sets down over the Italian, but it was close.
The win was Djokovic 369th at the Grand Slam level equaling Roger Federer for the most all time.
And the 3:07am finish was also his latest finish to a pro match.
Djokovic wasn’t the only favorite to escape on the day. Tallon Griekspoor nearly pulled off a his biggest career win but the Dutchman couldn’t close a two-break 4-1 lead in the fifth set against Alexander Zverev Saturday in the third round at the French Open.
Griekspoor played a near-perfect first set before Zverev grabbed the next two. In the fourth, Griekspoor made a statement forcing a decider and then he went up two breaks 4-1. But then things fell apart. The moment go too big. Zverev stayed cool and calm while Griekspoor choked as the double faults and the errors came in bunches.
In the end, Zverev came through with goods 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6[10-3]. He’s into his fourth straight French Open fourth round.
Holger Rune will be next for the German after his cruised past Jozef Kovalik 7-5, 6-1, 7-6(2).
In three matches that didn’t finish Friday, No. 21 Felix Auger-Aliassime finished off 15th-seeded Ben Shelton in three 6-4, 6-2, 6-1. No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz battled past Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 and Grigor Dimitrov was too tough for a game Zizou Bergs 6-3, 7-6(7-4), 4-6, 6-4.
No. 12 seed Taylor Fritz held off Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(4-7), 5-7, 6-3. In his first French fourth round, Fritz will face 2-time finalist Casper Ruud who went to nearly 1am to beat No. 28 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Also, The 5th-seeded Daniil Medvedev won a tight one over Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac 7-6(4), 7-5, 1-6, 6-4. Up next will be Alex de Minaur who impressed dismissing Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 and Francisco Cerundolo knocked out Tommy Paul 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.
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