One match, two sides. Laborious, tormented, Novak Djokovic suffered before taking the reins of the game against the promising Lorenzo Musetti, forced to retire 6-7 (7/9), 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6 -0, 4-0. Until Saturday, Novak Djokovic was a train that arrives on time at the top of the table. The world n ° 1 (no set lost, 23 games lost only in three rounds against the American Tennys Sandgren, the Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas and the Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis) unfolded his game, let his influence infuse. The Serb, in no way worried, had not found anyone capable of biting his calves on his way. He was naturally turned towards the scheduled semi-final against Rafael Nadal. Until the 8th final trap against Lorenzo Musetti (19 years old;76th world) one of the hard-hitting talents of the new Italian wave (with Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini).
Musetti, daring, inspired, in no way impressed by the meeting on the court Philippe Chatrier immediately showed his desire to not let go. He hung on to the point of deeply disturbing the world No. 1 who at times seemed to lack breath and ideas. Novak Djokovic taken aback, a rare, unexpected image. Like the tie break of the second set when led 2-0, Novak Djokovic forgot to play a ball deemed good which offered the Italian to come away and left the Serbian to his doubts. Djokovic, renowned for his ability to tighten the game, his composure was extremely feverish, multiplying unforced errors (35 in the 2nd set).
Lorenzo Musetti (10 tie breaks won out of 10 in his career, including 3 at Roland Garros) displayed his aplomb, his range of shots (a solid, aesthetic one-handed backhand), his efficiency. The passage in the locker room, after the loss of the second set, allowed the world No. 1 to find a second life saving breath. It marked the end of the hopes of the Italian. After two tough sets (in 2h21), Novak Djokovic imposed his law (46 minutes for the next two; before the 5th marked after 20 minutes by the abandonment of the Italian, physically diminished). Face less reddened by the effort, less shortness of breath, sharper blows, Djokovic had regained his splendor. The danger of a resounding elimination had passed, the world number one managing to enforce the birthright (34 wins-10 losses in the 5th set for Djokovic;1 victory in his only appearance in this format before this match for the Italian). The finalist of the last edition, winner of the Australian Open remains in the race. After a cold sweat. In the quarter-finals, Novak Djokovic has an appointment with another Italian, Matteo Berrettini (seeded n ° 9) who took advantage of Roger Federer's package to reach the quarter-finals.
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Roland-Garros: The results of the men's singles Roland-Garros: The results of the women's singles