ATP
Roland Garros 2024 Men’s Day 9
Novak Djokovic fought off a sudden knee injury and an upset-minded opponent to squeeze into the French Open quarter-finals 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 over Francisco Cerundolo on Monday at the French Open.
The top-seed won his second straight five-set match after going until 3 a.m. in the previous round over Lorenzo Musetti..
The three-time champion who is fighting for his No. 1 ranking against young gun Jannik Sinner will now need to rely on the fitness gods after barely surviving the test against Argentine Cerundolo which took more than four and a half hours.
After taking Sunday off and relaxing briefly in a local park with a quick game of petanque (bowls), the 37-year-old went straight to work against the 27th-ranked Cerundolo.
Djokovic swept the opening set but got involved with the supervisor after several visits from the physio for right knee problem
The Serb complained about the surface of the clay to no avail and grudgingly played on. “I screwed up my knee. I’m slipping and sliding all the time,” he said.
Treatment on the problem included six-minutes of off-court treatment, a session at his player bench and several other brief consultations and application of ointment.
The set stayed on serve until Cerundolo finally converted on his 13th break point, levelling at a set each as Djokovic drove a return wide after two hours of play, 7-5.
Cerundolo led two sets to one with Djokovic down a break in the fourth set before the 24-time Grand Slam winner began to turn it around in his favour.
Djokovic turned on the afterburners in the closing stages to finally dismiss the upset challenge as he saved 15 of 19 break points.
“This is your victory,” he told the Chatrier court crowd. “I had a lot of support tonight.
“I had many chances to lose this match today, Cerundolo was playing high quality.
“But somehow I found a way to win, and I don’t know how.”
Djokovic will clash in the last eight against two-time Paris finalist Casper Ruud, who defeated Taylor Fritz in a 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 fourth-round struggle.
The Norwegian solidified his season lead in Tour in wins (39) as he reached his fourth Grand Slam quarter-final.
The Ruud- Djoko showdown will be a repeat of the final here a year ago won by the Serb. But Ruud has hopes to change the next outcome.
“It’s gonna be a tough match with Novak. He’s one of the biggest challenges in our sport
“It will repeat the final here and I will hope to get my revenge.
“But I’m sure he will be fit and ready… I’ll try to make the semi-final.”
Alex de Minaur booked the first Paris quarter-final spot for an Aussie since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years ago as he stunned fifth seed Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-2,6-1, 6-3.
The 11th seed staged a comeback after dropping the first set as he put his clay-adverse opponent under pressure throughout.
The European-based de Minaur will play his second career quarter-final at a major after the US open five years ago.
The win over Medvedev was his first at a Grand Slam over a top five opponent from seven matches.
De Minaur has blossomed on clay this season, earning an April quarter-final in Monte Carlo after never going past the second round in Paris after losing seven of 10 matches.
“I’m pretty happy, not gonna lie,” he said, “It was a great match today. I fought till the end.
“I managed to beat a quality opponent in a Grand Slam fourth round, which is one of the goals that I had been setting for myself to go deeper at these events.
“I’m very proud of myself.”
The ATP No. 11 added: ” I always thought that for me to play well on the clay I needed hot, lively conditions. But know, this whole tournament has proven otherwise.
“It’s been a complete shock to the system, to everything I ever believed in.
“Looks like I’ve converted myself into a clay specialist.” he joked.
Medvedev, who has never hidden his inherent distaste for the surface and was treated mid-match for foot blisters, said he was out-gunned.
” Alex played better… to be honest, I’m disappointed to lose, but I don’t have anything to tell myself in a tough way.
I had a good attitude and was fighting to the end. He played
better. My best was not enough today, so I’m looking forward to the next ones.”
Main photo:- Close call! Umpire Aurelie Tort gives her ruling and Novak Djoovic wins fourth round match in five set thriller by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
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Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz
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