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Serbian next meets Monfils or Musetti
May 30, 2024
Novak Djokovic must reach the Roland Garros final to have a chance of remaining World No. 1.
Peter Staples/ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic must reach the Roland Garros final to have a chance of remaining World No. 1.
By ATP Staff
Top seed Novak Djokovic cranked up his level late in the first set and rarely looked back Thursday to continue his quest for a record-extending 25th major title at Roland Garros.

Aiming for his fourth trophy on the Parisian clay, the 37-year-old showed flashes of his best tennis across a convincing 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory against Roberto Carballes Baena.



A highly-contested opening set ended with Djokovic producing more aggressive baseline play, stepping in on returns and manoeuvring the Spaniard from corner to corner to earn a decisive break at 5-4. Djokovic built upon his momentum with clean ballstriking and quickly jumped to a double break 4-0 advantage in the second set.

“I’m glad that I came through the opening [two] rounds in straight sets,” Djokovic said. “Again at the beginning, in the first set, I was challenged. He was playing very well, aggressive from the start. It took me a little bit of time to start swinging through the ball a bit more loose. Crucial break to clinch the first set. After that, the second and third set really went my way.”

Djokovic, who must reach at least the final to have a chance to hold off Jannik Sinner and remain World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, brought the crowd to a standing ovation in the opening game of the third set, when he responded to Carballes Baena’s drop shot by skillfully hitting the ball around the net post.


The Serbian won 55 per cent of his return points, according to Infosys Stats, and broke Carballes Baena’s serve seven times to improve to 3-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head with the World No. 63. All three of their meetings have come at Grand Slam level.

“I was dictating play and doing things the right way,” Djokovic said. “I have to be content, of course it can always be better, matches are only going to get tougher. It’s enjoyable to feel and play this way at a Grand Slam.”

Last year's champion next meets home favourite Gael Monfils or 30th seed Lorenzo Musetti. Djokovic holds a dominant 19-0 record against the Frenchman and has won four of his five meetings against Musetti, including last month in Monte-Carlo, where the 98-time tour-level titlist avenged his 2023 loss to the Italian in the Principality.

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Still seeking his first title of 2024, Djokovic improved to 16-6 on the season overall and 8-3 on clay. Prior to this week, Djokovic said he had, 'low expectations but high hopes' for the season's second major. He did not back off of that statement in Thursday's post-match interview with Tennis Channel.

“I haven’t had too many wins coming into Roland Garros, so I have to lower my expectations but of course I believe in myself and my capabilities," said Djokovic, who in 2023 became the oldest Roland Garros champion. "I know what I am capable of doing. I’ve done it many times in my career. Going far in a Grand Slam has always been the goal... I look forward to what’s coming up."

The 37-year-old dishes on rivalry with the Spaniard
May 30, 2024
Novak Djokovic is a three-time Roland Garros champion.
Peter Staples/ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic is a three-time Roland Garros champion.
By ATP Staff
If there is any player who knows every nook and cranny of Rafael Nadal’s game, it is Novak Djokovic. The Serbian has faced the 14-time Roland Garros champion an astronomical 59 times, 19 more matches than Nadal and rival Roger Federer contested.

Djokovic, the top seed this fortnight in Paris, is aiming for his fourth crown at the season’s second major. Though three trophies at a single Slam is nothing to scoff at, there has been one man that has routinely stood in the way of Djokovic at Roland Garros, where Nadal holds an 8-2 record against Djokovic, including three final victories.

“He has been the greatest rival that I ever had. Matches against him on clay have frustrated me so much in my career,” Djokovic said with a smile in Thursday’s post-match press conference. “But they also made me a better player, made me understand what it takes to try to surpass him, try to win at least once or twice at Roland Garros.

“It's the highest mountain to climb for me to win Roland Garros, particularly because of Nadal, because I always have to win against him in order to get to the title.”



Djokovic will not have to face Nadal if he is to claim a record-extending 25th major title this tournament. The Spaniard, who was competing in his likely final Roland Garros appearance, lost a first-round blockbuster against fourth seed Alexander Zverev.

