Novak Djokovic Avoids Cerúndolo Upset Bid at 2024 French Open, Excites Tennis Fans
For the second straight round, Novak Djokovic had to dig deep in order to stave off an upset bid at the 2024 French Open.
The three-time champion beat No. 23 seed Francisco Cerúndolo 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, making history in the process.
Some might have written off Djokovic’s five-setter against 30th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti in the third round as a bit of an aberration. It certainly looked early on Monday like that was the case when he breezed past Cerúndolo in the first set.
But the 25-year-old Argentine showed he was more than game. He finished with 68 winners as he overwhelmed Djokovic with his forehand.
One point helped to seal Cerúndolo’s fate, though. He was unable to capitalize on a break-point opportunity with the fourth set deadlocked at five games apiece. You have to finish the job whenever you have a legend such as Djokovic on the ropes.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner managed to hold serve, and the momentum shifted for good when he went on to claim the set.
It was another reminder of how Djokovic seemingly needs a level of adversity before he fully dials in mentally.
You do wonder whether the mileage will start to add up for the 37-year-old at Roland-Garros, though. Monday’s victory required shaking off a leg injury of some sort in the second set, and the road won’t get any easier from here.
Djokovic will get either No. 12 Taylor Fritz or No. 7 Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals, and a date with fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev could await in the semifinals if he gets that far.
Ruud bested Djokovic earlier this year in Monte Carlo after losing their first five head-to-head meetings. Fritz is 0-9 all-time but did push Djoker hard in the Australian Open quarterfinals when they faced off in January.
