Novak Djokovic’s 2023 Roland Garros blueprint: Hang tough in the face of a quick start from your opponent, raise your level at key moments to assume control, and accelerate away to victory.
It was more of the same on Tuesday in Paris as the third seed braved an early barrage from Karen Khachanov before sealing an ultimately comfortable 4-6, 7-6(0), 6-2, 6-4 quarter-final triumph at the clay-court major. Djokovic did not earn a break point in the opening two sets but raised his level spectacularly from the second-set tie-break onwards on Court Philippe-Chatrier to seal a three-hour, 38-minute win.
The victory was another demonstration of Djokovic’s ability to stay the course in best-of-five matches. He was taken to early tie-breaks by both Marton Fucsovics in the second round and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round before prevailing in straight sets, and he saved his best tennis for the latter stages again on Tuesday against Khachanov.
Djokovic dialled in behind his groundstrokes and frequently deployed his drop shot, which became increasingly effective at nullifying Khachanov’s power. The two-time Roland Garros champion converted four of his eight break points across the third and fourth sets, and finished the match having outhit his 11th-seeded opponent by 57 winners to 38 overall.
Djokovic’s opponent in the final four will be Carlos Alcaraz or fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Serbian can replace Alcaraz as No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings by lifting a record 23rd major title this fortnight in Paris.
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