Leading 2 sets 0, Novak Djokovic ended up pulling out of the trap set by the talented young Italian Musetti.
One match, two sides. Laborious, tormented, Novak Djokovic suffered before taking the reins of the game against the promising Lorenzo Musetti, forced to retire 6-7 (7/9), 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6 -0, 4-0. Until Saturday, Novak Djokovic was a train that arrives on time at the top of the table. The world No. 1 (no set lost, 23 games lost only in three rounds against the American Tennys Sandgren, the Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas and the Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis) unfolded his game, let his influence infuse. The Serb, in no way worried, had not found anyone capable of biting his calves on his way. He was naturally turned towards the scheduled semi-final against Rafael Nadal. Until this round of 16 trap against Lorenzo Musetti (19 years old; 76e world) one of the impactful talents of the new Italian wave (with Jannik Sinnet and Matteo Berrettini).
Musetti, daring, inspired, in no way impressed by the meeting on the court Philippe Chatrier immediately showed his desire not to let go. He hung on to the point of deeply disturbing the world No.1 who at times seemed to lack breath and ideas. Novak Djokovic taken aback, a rare, unexpected image. Like the tie break of the second set when led 2-0, Novak Djokovic forgot to play a ball deemed good which offered the Italian to come away and left the Serbian to his doubts. Djokovic, renowned for his ability to tighten the game, his composure was extremely feverish, multiplying unforced errors (35 in the 2e set).
Lorenzo Musetti (10 tie breaks won out of 10 in his career, including 3 at Roland Garros) displayed his aplomb, his range of shots (a backhand with a solid aesthetic hand), his efficiency. The passage to the locker room, after the loss of 2e set, allowed the world n ° 1 to find a second life saving breath. It marked the end of the hopes of the Italian. After two bitter sets (in 2h21), Novak Djokovic imposed his law (46 minutes for the next two; before the 5e marked after 20 ‘by the abandonment of the Italian, physically diminished). Face less reddened by the effort, less shortness of breath, sharper blows, Novak Djokovic had regained his splendor. The danger of a resounding elimination had passed… The finalist of the last edition, winner of the Australian Open remains in the race. After a cold sweat. In the quarter-finals, Novak Djokovic has an appointment with another Italian, Matteo Berrettini (seeded n ° 9) who took advantage of Roger Federer’s package to reach the quarter-finals.
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