Novak Djokovic (No. 1) found himself on the brink but managed to prevail against Lorenzo Musetti (No. 30) with an epic 7-5, 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory in over four and a half hours. The Italian displayed an exceptional level of play but couldn’t sustain it until the end, allowing the 24-time Grand Slam champion to showcase his class and secure a hard-fought win.
The match set a record as the latest finish in French Open history, ending past 3:10 am. The previous record was held by Alexander Zverev’s victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in 2021, which ended at 1:26 am local time.
The match started with high tension as Djokovic targeted Musetti’s backhand and frequently used drop shots to unsettle his opponent, securing the first break in the third game. Musetti responded aggressively with his forehand, reclaiming the break in the next game.
The set stabilized with both players holding their serves more easily and avoiding extended rallies. Despite experiencing breathing difficulties towards the end of the set, Djokovic managed to break in the 12th game, taking the set 7-5 and avoiding a tiebreak.
During the break, Djokovic quickly went to the locker room but returned not looking much improved. Nonetheless, his undeniable experience and skill allowed him to secure the first break and take a 4-1 lead. Musetti, however, maintained a high level of play and capitalized on his first break opportunity to level the score.