Novak Djokovic’s quest for a 23rd Grand Slam title continues after a tough 7-6(4) 7-6(5) 6-2 win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
The Serb won an epic straight sets match which lasted just over three hours and 35 minutes.
Djokovic overcame a physical first two sets which lasted two hours and 47 minutes before racing through the third set.
Next for Djokovic is Juan Pablo Varillas as the Peruvian defeated Hubert Hurkacz in five sets.
The opening two sets saw a battle take shape as both players grinded away from the baseline.
Davidovich Fokina’s clean hitting from the baseline earned him the first break for a 3-2 lead before Djokovic retaliated as he converted his third break point of the game.
There was a mix of long rallies and entertaining shot-making as Davidovich Fokina forced Djokovic into uncomfortable positions on the court.
The Spaniard’s all-court game earned him another break as Djokovic was making too many mistakes in big points.
However Davidovich Fokina once again fell short in the longer rallies when it really mattered as the pressure got to the Spaniard as Davidovich Fokina couldn’t close out the opening set.
Djokovic’s experience paid off as he forced a tiebreak and played his best tennis when it mattered the most as he won seven of the eleven points on offer to take the opening set in 85 minutes.
If that opening set wasn’t brutal enough, the second set was another war of attrition as both competitors pushed each other to its limits.
Djokovic couldn’t convert three break points in the opening game and was ultimately punished as Davidovich Fokina’s consistent all-court game saw him take a 2-0 lead.
Once again the Spaniard couldn’t keep his lead as Djokovic played his best tennis when behind in the score as the Serb took a 3-2 lead.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion was a break twice before Davidovich Fokina played aggressive return games to recover the break back on both occasions.
Another physical set of tennis would be decided by a tiebreak, which Davidovich Fokina originally had control of.
In the end Djokovic won the last three points to pump up the Philippe-Chatrier crowd, ending another 85 minute set.
From then on it was all Djokovic’s as the third set lacked intensity and saw Djokovic storm to victory.
After the match Djokovic told the Parisian crowd that he knew it was going to be a physical match, “I knew it was going to be a difficult match, a physical match,” Djokovic was quoted by the BBC as saying.
“He competed very well, he’s an amazing fighter and an amazing player. There are not many weaknesses in his game and he played a great match. A win is a win. I thought if I lost the second set we would probably play five hours today.
“You have to be ready, that is what Grand Slam tennis is all about. It takes a lot of effort but you have to believe in yourself. I am proud of the performance today for sure.
“Three hours for two sets is obviously a lot. It required a lot of energy and my priority now is to recover. Tomorrow I will have a day off and I’ll be ready to play again.”
Djokovic will now prepare for his last 16 match against Juan Pablo Varillas on Sunday with a spot in the quarter-finals on the line.
