Novak Djokovic finds the quarters – Release

2023-06-04 16:45:34

Roland-Garros 2023dossier

The Serb is only three games away from a 23rd Grand Slam, after his rouste inflicted in the round of 16 (6-3, 6-2, 6-2) from Roland against the modest Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas, 94th in the world.

He won’t have dragged. Novak Djokovic devoured his opponent of the day on Sunday June 4 in less than 2 hours (6-3, 6-2, 6-2) to find the quarter-finals at Porte d’Auteuil. A habit for the current world number 3: in 19 participations, he has climbed to this stage of the tournament 17 times.

This is not a surprise, given the standing of his opponent of the day: the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas (94th), had quite simply never won a single Grand Slam match before this 2023 edition of Roland-Garros. Above all, the Peruvian number 1 came out of three marathons won each time in five sets. No one had achieved such a feat since Gaël Monfils in 2006. Then, the Frenchman had also fallen out of breath in the eighth. Already against Djokovic.

Khachanov and quarter

Little embarrassed by the dodger on the center court, the “Djoker” started very strong, chaining four consecutive games, taking advantage of Varillas’ inexperience at this level. A fortiori impressed by the context and the challenge, the Peruvian stammered his introduction, then began to play. Too late, however, to make up for his first-run deficit.

Then Djokovic did Djokovic. An entry break to take control of the second set, before rolling out his game plan without the slightest hitch. Imperial on the raise (50% of points won in return of opposing service), unshakable in exchanges from the back of the court and on his service games, especially on his first balls (80% of points won), the Serb did not never gave Varillas the opportunity to take control in the exchange (only 15 winning moves for the Peruvian). Never the latter could even hope to glimpse a fourth round in this one-sided meeting.

For the Serb, things will get significantly more complicated from now on, with an upcoming confrontation against Russian Karen Khachanov, 11th in the world and recent semi-finalist at the Australian Open earlier this year.