Not thrilled with Roland Garros scheduling, Djokovic appears to bounce again

Novak Djokovic’s 7-5, 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 win over Lorenzo Musetti in spherical three of the French Open on Saturday evening–or extra like Sunday morning–lasted 4 hours and 29 minutes ended at 3:06. It was, after all, the newest end in Roland Garros historical past.

With the third spherical delayed by mainly nonstop rain all through week one, the continuation of a day-session match between Grigor Dimitrov and Zizou Bergs was moved underneath the Court docket Philippe-Chatrier roof. It went 4 units, pushing the Djokovic-Musetti begin time from 8:15 pm to after 10:30.

As anticipated, the 37-year-old was requested about that scheduling resolution at his post-match press convention.

“I knew you guys had been going to ask me that,” Djokovic answered. “Look, I don’t need to get into it. I’ve my opinions, however I believe there are nice issues to speak about as a substitute. Each Lorenzo’s and my performances stood out, I don’t need to be speaking about scheduling. I believe some issues might have been dealt with a unique method. However there’s magnificence as properly, I assume, (in) profitable a match at 3:30 am.”

Along with the absurdly late end, the match itself took a bodily toll on Djokovic–who had already been coping with some health points earlier on this spring. Nonetheless, the world No. 1 rolled with Musetti’s greatest punches and managed to provide you with the required solutions.

“You’re taking part in a 20+ rally at 2:00 am…,” he commented. “Who performs at 2:00 am? You play just a few matches in your life right now. Particularly (it’s powerful) if somebody like Lorenzo is taking part in on the other facet of the online the tennis of his life and never lacking a lot and making you play each level. 

“It was so muggy and so heavy situations, very chilly, the balls weren’t going wherever. You weren’t getting too many free factors off the serve, so that you needed to work each single level. That’s why I actually bodily pushed myself to the restrict tonight.”

Djokovic will probably be again on the courtroom on Monday in opposition to Francisco Cerundolo, marking their first-ever head-to-head assembly.

Cerundolo has now superior to the fourth spherical of a serious twice in his profession. Unsurprisingly, each have come at Roland Garros (additionally in 12 months). This season for the Twenty seventh-ranked Argentine has principally been disappointing, however he could also be turning the nook with Paris defeats of Yannick Hanfmann, Filip Misolic, and Tommy Paul.

After all, Cerundolo would a lot moderately be going through Musetti as a substitute of Djokovic.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You may comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.