NOS Sport•vandaag, 10:36
“Sure, I survived. I received the match. However can I play the subsequent one? I do not know.”
Novak Djokovic was nonetheless pumping with adrenaline late on Monday night. The Serbian defending champion had simply settled with the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in a grueling five-setter on character at Roland Garros within the fourth spherical.
Djokovic survived marathon match regardless of knee damage: ‘Can I play? No concept’
The query stays whether or not Djokovic can proceed the hunt for his twenty fifth Grand Slam title. “I do not know the severity of the damage,” he fulminated on Monday night after his marathon match. “May the damage have been prevented? Possibly, if there had been somewhat bit extra consideration to the observe.”
Djokovic performed a lot of the match on painkillers because of a knee damage. “The impact of the remedy will not final too lengthy, so we’ll see. I do not know what’s going to occur tomorrow or the day after, whether or not I will be capable to play or not.”
The quarter-final in opposition to Norwegian Casper Ruud, dropping finalist in Paris in 2022 (in opposition to Rafael Nadal) and 2023 (in opposition to Djokovic), is scheduled for Wednesday.
‘Not easy in any respect…’
At 2-1 within the fifth set in opposition to Cerundolo, Djokovic slipped in an try and play a ball and rolled over the clay, groaning. When he then grabbed a bottle of water, he gave the group from the underside of the bag. “Nicely carried out supervisor and others,” he stated sarcastically. “Not easy in any respect…”
Earlier within the match, Djokovic had already urged the match officers to comb the observe extra typically to stop slippery situations.
However the true drawback is a persistent knee damage. The ache has been bothering Djokovic for a number of weeks, he stated after the match. However issues obtained worse in the beginning of the second set.
He was handled after which given painkillers and anti-inflammatories a number of extra occasions. The utmost permitted dose, in line with the 37-year-old Serb.
“I used to be possibly three or 4 factors away from defeat,” admitted Djokovic, who ultimately received in 5 units to win his 370th match at a Grand Slam match and ebook his 59th quarter-final berth, each a report.
AFPNovak Djokovic is handled in his match in opposition to Francisco Cérundolo.
“Significantly, he is the hardest man to ever play tennis,” stated opponent Cerúndolo, who noticed his first quarter-final in a Grand Slam match go up in smoke. “He all the time finds a method to come again and play his greatest tennis in probably the most troublesome moments within the decisive section of each match.”
The Norwegian Ruud misplaced the ultimate in straight units to Djokovic final yr, however undoubtedly smells blood. Nonetheless, the Serb’s largest opponent is himself. And his infected knee.