While that may be a sigh of relief for the World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, fans will miss out on another edition of one of the greatest rivalries in the sport, though a potential meeting would not have came until the semi-finals.

“I think he peaked more than a few times against me, in Roland Garros particularly,” Djokovic said. “I played him here for the first time back in 2006 and then the last time we played was in 2022.

“I have experienced first-hand his evolution as a player. I actually think that he improved his backhand as he was getting older. He was probably conscious of physical struggles that he had and he had to be more aggressive on the court.

“He was still topspinning the forehand better than anybody has ever done it and he still kept that incredible defence and offence on the forehand. But I think with the backhand, he was just able to handle the high balls better than he was maybe at the beginning of our encounters.”

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Djokovic leads Nadal 30-29 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with their past two meetings coming at Roland Garros in 2022 and 2021. The 98-time tour-level titlist recalled some of their most epic encounters at the French major, where in 2013 the pair played a memorable four-hour, 37-minute semi-final that Nadal won deep in a fifth set.

“We had some really amazing encounters over the years," Djokovic said. "A couple of matches that really stand out that we played here against each other were that five-setter that he won, it was 9-7 in the fifth, semi-finals of 2013.

“Then, he didn't play his best, but I played probably the best match I ever played against him on clay here when I won against him in the quarters the year I lost in the final, 2015. When I won here in 2021, we played again, a very long semi-final, deep in the night. Same thing the year after, he beat me in quarters, also night session, 7-6 in the fourth.”

This year finds Djokovic with different expectations in the French capital, but still with the same hope of lifting the trophy. Seeking his first title of 2024, Djokovic improved to 16-6 on the season overall with a second-round, straight-sets victory against Roberto Carballes Baena. The seven-time Nitto ATP Finals titlist has shown flashes of his best level across his opening two matches, but Djokovic is keeping the mindset he initially had when the tournament began.

“I have to keep my expectations a bit lower. Of course, hopes and beliefs and convictions are always there, always high, and I always aim for the highest star,” said Djokovic, who last year became the oldest Roland Garros champion (36).

“There is always that kind of conviction and belief inside of me that I can win a slam. That's the reason why I'm still competing at this level. That's why I'm here. At this age I wouldn't really be competing at the slams and continuing to play professional tennis if I didn't believe that I possess the quality to go all the way to the title match.”

Serbian keeps alive hopes of remaining World No. 1 after Roland Garros
June 02, 2024
Novak Djokovic celebrates his five-set comeback win after 3:00 a.m. win over Lorenzo Musetti.
AFP/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic celebrates his five-set comeback win after 3:00 a.m. win over Lorenzo Musetti.
By ATP Staff
Novak Djokovic has produced an epic comeback to inflict more Roland Garros heartache on young Italian Lorenzo Musetti and keep alive his chances of remaining World No. 1 at the conclusion of the French Open.

After blowing a set point for a two-sets lead, 37-year-old Djokovic found himself down two-sets-to-one around 1:45 a.m. against an opponent 15 years younger and seemingly with fresher legs.

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But the Serbian, who in 2021 rallied from two sets down to deny Musetti a stunning upset in the Roland Garros fourth round, went into lockdown mode from the baseline to clinch a 7-5, 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory in four hours and 29 minutes. The third-round match finished at 3:08 a.m., shattering the tournament's previous latest finish of 1:25 a.m.

Djokovic’s 369th Grand Slam match win moves him into a tie with Roger Federer for most wins at the majors.

Most Men's Singles Grand Slam Match Wins

Player
W-L
Titles
Novak Djokovic
369-49
24
Roger Federer
369-60
20
Rafael Nadal
314-43
22
Jimmy Connors
233-49
8
Andre Agassi
224-53
8
Djokovic improved to 5-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Musetti, who claimed an upset win over the Serbian on clay at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in 2023.

Djokovic next faces Argentine 23rd seed Francisco Cerundolo, who has advanced to the fourth round for the second consecutive year. The three-time and defending Roland Garros champion must reach the final just to have a chance of remaining No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings at the conclusion of the tournament. Second seed Jannik Sinner is guaranteed to become the 29th player in history (since 1973) to rise to No. 1 if he reaches the final.


