Tennis: Novak Djokovic returns from darkness and takes the quarter

Unsinkable, still as tough and astounding, Novak Djokovic overcame the pain, which radiated for a long time in his right knee, requiring several medical interventions, to defeat Francisco Cerundolo on Monday after 4h39 of effort and reach the quarter-finals of Roland -Garros.

“I still have to say a big thank you, my victory is your victory. You give me a lot of support. I was maybe three, four points away from losing this match. Congratulations to Francisco for playing with great quality. I don’t know how I found a way to win. The only explanation I have is you,” he reacted on the court and in French.

The world No.1 and defending champion drew on the depths of his resources, both mental and physical, to win 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 at the expense of Argentinian (27th), in a Philippe-Chatrier, in fact committed to his cause, and still struggling to realize the confusing spectacle which unfolded before his eyes.

Because this new victory, going up the Styx, obviously has an air of déjà vu. During the night from Saturday to Sunday, the Serb took ten minutes less to disgust the Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the previous round, also knocked down in five sets. The meeting ended as the clocks hit 3:06 a.m. And “Djoko”, 37 years old, made a very, very strong impression with his freshness.

Barely 36 hours later, here is Novak again on the Central, who hit the ground running to authoritatively pocket the first round, under a sun finally reappearing in Paris after a week of rain. Then in a harmless exchange at 1-1 in the second set, his right knee gave way.

Ointment, massages and stretching

When changing sides, Djokovic then called on the physio, who manipulated him. Lying on mats on the ground, “Nole” struggled to mask his suffering during certain movements imposed by the hands of the trainer.

Application of ointment, additional massages and stretching, absorption of medication: medical interventions followed one another throughout the match and nothing helped, we thought. Because Cerundolo, imperturbable and solid, had caught up and was leading two sets to one, 4-2 in the fourth. But Djokovic, continuing to suffer, gritting his teeth, refused to surrender without a fight.

And this capacity for resistance which he has so often demonstrated in the past to reverse very compromised situations, sometimes mountains, allowed “Djoko” to break free. A start, greeted by the cheers of the public beginning to dream of a comeback and a fifth set. And the Serb granted him on his fourth break point at 6-5.

On the court, then, it’s time for the “Djoker”: eye of the tiger revived, tennis conquering again, legs much less heavy, Novak hastened to seize this momentum to impose his law in the fifth set, like so many times during the his prodigious career.

He broke from the start to lead 2-0, but Cerundolo, a valiant fighter, found a way to erase this advantage (2-2). Insufficient, however, to prevent the Serb from winning, after having managed to seize the Argentinian’s serve a second time, by releasing improbable shots, such as this backhand half-volley from the baseline which paralyzed his opponent.

Cerundolo, like Musetti, must still wonder how the unique champion opposite managed to come back from hell to cling to the earth…

AFP

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