World number one Novak Djokovic has progressed into the quarter-finals of the ongoing French Open after overcoming a stern test from Lorenzo Musetti.
The world No 1 had wrestled the fourth-round match back from two sets down, before the Italian teenager was forced to retire late in the fifth set.
The contest ended when Djokovic was just two games away from victory at 6-7 (9-7) 6-7 (7-2) 6-1 6-0 4-0.
Musetti, who is ranked 76 in the world and playing in his first French Open, had produced inspired tennis for the first two sets before struggling physically as the match progressed.
He took a medical timeout prior to the fifth set and after conceding the contest, he left the court looking incredibly disappointed.
Matteo Berrettini will be Djokovic’s quarter-final opponent, after he was the beneficiary of Roger Federer’s withdrawal from the competition.
Rafael Nadal will take to Court Philippe Chatrier a little later on Monday afternoon and face another Italian teenager, Jannik Sinner.
Meanwhile, American female tennis star, Serena Williams’ wait for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title goes on after the American was beaten 6-3 7-5 by an inspired Elena Rybakina in the fourth round.
Williams, whose last Grand Slam title came in 2017 at the Australian Open, was unable to find her A game, although she remained philosophical in defeat saying that her expectations coming into the tournament had not been high.
Credit : Skysports
