Djokovic battles through the pain to reach last four
NOVAK Djokovic set up a semifinal 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 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 Carreno-Busta 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in a high-quality contest lasting three hours and 10 minutes.
Djokovic later said he had experienced “some neck and shoulder issues” but was “feeling OK.”
Spaniard Carreno-Busta was Djokovic’s opponent when he was dramatically 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.
Djokovic said after the match: “I definitely didn’t feel great coming into the court today. A few things happened in the warm-up. I had to deal with those physical issues coming on to the court.
“As the match went on, I felt better, didn’t feel as much pain. But I don’t want to take away anything from his good performance.
“Especially for a set and a half, he was the better player. I was very neutral.
“I didn’t have much energy really happening in my legs or movement or game itself. It took me about a set and a half to really get comfortable and start really playing the way I should.”