Very good morning as Djokovic fights in the epic French Open | National

Djokovic, the reigning champion and 24-time Grand Slam title winner, came back from two sets to one down to defeat Italian Lorenzo Musetti 7-5, 6-7 (6/8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a third. draw which ended at 3:07 a.m. (01:07 GMT).

His victory in four hours and 29 minutes also allowed the 37-year-old world number one to equal Roger Federer's record of 369 Grand Slam tournament victories.

His reward is a clash with Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the quarter-finals.

“I have to congratulate Lorenzo Musetti, it’s a shame someone had to lose,” Djokovic said in his on-court television interview.

“He played an incredible match. He was very, very close to victory.”

It was almost 10:45 p.m. (8:45 p.m. GMT) on Saturday evening when Djokovic and Musetti finally took to the Philippe Chatrier court after a seventh day of rain prompted officials to arrange additional matches on the indoor courts.

Djokovic recovered an early break in the first set and broke again in the 12th game to secure the opener.

He led 3-1 in the second before being pushed back in the seventh game while losing a set point in the tiebreaker.

Musetti, who had taken a two-set lead over Djokovic in the 2021 tournament before dropping out in the deciding match due to injury, was suddenly the fresher of the two as time ticked down around 2 a.m.

He swept the third set with a double break.

However, in a stunning turnaround, Djokovic used his fighting spirit and tenacity to level the tie with a double break in the fourth set.

Musetti, 15 years Djokovic's junior, suddenly saw his hopes dashed as the Serbian star cruised to victory with a forehand winner after winning 11 of the last 12 games.

World number four Zverev, who effectively ended Rafael Nadal's career at Roland Garros in the first round, also needed five sets to beat Tallon Griekspoor 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 4- 6, 7-6 (10/3). .

The Dutchman led 4-1 in the decisive match.

The 27-year-old German is playing in the shadow of an ongoing trial in Berlin over allegations of assault against an ex-girlfriend.

“An incredible match, an incredible player. He's incredibly dangerous. I always struggle against him,” Zverev said after a four-hour, 14-minute marathon.

Zverev, the only player to have reached the semi-finals at the last three French Open, will next face Dane Holger Rune.

Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev defeated Tomas Machac 7-6 (7/4), 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 to reach the round of 16 for the third time.

Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime booked a fourth-round clash against Carlos Alcaraz after beating American Ben Shelton 6-4, 6-2, 6-1.

Casper Ruud, runner-up behind Nadal and then Djokovic for the past two years, beat Argentine Tomas Etcheverry 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a match that ended shortly before 1 a.m.

He will face Taylor Fritz who beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in five sets.

– Best of friends –

World number two Aryna Sabalenka had the advantage of playing under the roof of the Philippe Chatrier court where she came back strongly to defeat close friend Paula Badosa.

Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, beat the Spaniard 7-5, 6-1, winning 10 of the last 11 matches.

Badosa had served during the first set at 5-3 but was ultimately dominated by Sabalenka who is playing his second week in Paris for the second year in a row.

Sabalenka, a semi-finalist in 2023, has reached at least the last four Grand Slams in her last six Grand Slam tournaments and is expected to be Iga Swiatek's main rival in the Pole's quest for a fourth Roland-Garros title. Garros.

“I just tried to play my best, play for every point. I knew I could come back,” Sabalenka said.

Next up for the Belarusian is a clash against American 22nd seed Emma Navarro, who has reached the fourth round of a major tournament for the first time.

– Pain due to rain –

In a sign of the chaos of the calendar, the women's third round tie between Russian Mirra Andreeva and American Peyton Stearns was moved from court 6 to court 7, then to court 2.

Andreeva, 17, earned a 6-2, 6-1 victory in just 67 minutes and will next face Russian-born Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva.

Elena Rybakina, seeded fourth, won 6-4, 6-2 against Belgian Elise Mertens.

However, Chinese seventh seed Zheng Qinwen was eliminated by Russia's Elina Avanesyan.

Zheng, a semi-finalist at the Australian Open, lost 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10/6) to world number 70 Avanesyan, who also reached the fourth round in 2023.

dj/bb