(SATSports) – The world number 1 found himself in trouble as he struggled to find form in the first 2 sets, losing 6/7 (9), 6/7(2) before making a comeback, winning the next two sets 6/1 6/0 before the Italian teenager retired from the match hurt, while leading 0/4 in the final set.
Novak Djokovic survived a huge upset from teenage sensation,Lorenzo Musetti to reach the French Open quarter finals for the 15th time in his career on Monday afternoon.
Musetti, playing in his first ATP major, seemed to be built for the big stage as he played brilliantly to take the first set tie breaker, despite trailing 3-1 earlier in the set. The 19 year oldwould go on to produce some of the finest tennis we’ve seen all week to take a 2-0 sets lead over the top seeded player.
However, Djokovic levelled up his game to take a 3-1 lead in the third set, which he went on to win 6/1 in less than half an hour to send the match into a fourth set.
The 18 time grand slam winner showed his class as he cruised past the teenager to take the fourth set 6-0 and force a decider.
The high level of tennis that Musetti put up in the first two sets seemed to have taken a toll on him as Djokovic completely dominated proceedings in the deciding set, leading 4-0 before the 76th ranked player retired from the match, seemingly hurt.
The Serbian will go on to face another Italian in world number 9, Matteo Berrettini, who made the last eight after Roger Federer’s withdrawal from the tournament on Sunday. The two have only met once at the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals, which Djokovic won comfortably, however this is a different surface as to their last meeting.
(Report Written and Compiled by Takudzwa Alufeyo)
