French Open: Emotional Novak Djokovic beats Berrettini just before midnight
Novak Djokovic has reached the semi-finals at the French Open 2021. Shortly before midnight he beat the Italian Matteo Berrettini 6: 3, 6: 2, 6: 7 (5) and 7: 5.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jun 09, 2021, 11:58 pm
Djokovic actually had the business under control: won the first, qualitative round 6: 3, the second 6: 2 thanks to a certain playfulness and haphazardness of his opponent. And in the third? He led in the tiebreak 5: 4 and had two serves of his own.
And then? A free forehand landed in the net, then a free backhand one floor below. And Berrettini: I couldn't take this opportunity to get there.
In the fourth movement, the "Curfew" came into effect early in Paris, shortly before 11 p.m. the rest of the audience had to leave the Court Philippe-Chatrier, Djokovic and Berrettini trotted into the catacombs. After resumption and at 3: 2, a small moment of shock for the Djoker when he flew over and scraped his left hand.
Djokovic highly emotional at the end of the match
At 6: 5 for Djokovic the decision: Berrettini spoiled, Djokovic stayed tuned. Berrettini fended off two match balls, some spectacularly, after the second Djokovic stepped furiously into the gang. With the third, a slice got stuck in the net - and Djokovic let his tension run free with loud screams.
"It was a strange situation: first the audience was there, then they had to go out," declared Djokovic calmly again just seconds later. "It was a special match for both of us."
Djokovic will meet Rafael Nadal in a repeat of last year's final on Friday - this time in the round of the last four. In the 2020 final, Nadal won 6-0, 6-2 and 7-5. The balance between Nadal and Djokovic in Paris: 7: 1 for the Spaniard. Djokovic only won in 2015, but against a Nadal who was not in top form.
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