Djokovic comes from a set down in a spellbinding French Open semi-final to inflict only a third ever defeat on the Parisian clay for Nadal, moving through 3-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-2 in front of raucous crowd
Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his semi-final match against Rafael Nadal on day 13 of the French Open at Stade Roland Garros, Paris, France, June 11, 2021. Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
But world number one Djokovic seized the momentum, winning the second set and then edging a pulsating 97-minute third set on a tiebreak, having saved a set point.The football-style atmosphere created by a crowd of around 5,000 inside Court Philippe Chatrier reached a crescendo towards the end of the third as the Paris Covid-19 curfew loomed.
He hung on like the true champion he is but Djokovic, looking fresh despite four hours slugging it out with the world's greatest ever clay courter, ruthlessly closed in.
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