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Novak Djokovic have shyed away from crashing to his worst defeat on the French Open in 15 years within the early hours of Sunday morning when he clinched a five-set victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.
Protecting champion and 24-time Grand Slam name winner Djokovic got here from two units to at least one all the way down to triumph 7-5, 6-7 (6/8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a 3rd spherical tie which ended at 3:07 a.m. (0107 GMT).
His four-hour 29-minute victory additionally allowed the 37-year-old international primary to equivalent Roger Federer’s file of 369 Grand Slam fit wins.
His praise is a conflict with Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina for a spot within the quarter-finals.
“I wish to say congratulations to Lorenzo Musetti it is a disgrace any person needed to lose,” Djokovic stated in his on-court TV interview.
“I need to say to him he performed a fantastic fit. He was once very, very just about profitable.
“I had a bit of of good fortune at the beginning of the fourth set, at that level he was once the most efficient participant at the court docket. He was once impenetrable within the fourth.
“He performed with a in reality top of the range. I used to be in nice problem.”
The 22-year-old Musetti had given Djokovic a big scare on the French Open within the fourth spherical in 2021 when he took a two units lead sooner than harm compelled a last set retirement.
Djokovic had arrived in Paris having now not gained a name and even reached a last within the season for the primary time since 2018.
Including harm to insult, he was once unintentionally hit at the head through a steel water bottle in Rome sooner than struggling abdomen issues in Geneva.
On Saturday, organisers made up our minds so as to add additional fits to the 2 showcourts with roofs at Roland Garros after heavy rain introduced a five-hour suspension of play.
In consequence, it was once nearly 10:45 p.m. (2045 GMT) when Djokovic and Musetti sooner or later took to Court docket Philippe Chatrier.
Djokovic retrieved an early spoil within the first set and broke once more within the twelfth recreation to protected the opener.
He was once 3-1 up in the second one sooner than he was once pinned again within the 7th recreation whilst losing a suite level within the tie-breaker.
Musetti was once the more energizing of the 2 because the clock ticked in opposition to 2 a.m.
He swept throughout the 3rd set courtesy of a double spoil.
On the other hand, in an astonishing flip round, Djokovic summoned his trademark preventing spirit and tenacity to stage the tie with a double spoil of his personal within the fourth set.
Musetti, 15 years Djokovic’s junior, noticed his hopes fade as he briefly slipped 4-0 down within the decider.
Djokovic finished victory with a forehand winner having reeled off 11 of the remaining 12 video games.