French Open: Novak Djokovic 'is not a human being, he becomes an ...

Published 02/06/2024 at 10:47 GMT

The Serb fell two sets to one down late into the night on Court Philppe-Chatrier as his Italian opponent launched a spirited fightback after losing a tight first set. 

However, Djokovic showed why he is still the man to beat at this year’s Roland-Garros, somehow finding his best form to clinch the fourth and fifth sets 6-3 6-0. 

It mightily impressed Wilander, himself a three-time French Open winner, who said that Djokovic roaring back was “a perfect example of what champions are able to do”. 

“All credit to Musetti, but how [Djokovic] turns around 2-6 in the third to then 6-3 and then 6-0,” Wilander explained. “I mean, it’s amazing.

"The guy is not a human being, he becomes an animal on the best courts in the world; such a perfect example of what great champions are able to do even when things are not going their way the whole time.

“It’s one of the reasons he’s still out there and still beating records, because initially he doesn’t care about records, he cares about beating Musetti only for four and a half hours until three o’clock in the morning until someone reminds him.

“‘Yes, I know I’ve broken another record’, but for him, the day-to-day business is what is so amazing and what we couldn’t do for that long. He is 37 years old, and he’s still living day to day, moment to moment. How do you do that, Novak?

“This kind of match, you’d think ‘Get out of here, Novak. Go home, you have kids at home'. But he refuses to do that.”

The top seed in the men’s draw will face Francisco Cerundolo in the last 16, after the Argentine defeated the American No. 14 seed Tommy Paul in four sets.

‘I was not feeling comfortable’ - Djokovic reflects on win over Musetti

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