He did, however, lead 4-1 in the third when play was stopped.
Advertisement
He and Bautista Agut did eventually achieve the first, at well after midday, but even allowing for the heavy conditions, Djokovic should have been confident.
But instead Court Philippe Chatrier was barely a third full when the players walked out, which perhaps contributed to Gasquet’s slow start.
“The conditions were not playable yesterday”.
“I didn’t think I was going to win that but somehow I did”.
“It was a great mental test for all of us”. It was tough. I played a good match today when I was on the court, a good match.
The weather is not expected to improve In Paris and French Open organizers have announced that the two first men’s quarterfinals scheduled Tuesday have been postponed.
Had it hit the nearby line judge, Djokovic would have been disqualified. I am 100% against it and I have completely different views and values.’ He thinks about the people that really suffer a lot: ‘ Can you imagine me speaking about money right now, while the average salary in Serbia is 200-300€?
“All these small details can actually help a lot in the judgment of the actual court”. This year, the amount soared to $2.2m. He long passed the threshold, mind you, when taking into consideration overall earnings.
Aside from the loss through injury of two of tennis’s most bankable stars, Federer and Rafael Nadal-and all but one of the 26 French men and women in the draws out before the fourth round-he has found himself defending decisions about the development of Roland Garros that have been outside his influence.
Following an initial break in play due to the adverse conditions in Paris on Tuesday, Djokovic came from behind to hold a 3-6 6-4 4-1 advantage before the action was cancelled for the remainder of the day.
Murray sent packing the last Frenchman in singles, Richard Gasquet, 5-7 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 6-2.
But having lost the first set 6-3, he would have been relieved to leave behind the ghostly show court where just a smattering of spectators, huddled beneath umbrellas, braved the miserable chill.
He finally converted a break point at his eighth attempt to lead 5-3, levelling the match with a backhand victor. He had beaten the late-maturing 28-year-old in all four previous matches, and in Madrid only last month, the Spaniard picked up just three games. Not that Murray, much more aggressive in the third and fourth, minded. “I have never seen such a slow court”.
He does not have a problem with that and is hoping to find his best form, saying: ” I’m in the quarter-finals and I dropped one set. “That’s when it’s complicated”. The Swiss beat Albert Ramos (Spain) 6-2 6-1 7-6(7).
Serena is looking to equal Steffi Graf’s modern era record (since 1968) of 22 Grand Slam titles set in Paris in 1999.
But Rogers, unseeded, must first get the better of No. 4 Garbine Muguruza of Spain, who is determined to reach the last four after losing in the quarterfinals for the past two years.
“She’s unbelievable”, said Williams of her opponent.
Defending women’s champion Serena Williams also advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and, like Djokovic, will have to play four matches in a row should she reach the final. The No. 1-seeded American’s strokes were off, her range was wrong, to the tune of mistake after mistake after mistake.
Bertens increased her winning streak to 11 matches – including qualifying victories.
Advertisement
Play is again being delayed at the French Open.
