ROLAND GARROS — Novak Djokovic fumed at tournament officials over the state of Court Philippe Chatrier but somehow overcame a knee injury to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open.
Djokovic, 37, beat Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 despite seemingly twisting his right knee in the second set.
He had already complained to umpire Aurelie Tourte, sarcastically ended the exchange by telling her “you guys know better than us!”.
And after suffering the injury, Djokovic then told tournament supervisor Wayne McKewen it was “completely ridiculous” that he was refusing to heed his pleas to rake the court more regularly.
“I screwed up my knee because I made a quick move,” Djokovic said.
“I’m sliding and slipping all the time.”
The 37-year-old took only one medical time-out in the second set to receive treatment on his right knee and was given pills to deal with the pain on multiple occasions.
And they appeared to work as he rallied to win after four hours and 39 minutes, the longest match of his storied Roland Garros career by just two minutes.
Afterwards, he told the crowd: “The victory is yours.”
It had seemed like the story of the day would be Djokovic breaking two of Roger Federer’s records, for most grand slam match wins (369) and for most grand slam quarter-finals (58). But as it was, this match had so much more to it.
Djokovic arrived in Paris after a disjointed 2024, having not won a title all year and having been struck on the head by a metal water bottle during the Italian Open, an incident that appeared to contribute to his shock defeat to Alejandro Tabilo two days later.
For the first time ever, he signed up to a tournament the week before Roland Garros, playing in Geneva and conceding that he was still searching for form and fitness.
But the three-time French Open champion has appeared to find that in Paris, winning his first two matches in straight sets and then coming through a gruelling five-setter against Lorenzo Musetti in his third: he battled slow, heavy, cold conditions and an inspired Italian opponent before securing victory in five sets and over four hours.
Recovery was a race against the clock – there were just 37 hours between Djokovic beating Musetti and his match against Cerundolo starting.
When he was filmed arriving at Roland Garros with a form of strapping on his right knee and was seen stretching out his neck in the first set, it seemed he was still suffering some after-effects.
The scoreline suggested otherwise though as Djokovic wrapped up the first set 6-1 in 41 minutes.
But he did have to save four break points and only hit eight winners in the set. He was playing adequate but not perfect tennis.
Then came a turning point. As Cerundolo held serve to edge ahead in the second set, albeit still on serve, Djokovic walked to umpire Tourte and told her he needed to see the doctor. When medical officials arrived, he gestured that he had twisted his knee.
Djokovic had already asked why officials were “not taking into account the players” when deciding how often to sweep the court. On rare occasions, tournament organisers will water or sweep the court more often, but usually in extreme heat or wind. Djokovic asked them to do so every four games, but his requests fell on deaf ears.
His knee was treated, twice he took pills and a cream was rubbed into it, but Djokovic remained second best. He tried to play more aggressively, shortening rallies and going for significantly more speed on second serve. When Cerundolo could keep the points long though, he invariably won them.
Djokovic could not explain afterwards how he had found the strength to win, from a break down in the fourth, the last two sets. In the fifth, his first serve was on average five kilometres an hour faster, the adrenaline and painkillers coursing through his veins overwhelming whatever knee pain remained.
The ending was a little anti-climactic, Djokovic stopping a point and asking Tourte to inspect a mark he was convinced was out. For the first time that day, the two agreed on the condition of the court: the mark was out and Djokovic was through.
Nothing could top the drama of his 3am win over Musetti, or so it seemed, before this probably did. His quarter-final on Wednesday has high expectations to live up to.
Djokovic admits weeks of knee concern
Djokovic said afterwards he had been given “positive” news by the doctor initially after the match but also revealed that he had been feeling something in his knee for some time.
“For the last couple weeks I have had slight discomfort, I would call it that way, in the right knee,” Djokovic said.
“But I haven’t had an injury that would be concerning me at all. I was playing a few tournaments with it, and no issues until today.”
He added: “Basically the whole fifth set was almost without any pain, which is great, but then the effect of the medications will not last for too long, so I’ll see.
“I guess we’ll do some more screening and tests and checkups tomorrow [Tuesday], as well.
“We have done some with doctor right now after the match. Some positive news but also some maybe concerns, so let’s see tomorrow.”