Djokovic rallies to reach Paris semis
NOVAK Djokovic set up a semi-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas at the French Open as he came from behind to defeat Pablo CarrenoBusta in four sets.
Djokovic had tape on his neck and looked to be having some issues with his left arm while losing the opening set, the first that he has dropped at this year’s tournament in Paris.
But the world number one appeared less troubled thereafter as he fought back to get past CarrenoBusta 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-4 in a high-quality contest lasting three hours and 10 minutes.
The Spaniard was Djokovic’s opponent when he was sensationally disqualified from the US Open last month after hitting a ball in frustration that struck a line judge.
That is the only match in 37 this year that has not ended in victory for the Serbian 17-time grand slam winner, who is aiming at Roland Garros to add to his 2016 triumph, his sole French Open title to date.
Tsitsipas earlier roared into the last four with a three-set demolition of Andrey Rublev.
Russian Rublev, the 13th seed, was seemingly in control during the opening set, leading 5-3 with Tsitsipas serving to stay in it.
Four games later Rublev had lost the set, and barely over an hour later he had lost the match, winning only five more games as he was sent packing.
What looked on paper another potential five-setter turned into a 7-5 6-2 6-3 procession for the Greek fifth seed.
The other last-four clash is between Rafael Nadal and Diego Schwartzman.
And Petra Kvitova is closing in on an emotional maiden French Open triumph after reaching her first semi-final in eight years.
The two-time Wimbledon champ swept aside unseeded Laura Siegemund 6-3 6-3 in an hour and 20 minutes.
Kvitova, 30, is keeping her head while all around are losing theirs in a
tournament which has seen seed after seed fall by the wayside.
Back at the scene of her comeback, three years ago, from the horrific knife attack which left her fighting for her career, Kvitova is now two wins from a first grand slam title since 2014.
Kvitova will face Sofia Kenin, who kept up her bid for an Australian and French Open double by winning the all-american clash with Danielle Collins.