The remaining quarterfinal spots at Roland Garros will be handed out on Monday, when Novak Djokovic gets right back in action against Francisco Cerundolo. Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz are also part of the schedule.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (23) Francisco Cerundolo
Djokovic was one set away from bowing out of the French Open in the third round on Saturday night–or more like Sunday morning. However, the 37-year-old Serb came up with his best tennis of what has been an otherwise lackluster season to defeat Lorenzo Musetti 7-5, 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a four-hour and 29-minute match that ended at 3:06 am. Djokovic’s bid for a fourth Roland Garros title also includes much more routine victories over Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Roberto Carballes Baena.
Up next for the world No. 1 on Monday afternoon is a first-ever meeting with Cerundolo. The world No. 27 has now reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam twice in his career; unsurprisingly, both have come on the red clay of Paris (also in 2023). Cerundolo’s 2024 campaign has been mediocre at best, but he is turning things around with wins over Yannick Hanfmann, Filip Misolic, and Tommy Paul. Unfortunately for the Argentine, he has to go up against a reinvigorated Djokovic instead of Musetti. Although a 3:00 am finish certainly doesn’t help Djokovic, he should have more than enough in the tank to handle Cerundolo.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
(12) Taylor Fritz vs. (7) Casper Ruud
Surprisingly, Ruud and Fritz will be going head-to-head for just the second time in their careers on Monday. Their only previous encounter did not disappoint; it went the distance at the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals, with Ruud prevailing 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6). A move from indoor hard courts to clay obviously gives the seventh-ranked Norwegian more of an advantage. He has finished runner-up at Roland Garros on back-to-back occasions and his 2024 clay-court swing features a title in Barcelona and a final appearance in Monte-Carlo. So far this fortnight Ruud has ousted Felipe Meligeni Alves, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (in five sets), and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Fritz is enjoying by far his best-ever spring on the slow stuff. The 12th-ranked American reached the Munich final, the Madrid semis, and the Rome quarters. Now he is through to the last 16 in Paris following defeats of Federico Coria, Dusan Lajovic, and Thanasi Kokkinakis. But it hasn’t been easy. Fritz needed four sets in each of his first two rounds before outlasting Kokkinakis 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(4), 5-7, 6-3 late on Saturday night. Fritz’s movement on this surface has been decent but never great; now he has to make a quick turnaround on the heels of a five-setter while facing one of the best clay-courters in the world. It could be too tough of a task.
Pick: Ruud in 4
That’s bullshit-he beat Zverev in Madrid at high altitude and Ruud 2 from 2 on clay. He was a great chance.
doubt it. but we’ll never know.
It’s not about whether we’ll know or not; it’s reasonable to presume he was a great chance had he won that match with his historical record against this opponents.
And the likely confidence he would’ve gained from winning that match.
So Novak has withdrawn from RG because of the knee. Should have stopped playing yesterday.
Yep, it’s Cerundolo I feel sorry for.
Does that make Jannik the #1? If so, very many congrats to him.
Yes it does, and he gave a lovely on court interview with Fabrice.
Cocoa gave a brilliant on court interview too.
I missed it unfortunately as Fabrice is great. I heard Coco also gave a great interview. Would be good if she could reach her first RG final but very unlikely she beats Iga. Would be different if Iga had to play Ryba.
Am rooting for Ryba to make final and win as she is one of my faves.
Think Ryba has more chance at Wimbledon, as she showed last year.
Ryba beat Iga in straights in Stuttgart and also beat her last year in Rome. She is 2-0 on clay against Iga.
Should have beaten Saba in Madrid really.
She may be better on grass but definitely can play on clay.
I see someone was arrested for chucking a milkshake at Farage. Should have been congratulated.
Hope someone chucks one over Starker.