Novak Djokovic outmuscles Seppi in five-set thriller to reach Roland Garros quarters: Tennis Special
World number one, Novak Djokovic, powered down the 22nd seeded Andreas Seppi in a five-set tipsy turvy battle at the Roland Garros 2012 on Sunday. He nudged up a 4-6, 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 victory against the Italian veteran to labour into the
final eight at this prestigious clay court tournament taking place in Paris, France.
The top seeded Djokovic was at brink of squandering his chance of winning four Grand Slam titles in a row but made a stunning comeback to stay on the right path. The contestants last fought each other at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters in April earlier this
season and after earning this success in four hours and 18 minutes, the Serb improved to an 8-0 record in the FedEx ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Head 2 Head series against Seppi.
"I think he was a better player for the first two sets, definitely," the glorious Serb stated in a post-match press conference. "I was very fortunate to come through this match. I was fighting. When I was two sets down, I believed I could win the match,
and that's the only positive I can really pick up from today's match. It was one of those days where you don't feel [like anything] is working really. My serve was well. But aside that, I could not get into the rhythm. I was fighting, and I think because of
the fight I won the match."
The world number 25, Seppi, made a sloppy start at the court Philippe Chatrier and after suffering the first blow in the second game, he fell at 0-3. However, he stayed calm and not only recovered in the fifth game but got the breakthrough in the ninth game
to click the opener with a 6-4 win.
Seppi carried his winning ways in the following set and after earning the coveted break in the fifth game, he jumped to a 4-2 lead. Apart from losing his edge in the 10th game, the Italian enforced a tie-breaker and dominated in it to formulate
a 7-6(5) success.
The Serbian number one sought his momentum in the third set and got the critical break in the opening game to take the initial lead. He lost his edge in the very next game but got the upper hand again in the fifth game. Despite levelling the scores at 3-3,
Djokovic wiped out the last three games successively and pulled out the set with a 6-3 score line.
Djokovic maintained his intensity in the fourth set and after earning the critical break in the second game, he reeled off the opening three games in a row. Regardless of losing his edge in the fifth game, the Serb stayed focused and cashed in another break
chance in the last game to register the equaliser with a 7-5 win.
The match was poised on a knife edge but the highest ranked player of the tournament held his nerves and bagged his entire serves. He got the breakthrough in the sixth game and pocketed the decider by winning six games to three.
Next in line for Djokovic is the winner of the match between the local number one Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and 18th seeded Stanislas Wawrinka. The Serb needs to reduce the number of unforced errors he commits in order to triumph over his next opponent.
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