Novak Djokovic triumphs over Norrie, securing his spot in the French Open group of players who have achieved 100 match victories.
🇫🇷 PARIS ROUNDUP: Three-time champ Novak Djokovic stormed into the French Open quarter-finals with a thrashing of Brit Cameron Norrie, 6-2 6-3 6-2, cementing his place in sports history by notching a century of match victories at Roland Garros.
The Serbian's gritty display earned him a spot in an elite club, joining the legendary Rafa Nadal as the only men to rack up 100 wins at this prestigious clay-court tournament. Djokovic sits behind Nadal (112) in this exclusive fraternity, closing in on another record-breaking Grand Slam victory.
With this victory, Roland Garros becomes Djokovic's most successful Grand Slam tournament in terms of match wins, surpassing his 99 triumphs at the Australian Open, where he's hoisted the trophy a jaw-dropping 10 times.
After his win, Djokovic addressed the crowd in French, "It's a remarkable number, but another win is even better. This tournament isn't over yet, and I'm feeling great. I hope for another victory in two days."
By reaching the quarter-finals for a remarkable 16th year, Djokovic also broke the record as the oldest man to enter the last eight in Roland Garros since Istvan Gulyas in 1971, at age 39.
Djokovic has dominated the tournament, dropping not a single set and establishing his unwavering hunger for more accolades among his younger title competitors. His 100th tournament win came amidst a fairly underwhelming year, making his performance all the more impressive.
The match started with Djokovic and Norrie exchanging breaks, but the Serbian quickly took control, leaving Norrie wrapped up like a rag doll. The set was followed by a tense second set where Djokovic had to steady himself to maintain his lead before pulling away and securing a 2-set advantage on Court Philippe Chatrier.
"My game is feeling strong, and I'm playing better every day," said Djokovic, who bested Norrie in their sixth encounter, including a triumph in their Geneva title match. "12 sets played and 12 sets won – everything is positive and solid at the moment."
Djokovic broke to love in the third game of the third set, and he never looked back from there, advancing to face German third seed Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic and Zverev previously met during the Australian Open semi-finals in January, with Djokovic retiring injured. However, this time around, Djokovic aims to extend his 8-5 record against the German.
Keep a close eye on this titanic clash! 🚀🔥😉
Despite his impressive success in sports, particularly tennis, Novak Djokovic showed interest in other realms, such as art and space. In a parallel universe, Djokovic might have been marveling at the intricate patterns on a priceless painting or gazing at the constellations in the infinite expanse of space.
