Novak Djokovic won a marathon French Open match that ended early Sunday morning, while Iga Swiatek triumphed anew to reach the quarterfinals.
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DJOKOVIC WINS MARATHON FRENCH OPEN MATCH OVER MUSETTI
Djokovic won his marathon French Open match over Lorenzo Musetti, 7-5, 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, that lasted for four-and-a-half hours.
The world No.1 mustered enough service returns and close-to-baseline attacks to outlast the 22-year-old Musetti in a third-round match that ended after 3 am on Sunday.
Tournament organizers moved an additional match into the Court Philippe Chatrier ahead of the Djokovic-Musetti match.
This dragged the match’s start time.
“I think some things could have been handled in different way, but there’s beauty as well,” the Serbian superstar said.
“I guess winning the match as well at 3:30 am if it’s the last one of the tournament, but it’s not,” he added.
SWIATEK TRIUMPHS, BEATS RUSSIAN FOE TO REACH QUARTERFINALS
Furthermore, Swiatek swept past Russian Anastasia Potapova, 6-0, 6-0, in a match that lasted for just 40 minutes.
Additionally, the women’s world No.1 gave up only 10 points as she took full control of the match.
“I was just really focused and in the zone. It went pretty quickly, pretty weird,” Swiatek said.
Swiatek, interestingly, became the first woman player to win a fourth-round match or later at the French Open without dropping a game.
Ana Ivanovic was the last one to do it in 2008, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff also breezed past her fourth-round match by defeating Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 6-1, 6-2.
GAUFF SAYS LATE MATCHES ARE ‘NOT HEALTHY’ AT ROLAND GARROS
Gauff, meanwhile, described late matches such as the Djokovic-Musetti faceoff as “not healthy” for the players.
The American felt the practice was unfair to players who “have to play late.”
“I definitely think it’s not healthy. It may not be fair for those who have to play late because it does ruin your schedule,” Gaudd said.
“I’ve been lucky I haven’t been put in a super-late finish yet,” she added.
Djokovic’s match against Musetti started at 10:37 pm on Saturday and ended at 3:07 am on Sunday.
“What can be done? I know on the tour side they’re thinking about putting matches can’t start after a certain time,” Gauff said.
