He said: “After the second set I started thinking about it. At the beginning I just focused on my performance”.
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Richard Gasquet, who plays fifth seed Kei Nishikori in the third round today, is the last remaining Frenchman in the draw. “I know if I play well anything can happen”.
The two had been due to meet in the semifinals in what would have been a huge test for Djokovic, who is out to become just the eighth man to have won all four Grand Slam titles, the last being Nadal in 2010.
But in saying that, Djokovic is one of only two men (the other being Robin Soderling) to ever defeat the Spaniard on the Parisian red clay, and the only man to do so in straight sets, in the quarter-finals a year ago.
Bedene had two chances to take the fourth into a tie-break but could not take them and there was then a long break while Carreno Busta received treatment to his left thigh. Bedene said. “You shouldn’t have any sloppy games”.
The Serb was never in danger facing Bedene but had to race through the points to win 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 before the light made the courts unplayable.
The historical achievement will also mean that he completes a “NovakSlam” which is a non-Calendar Year Grand Slam by winning all four majors in a row and it also means that Djokovic is on course to complete the Calendar Golden Slam if he retains Wimbledon and the US Open and wins the Olympic Gold Medal. “But again, we keep on going, and I’m still in and I’m just hoping it’s going to go well for me”.
Amidst talk that the pressure of trying to win this slam is making Djokovic stressed, he looked to be fairly in control, and certainly a lot less grumpy than he has seemed to be at times.
Welwyn Garden City’s Bedene, ranked 66th in the world, showed few signs of nerves in the opening points on the Philippe Chatrier court, especially when fending off two break point opportunities for Djokovic in the second game. But he can go out there and have a clear game plan and go for it, not hold back at all.
But Djokovic returned to form to smash an ace before his opponent sent a forehand wide to hand him the set.
“After second set I started thinking about it, honestly”, Djokovic said.
Former French Open runner-up David Ferrer advanced to the fourth round for a sixth consecutive year.
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Gulbis will play 12th seed David Goffin, who came through a five-setter against Nicolas Almagro 6-2 4-6 6-3 4-6 6-2.
