Novak Djokovic’s French Open title defence – and his hold on No 1 in the rankings – are still alive thanks to a 7-5, 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 comeback victory over 22-year-old Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
The third-round match at Roland Garros lasted four and a half hours, with Djokovic only securing victory after 3am in Paris – the latest finish in tournament history.
It looked for a period as if Djokovic’s annus horriblis would continue, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion in danger of his earliest Grand Slam defeat for eight years – since he went out at the same stage to Sam Querrey at Wimbledon in 2016.
Instead he rallied to secure a 369th win at a Grand Slam, tying Roger Federer for the most in tennis history.
Djokovic ran away with the final set and will now continue his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title and fourth at Roland Garros.
Novak Djokovic beat Italian Lorenzo Musetti over four and a half hours on Saturday night
Djokovic ran away with the final set and will continue his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title
The 37-year-old has had some dreadful displays this year but this was not one of them. He was not at his best but full credit must go to his opponent.
The 22-year-old Musetti gave the performance of his life. With his wonderful single-handed backhand and imaginative shotmaking, the 30th seed Musetti used every inch of the vast Philippe Chatrier arena to drag Djokovic out of position.
The favourite was left gasping for a break while leaning over with hands on knees, or taking so much time between points that he earned a warning.
This was not the first time this pair had done battle in Paris. Musetti led Djokovic by two sets to love here in 2021 before collapsing utterly – he won only one more game and retired as much from humiliation as from the cramps he was suffering.
He was eventually outlasted on Saturday, too. Once Djokovic got headed in the right direction in the fourth set, the 30th-ranked Musetti could not withstand the charge.
Musetti used every inch of the vast Philippe Chatrier arena to drag Djokovic out of position
The 37-year-old Djokovic has had some dreadful displays this year but this was not one of them
He goes through to face Argentine No23 seed Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the quarter finals.
The 37-year-old is still yet to make a final this year and – until he rediscovers his best form – there will be fears that the greatest career in tennis history is entering its endgame.
Djokovic and Musetti were due on court at 8.15pm local time for the evening’s night session.
But due to the historically bad weather in Paris – it has rained every day of the tournament so far and there was barely any play on the outside courts on Friday or Saturday – desperate Roland Garros schedulers decided to gamble on squeezing another match into the schedule.
That throw of the dice did not pay off as first Alexander Zverev v Tallon Griekspoor and then Grigor Dimitrov v Zizou Bergs went longer than expected, meaning the world No1 did not get on to Philippe Chatrier until 10.36pm.
This was reckless scheduling from Roland Garros. Yes, the weather has put them in a bind but they should have held their nerve and trusted to the improving forecast next week; this mad rush to cram the third round in on Saturday was utter folly.
