Defending champion and world No 1 Novak Djokovic survived a five-set close to five-hour epic in opposition to Lorenzo Musetti within the latest-ever end to a match in French Open historical past.
Djokovic sealed a marathon 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 2-6 6-3 6-0 comeback victory over 22-year-old Italian Musetti to advance to the final 16 in a match that lasted 4 hours and 29 minutes and didn’t conclude till Sunday after 3am native time – shattering the match’s earlier newest end of 1:25am.
The Serbian claimed his 369th Grand Slam match victory to maneuver stage with Roger Federer on the prime of the all-time checklist.
Djokovic subsequent faces Argentine twenty third seed Francisco Cerundolo, who has superior to the fourth spherical for the second consecutive yr.
The three-time Roland Garros champion should attain the ultimate simply to have an opportunity of remaining No 1 within the rankings, however Jannik Sinner is assured to change into the twenty ninth participant in historical past (since 1973) to rise to prime spot if he reaches the ultimate on Sunday.
Zverev survives Griekspoor marathon to advance
World No 4 Alexander Zverev survived a marathon match to beat Tallon Griekspoor 3-6 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-6 (10-3) and maintain alive his hopes of a primary Grand Slam title.
“Incredible match, incredible player, unbelievably dangerous. I don’t like to play against him. Credit to him,” mentioned Zverev.
Zverev, semi-finalist for the final three years, had not dropped a set in his opening two matches, together with a first-round win over Rafael Nadal, however he was on the again foot when the Dutch twenty sixth seed received the opening set.
The German lastly broke serve when main 5-4 within the second set to stage the match and made lighter work of the third set and when Griekspoor took a medical timeout it appeared that Zverev would have little bother closing out victory.
Griekspoor compelled a deciding set, nonetheless, and held a 4-1 benefit after two breaks of serve earlier than Zverev roared again to win 4 consecutive video games.
The Dutchman saved his nerve to power a tie-break, however after an enthralling match lasting over 4 hours on Courtroom Philippe Chatrier, it was Zverev who fired down an ace to clinch victory and attain the second week for the seventh time in a row.
FAA units up Alcaraz blockbuster
Canadian twenty first seed Felix Auger-Aliassime received his rain-delayed third-round match with American fifteenth seed Ben Shelton 6-4 6-2 6-1.
Auger-Aliassime continued the place he left off on Friday when he led 5-4 within the first set earlier than rain stopped play, and can subsequent face Spanish third seed Carlos Alcaraz within the final 16.
The Canadian leads the Spaniard 3-2 within the pair’s conferences, however Alcaraz has received their previous two clashes.
“For me today the things that were in my control I did really well,” Auger-Aliassime mentioned.
“I am pleased with how I handled the match and gave him difficulty. I was able to put a lot of returns in and force his targets on first serve.
“He was not getting as many free factors on that serve that he normally will get, so we needed to interact in a rally each time and I believe that paid off because the match went on.”
Rain once again disrupted play on the outside courts.
Medvedev overcomes fearless Machac
Daniil Medvedev beat Tomas Machac 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 1-6 6-4 in an exhilarating conflict beneath the roof on Courtroom Suzanne-Lenglen to maneuver into the final 16.
Machac was within the limelight final month when he surprised world No 1 Djokovic within the Geneva Open semi-finals for the largest win of his profession and he pushed Medvedev in a match lasting over three hours.
“It was a very tough match, I’m very happy I stay constant even in the difficult moments,” Medvedev mentioned.
“It was tight. The match could have turned one way or the other, but I’m happy I’m the one who won.”
Chair umpire Damien Dumusois catches a pigeon that crashed onto the court docket throughout the match
Having taken the primary two units, Medvedev misplaced his method and capitulated within the third after he broke Machac, with the 23-year-old Czech participant profitable the subsequent six video games to the delight of a crowd starved of motion on a wet day in Paris.
Medvedev refocused within the fourth set, nonetheless, and regardless of Machac’s daring makes an attempt to power a decider, the fifth seed stepped up within the essential factors to advance.
Medvedev faces eleventh seed Alex de Minaur after the Australian beat German Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-3.
De Minaur thanked a younger spectator who caught with him during his rain-delayed four-set win.
He mentioned: “That young lad was there from the very first point till the last – with five hours of rain delay.
“He was this little child that each single change of ends, each single level I received, he was screaming at my face. I am taking a look at him and pondering if I used to be a fan, I’d in all probability be again residence, as a result of it was bloody chilly on the market.
“I just gave him a hug. I was, like, ‘mate’… It was a relief more than anything. It was amazing. I appreciate this kid.
“You recognize, yeah, the truth that he is spent 10 hours on the court docket as we speak within the freezing chilly pumping me up, I used to be blissful that I used to be capable of get a win along with him.”
The 11th seed wrote on social media: “I want to search out the identify of this legend!!! Message me on Instagram, I want you for the subsequent spherical.”
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