PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic was laying on his back on a French Open sideline early in the second set Monday, wincing while his bothersome right knee was manipulated by a trainer.
PARIS — Novak Djokovic was laying on his back on a French Open sideline early in the second set Monday, wincing while his bothersome right knee was manipulated by a trainer. A couple of hours of stumbling and limping later, Djokovic found himself down by a set and a break against a younger, eager opponent.
Djokovic, ranked No. 1 and the defending champion in Paris, broke a tie with Roger Federer for the most match wins at major tournaments — and also for the most Slam quarterfinals for a man by reaching the 59th of his career.He did it in ways he has so often over his years of dominance and 24 major trophies, a total that includes three at the French Open.
Against Cerundolo, a 25-year-old from Argentina who was trying to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, the 37-year-old Djokovic again used all of his skills, experience and ability to adjust on the fly. He came through, in part, by playing more aggressively and putting extra speed on his groundstrokes, while dealing with whatever was going on with his knee.
“Well done, supervisor and everybody,” Djokovic said, his voice drenched in sarcasm. “Not slippery at all.” When he missed a backhand that allowed Cerundolo to convert a break point for the first time in 13 tries, Djokovic ceded the second set. Soon, he was staring at a two-sets-to-one hole. Not long after that, he was down in the fourth.Instead, he plays on. His quarterfinal opponent Wednesday will be two-time French Open runner-up Casper Ruud or Taylor Fritz. The other men’s matchup that day will be Alex de Minaur against Alexander Zverev or Holger Rune.
With temperatures topping 70 degrees Fahrenheit after a tournament of chillier weather and plenty of rain, Djokovic vs. Cerundolo was played with the main stadium's retractable roof open. The azure sky was visible finally as they began in the late afternoon.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Novak Djokovic earns his record 370th Grand Slam match win with another French Open 5-setterPARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic was laying on his back on a French Open sideline early in the second set Monday, wincing while his bothersome right knee was manipulated by a trainer.
Read more »
Novak Djokovic earns his record 370th Grand Slam match win with another French Open 5-setterPARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic was laying on his back on a French Open sideline early in the second set Monday, wincing while his bothersome right knee was manipulated by a trainer.
Read more »
Novak Djokovic keeps his French Open title defense going by getting past Lorenzo Musetti in 5 setsPARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic’s French Open title defense — and his hold on the No.
Read more »
Novak Djokovic keeps his French Open title defense going by getting past Lorenzo Musetti in 5 setsPARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic’s French Open title defense — and his hold on the No.
Read more »
Novak Djokovic keeps his French Open title defense going by getting past Lorenzo Musetti in 5 setsPARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic’s French Open title defense — and his hold on the No.
Read more »
Tennis-Djokovic shrugs off injury, pips Cerundolo in another French Open epicExplore stories from Atlantic Canada.
Read more »