Novak Djokovic Through To French Open 4th Round In 'Fun Night To Be In Paris'

Last Updated:June 01, 2025, 08:11 IST

Novak Djokovic advanced to the last 16 at Roland Garros, saying he could hear PSG scorig goals in the UEFA Champions League final.

Novak Djokovic at the French Open (AP)

Novak Djokovic comfortably progressed to the last 16 at Roland Garros on Saturday, defeating Filip Misolic. Despite the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s straightforward victory, the Champions League final proved a significant distraction for the Parisian crowd.

The three-time French Open champion needed just over two hours to dispatch his 153rd-ranked Austrian opponent, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, in the evening session on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Djokovic had earlier jokingly mentioned that playing the late match on centre court would prevent him from watching Paris Saint-Germain play Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich.

A keen football fan, Djokovic missed most of PSG’s 5-0 victory over Inter. However, he noted that the final’s impact was palpable on the Parisian court.

“I don’t know if it was good for me to get this scheduled slot because the crowd was really following the football game," said Djokovic. “I could hear them celebrating PSG’s goals. I thought, ‘Wow, there are a lot of goals from Paris.'"

Djokovic added, “Now I heard it’s 5-0, quite a result," acknowledging his support for Inter Milan.

He also quipped about the difficulty of getting home from Roland Garros as Paris prepared to celebrate a potential Champions League title. “It’s going to be quite an adventure," he joked. “I think we are in for a long celebration and probably not much sleep tonight. It’s a fun night to be in Paris!"

Despite the umpire’s attempts to keep the spectators engaged in the match, Djokovic maintained his focus on his quest for a record 25th major title. “Nine out of nine sets won in the tournament. Again, tonight, solid when I needed to be," he said.

Djokovic commended Misolic for his spirited performance. “Credit to Filip for really coming up with some great points and shots," he said. “I think there’s always something to improve, but overall, I’m pleased with the level of tennis so far."

Djokovic, 38, faced only one break point, which he saved, while hitting 33 winners and only 14 unforced errors.

The sixth seed will play 81st-ranked Cameron Norrie for a place in the quarter-finals after Norrie eliminated his compatriot Jacob Fearnley. Djokovic recently defeated Norrie in straight sets in Geneva en route to securing his 100th ATP title, extending his unbeaten record against Norrie to five wins.

(With inputs from AFP)

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov...Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov...

Read More

Watch CNN-News18 here. News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location :

Paris, France

First Published:

News sports Novak Djokovic Through To French Open 4th Round In 'Fun Night To Be In Paris'