Novak Djokovic took control of Wednesday night’s French Open quarterfinal match against Alexander Zverev in the second and third sets, after which he closed the deal by surviving a pair of key moments in the fourth.
Facing break point at 3-2, 30-40, Djokovic won the longest rally of the match–a grueling 41-shot exchange. The 38-year-old Serb would end up holding four points later.
In fact, Djokovic did not get broken a single time after the opening set. Zverev came somewhat close in the very last game, saving four match points and getting to deuce on three occasions. Finally, though, Djokovic converted his fifth opportunity.
“Especially during the last game, my tactic was just to play drop-shots,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion explained. “So I played three or four in a row…. Maybe you can’t see it on TV, but there [was] a lot of wind from one side, so it gives the sensation that you must hit twice as hard. It was important to vary the game.”
Djokovic prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 after three hours and 17 minutes. He will go up against Jannik Sinner in the semifinals on Friday.
nice one, Djoker