Djokovic Overcomes Musetti, Reignites Season at French Open

During the third set and the early part of the fourth, Novak Djokovic seemed out of sorts, trailing Lorenzo Musetti by two sets to one. His shots oscillated between wild and weak, and his body language reflected frustration and exhaustion. Djokovic himself acknowledged feeling unsure of how to proceed, encapsulating his unusual, trophy-less season thus far. But then, a turning point emerged—not through a sudden improvement in his play but through a surge in his fighting spirit. A double fault from Musetti provided a small opening, which Djokovic capitalized on with a decisive forehand to break in the fifth game. With newfound determination, Djokovic returned to his chair, then dominated the court to win 11 of the last 12 games. “I think I was a different player from that moment onwards,” he later noted. Novak, hoping to carry this newfound energy throughout the tournament where he is the defending champion, secured a gritty 7-5, 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Musetti. This match, which began before 11 PM Paris time on Saturday and concluded after 3 AM on Sunday, marked the latest finish in Roland Garros history. It might be the much-needed catalyst in a challenging season, as suggested by Djokovic’s revitalized body language. Despite appearing fatigued in the final set, Djokovic’s triumphant roar following his dramatic comeback hinted at a possible resurgence in his season.

In 2024, Djokovic’s lack of titles, a first since 2018 going into the French Open, is less troubling than the manner of his defeats. After a semi-final loss at the Australian Open to Jannik Sinner, Djokovic suffered three-set losses in three out of four ATP events. At Indian Wells (lost to Lucas Nardi), Monte Carlo (Casper Ruud), and Geneva (Tomas Machac), Djokovic managed to win the second set only to falter in the decider. Typically, Novak thrives under pressure, but this season has been different.

Against Musetti, Novak encountered a familiar yet uncomfortable scenario, trailing two sets to one against an opponent who matched and occasionally outperformed him from the baseline. Yet, Grand Slam tennis often separates champions from the rest, and Novak, despite his struggles, demonstrated his champion spirit. He recovered from a 7-5, 4-1 lead, survived a set point in the second-set tiebreaker, and after losing the next two sets, he seized on Musetti’s lapse at 2-2 in the fourth set. From there, Novak tightened his game and significantly reduced his unforced errors (from 15 and 8 in sets 2 and 3 to 7 and 2 in sets 4 and 5). While not at his peak, Djokovic’s determination was evident in his 39th five-set career win out of 50, showcasing his enduring resilience in a tough season.

“This was perhaps the best match I’ve ever played here, the most exciting,” Novak said in French, emphasizing the significance of his victory.

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