Did Djokovic Just Achieve His 100th Win at the French Open?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Novak Djokovic achieves 100 career wins at Roland Garros.
- He defeated Cameron Norrie in straight sets.
- This marks his 16th consecutive year reaching the quarterfinals.
- Djokovic's record at the event is now 100-16.
- He will face Alexander Zverev next.
Paris, June 2 (NationPress) Novak Djokovic made history on Monday by becoming only the second player ever to reach 100 career wins at Roland Garros. The 38-year-old Serbian showcased his prowess by defeating Cameron Norrie of Britain in a commanding performance, winning 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, and securing his place in the quarterfinals for an unprecedented 16th consecutive year at this prestigious clay-court tournament.
“It’s a very pretty number, but 101 victories sounds better,” Djokovic humorously remarked post-match. “I will keep striving for another victory; my journey here is far from over. I feel privileged to create history in a sport that has given me everything.”
With this latest win, the three-time French Open champion joins Rafael Nadal as only the second player to amass 100 victories at the event, with Nadal holding the record at 112 wins. Djokovic now boasts a remarkable win-loss record of 100-16 at Roland Garros.
Djokovic dominated from the very first point on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Having defeated Norrie just two weeks ago while securing the title in Geneva, Djokovic expertly neutralized the Brit’s longer rallies and dictated the pace with his impeccable control. After an early exchange of breaks in the opening set, Djokovic seized momentum by winning five of the next six games.
Attempting to reach his second Grand Slam quarter-final, Norrie adopted a more aggressive approach in the second set, particularly after Djokovic made some uncharacteristic mistakes. However, Djokovic quickly reasserted control, demonstrating his signature depth and variety. Norrie’s medical timeout for an apparent ankle issue while trailing 3-4 further swung the momentum in Djokovic’s favor.
Completing the match in just two hours and 14 minutes, Djokovic became the oldest men's singles quarterfinalist at Roland Garros since Istvan Gulyas in 1971. “I feel great. I always set high expectations,” Djokovic stated. “So far, it’s 12 sets played, 12 sets won; everything has been positive and solid.”
Next up for Djokovic is a showdown with the third seed and 2023 finalist Alexander Zverev in what promises to be a thrilling quarter-final. Djokovic leads their head-to-head record 8-5, although their last encounter ended with Djokovic retiring during the Australian Open semi-final earlier this year.