Novak Djokovic hasn’t had the best season in 2024. Although the tennis great is still ranked as the number one player in the world, he’s won 17 of the 23 matches he’s played this season and hasn’t won a single title yet.
In the Geneva Open which Casper Ruud eventually won, Djokovic won his 1,100th match on the ATP Tour, becoming the third player in the Open Era to do so, after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer.
Djokovic is yet to reach a final this year. He has been knocked out of three semifinals this year by Jannik Sinner, Casper Ruud, and Tomas Machac in the Australian Open, Monte-Carlo Masters, and Geneva Open respectively.
The French Open is the second Grand Slam of the year and Novak entered it as both the defending champion and at risk of dropping from the summit of the ATP rankings, to number two under Jannik Sinner if he doesn’t win the tournament.
Musetti Stands Up To Djokovic
After multiple delays caused by poor scheduling mixed with the weather challenges, Novak Djokovic eventually got onto the court in his third-round encounter with young Italian sensation, Lorenzo Musetti. The first set was as evenly matched as expected, with Musetti and Djokovic dragging the game seemingly headed for a tie-break.
It was in the 12th game of the set that the Serbian produced two break points of the Italian’s serve. The Serbian then peppered the Italian’s backhand with cross-court forehands till the Italian succumbed and played a backhand shot that went long to gift a physically exhausted Djokovic the first set.
Musetti Turns The Game On Djokovic
In the 4th game of the second set, the Serbian’s forehand came to the fore again. This time, from his right side of the court, he hit one powerful forehand volley after the other at the Italian, holding one breakpoint on the Italian’s serve, until he had driven Musetti far enough to try a drop shot that he couldn’t reach.
In the 7th game of the second set with Djokovic 4-2 ahead, Musetti turned the screws on the Serbian. This time, with two break points on the Serbian’s serve, he was the one peppering the Serbian with powerful forehand shots that stretched the elasticity of the world number one. He eventually forced Djokovic into firing a backhand return into the net to bring them back on serve.
Musetti held his nerve, keeping his serve top-notch and his backhand at the top of his game as he dragged the world number one to a second-set tie-break. After two hours and 22 minutes of grueling tennis, Musetti took the second set of the third-round tie.
Musetti Takes The Lead
In the 4th game of the third set, Musetti held firm in Djokovic’s serve to force three break points. 0-40 down, Djokovic tried a wide serve followed by a drop shot but Musetti’s return on the serve was too good that Djokovic’s drop shot ended up landing wide of the lines, gifting the Italian a break in the third set.
The 8th game of the set felt like deja vu. It was the 4th game all over again. This time, the Serbian tried a backhand slice at the net to counter Musetti’s powerful backhand, but Musetti was quickly onto it. His shot forced Djokovic to go for a shot which ended up going long, giving the young Italian a 2-1 lead in the match.
Novak stepped up his play in the fourth set. His net play was better, his backhand was better, his drop shots were better and in the 5th game, he played a perfect backhand slice at the net that forced Musetti to try to curve a forehand shot past him down the line. The shot ended up going long and earning Djokovic a break of Musetti’s serve.
The Serbian Maestro Comes Out On Top
Djokovic maintained his game till the 9th game of the set. Another grueling rally ensued between both players with the Serbian two break and set points up on the Italian’s serve, with Djokovic forcing Musetti forward with a well-played drop shot. Musetti tried to angle his return but Novak was unto it in a flash, sealing the fourth set and forcing a deciding fifth set.
The Serbian maestro came out for the fifth set burning from the off. After sealing his 1st game of the set, he went on to produce two break points on Musetti’s serve in the 2nd game. After a long rally between both players, Musetti tried a drop shot that was poorly executed and dropped wide of the lines, gifting Djokovic an early break in the set.
Imperial as fans and the world of tennis have always known him to be, he burned through the young Italian after that, winning six straight games, including three breaks of the Italian’s serve to win the deciding set a commanding 6-0 and win a grueling four and a half hour long match.
Djokovic will face Francisco Cerúndolo in the fourth round of the French Open, with his hopes of finishing the tournament as both the new champion and the world number one still alive.
Also Read: French Open: Jannik Sinner’s Win Keeps Hope For World Number 1 Spot Alive
About the Author
Ebenezer has been an avid writer for over a decade and a half. Within that period, he has garnered experience in various fields such as editing, graphics design, transcribing, sales, data analysis, and football management. He’s also the author of the mystery thriller novel “The Eye of Ra.” For more articles by Ebenezer Ugorji, click here and here!
For More Great Content
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