The match was pulsating for most of the journey, with Musetti’s majestic one-handed backhand holding its own against Djokovic’s renowned double-hander for the best part of four sets. Both players threw in a steady stream of drop shots that led to angled cat-and-mouse exchanges at the net.

The match began after 10:30 p.m. after Grigor Dimitrov’s match with Zizou Bergs was moved from an outside court to under the roof of Court Philippe-Chatrier as the match needed to be completed Saturday with the winner scheduled to play his fourth-round match Sunday.


Djokovic was in command of the match early. He led 4-1 in the second set and had a set point on serve in the second-set tie-break before finding himself down two-sets-to-one as the free-swinging Musetti rode his confidence and the crowd’s energy to what held promise of being his greatest victory.

Djokovic appeared to gain energy after securing a break midway through the fourth set, and finished the match seemingly in better shape than midway through. He also locked down from the baseline, allowing a tiring Musetti to spray a steady stream of unforced errors after he played so spectacularly for the first three sets.

In the third set Musetti dominated rallies of 5-8 shots, winning 13 of 17 battles of that length according to Infosys Stats. But in the final two sets Djokovic turned that mark on its head, edging Musetti 23-15 in that category.

Serbian wins consecutive five-set thrillers in Paris
June 03, 2024
Novak Djokovic reaches his 18th Roland Garros quarter-final.
Peter Staples/ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic reaches his 18th Roland Garros quarter-final.
By Sam Jacot
Novak Djokovic conjured up more magic at Roland Garros on Monday to keep alive his hopes of remaining as World No. 1. The Serbian looked down and out against Francisco Cerundolo when he trailed by two-sets-to-one and a break, but he showed incredible resistance to turn the tide and earn a dramatic 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory.

The 37-year-old battled past Lorenzo Musetti in five sets in the third round, finishing at 3:07 a.m. on Sunday morning. The Serbian backed up that remarkable victory with another titanic effort against Cerundolo to earn back-to-back five-set wins for the first time since Roland Garros in 2012, when he reached the final.

"Again a big, big, big thank you because once again like the last match. The win is your win," Djokovic said.

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Despite the late finish against Musetti, Djokovic looked fresh during the opening stages against Cerundolo in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. However, the top seed tweaked his knee at the start of the second set and the issue impaired his movement in the second and third sets, with the Serbian seemingly set to make a shock exit when he trailed 2-4 in the fourth.

Djokovic refused to surrender, though, breaking back to level at 4-4 before he locked in at the end of the set to force a decider in front of a raucous crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

In trademark Djokovic style, the top seed then found his best level in the fifth set. He recovered from squandering a break advantage and a fall at 2-1 to triumph after four hours and 39 minutes. Djokovic’s 370th major win moves him to first for the most victories at Grand Slam level.

Most Men's Singles Grand Slam Match Wins

Player
W-L
Titles
Novak Djokovic
370-49
24
Roger Federer
369-60
20
Rafael Nadal
314-43
22
Jimmy Connors
233-49
8
Andre Agassi
224-53
8
Djokovic has reached the quarter-finals in the French capital 15th consecutive times and 18 overall. The seven-time Nitto ATP Finals champion, who is a three-time winner at the clay-court major, will next play Casper Ruud or Taylor Fritz.

Djokovic is chasing a record-extending 25th major crown and must reach the final just to have a chance of remaining No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings at the conclusion of the tournament. Second seed Jannik Sinner is guaranteed to become the 29th player in history (since 1973) to rise to No. 1 if he reaches the title match.

After sealing his latest dramatic victory, Djokovic raised his arms and soaked in the applause of the crowd. The Serbian is seeking his first title of the season in the French capital, with his best result in 2024 a semi-final showing at the Australian Open.

Cerundolo was aiming to reach his first major quarter-final. The Argentine, who is a two-time tour-level titlist, was unable to close out against Djokovic, misfiring off both wings in the latter stages of the match to suffer an agonising defeat in the French capital.