World number three tennis player Novak Djokovic has broken the record for reaching most quarter-finals in the history of French Open. The 36-year-old Serb beat Peruvian tennis player Juan Pablo Varillas 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 57 minutes to reach his 17th Roland Garros quarter-final on June 4.
The 14-time champion Nadal, who held the previous record with 16 French Open quarter-finals, has just undergone psoas surgery. He revealed the usual recovery time for psoas surgery is five months, and Djokovic spoke of how he hoped to see ‘one of the greatest legends of tennis’ return healthy for a potential last season in 2024. Full of well wishes for his great rival, the Serb also shared that he was focussing on his next match against Karen Khachanov as he attempts to become the first 23-time males’ singles Grand Slam champion.
While many are astonished that Djokovic has reached more quarter-finals of Roland Garros, where Nadal has been so dominant, it is also a fact that Nadal has reached more quarter-finals of the Australian Open, where Djokovic has been champion 10 times.
