2023-11-03 01:17:13
Novak Djokovic did it again. In the round of 16 of Paris-Bercy he faced the Dutchman Griekspoor and was having a very tough match that seemed to turn around. He started the Serbian as a shot, impeccable, but fell apart in the first set. In the second he saved break points at 4-4, against the ropes, forced the tiebreaker and emerged victorious, and when it seemed that he was already going for victory with a break in his favor in the final set, his rival’s reaction came, that tied the match, 4-4, and this happened:
The public whistled for the world number one and he did not hold back, he accepted the challenge, he challenged the fans by telling them to continue, as if memorizing the words that would come later: “You are doing me a favor. The more you turn against me, it is better for me. It gives me more motivation. They awaken something in me that maybe they don’t want to see: a winner.” The reaction was immediate: Djokovic did not lose another point, he added eight in a row and thus closed the victory 4-6, 7-6 (7/2) and 6-4.
Nole survives in a tournament in which the world number two, Carlos Alcaraz, is no longer present; nor the three, Daniil Medvedev, both eliminated, the Russian in a match against Dimitrov in which he also had trouble with the public. The fourth in the ranking, Jannik Sinner, is also out, since he has withdrawn after the second round match ended on Thursday at 2:37 in the morning and they gave him the round of 16 on the same Thursday at 5:00 p.m.: 00, a nonsense of the organization. He threatened not to play and he did it.
Stomach problems
Djokovic revealed that the slump he suffered during the match against Griekspoor was not a coincidence and that he has had stomach problems for a few days, but like so many other times he always finds a way to win. In the quarterfinals he will face Holger Rune (7:30 p.m., Movistar), the Dane from Alcaraz’s generation (both were born in 2003 just a few days apart) who managed to defeat him in the final last season. The day begins with Hurkacz – Dimitrov (2:00 p.m.), followed by Tsitsipas – Khachanov. The Greek, by the way, has certified his presence in the ATP Finals, and joins Djokovic, Alcaraz, Medvedev, Sinner and Rublev as Master. There are two places left.
After the match between Nole and Rune, Rublev against De Miñaur closes the quarterfinals.
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