Novak Djokovic wins five-set French Open thriller despite knee injury

ROLAND GARROS — Novak Djokovic fumed at tournament officials over the state of Court Philippe Chatrier but somehow overcame a knee injury to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open.

Djokovic, 37, beat Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 despite seemingly twisting his right knee in the second set and immediately telling officials: “I screwed my knee, I’m slipping and sliding all the time.”

He had already complained to umpire Aurelie Tourte, sarcastically ended the exchange by telling her “you guys know better than us!”.

And after suffering the injury, Djokovic then told tournament supervisor Wayne McKewen it was “completely ridiculous” that he was refusing to heed his pleas to rake the court more regularly.

The 37-year-old took a medical time-out in the second set to receive treatment on his right knee and was given pills to deal with the pain on multiple occasions.

And they appeared to work as he rallied to win after four hours and 39 minutes, the longest match of his storied Roland Garros career by just two minutes.

Afterwards, he told the crowd: “The victory is your victory.”

More to follow…