Paris, June 1: The three-time Roland-Garros champion scored the 99th win of his career on the Paris clay after beating Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to enter the fourth round of the French Open.
Fresh off his 100th tour level singles title in Geneva just prior to Roland Garros, Djokovic is now eyeing the milestone of 100 match wins at a single tournament for the first time — a mark he can achieve if he defeats former top 10 player Cameron Norrie on Monday.
“Ninety-nine is good but 100 is better. I hope I’ll get more. I’m in a time in my career, in my life, when I feel very privileged because every time I step out on court I’m playing for the history books. It’s incredible,” Djokovic talked about the possibility of reaching a century of wins on Monday.
The only player to have earned more wins at Roland-Garros than Djokovic is 14-time champion Rafael Nadal, who owns a 112-4 record, and the Serb has not lost before the quarterfinals in Paris since 2009.
The Serb faced just one break point against the 23-year-old qualifier ranked No.153, who had previously upset 27th seed Denis Shapovalov en route to his first-ever Grand Slam third round at just his second major. The result allowed Djokovic to match a personal best: he also has 99 career match wins at the Australian Open, where he is a record 10-time champion.
“It was the first night session this year for me. Night sessions are different. Waiting all day to play isn’t easy because there’s the anticipation, you’re very tense, you have to prepare for the match. Last year I played a few night sessions – one incredible one against Lorenzo Musetti that finished at 3am.
Tonight I was just hoping it wouldn’t finish after 3am! There are always a lot of expectations but I think I played solidly in the right moments over three sets,” said Djokovic.With his trademark composure and surgical precision, Novak Djokovic once again reaffirmed why he remains a towering presence in the tennis world. Now just one step away from joining the exclusive “100 Club” at a single Grand Slam — a feat only a select few have ever approached — the Serbian maestro is not merely chasing wins but carving his name deeper into tennis folklore. His march toward a century of victories at Roland-Garros is more than a statistic; it’s a testament to two decades of relentless excellence, reinvention, and resilience.
As he prepares to face Cameron Norrie in the fourth round, Djokovic carries not just the weight of history, but the aura of a man still hungry for greatness, even after so many milestones. Whether under the blazing Parisian sun or the spotlight of a night session, Djokovic continues to script moments that fans will remember long after the final point is played.
And if history is indeed his playground, then Paris may soon witness another landmark moment in the career of one of the sport’s greatest ever. (IANS)
