Novak Djokovic during his quarterfinal at Roland Garros 2020. -

Alessandra Tarantino / AP / SIPA

At Roland-Garros,

Saved by dates.

Well, not really, but they were a great comfort this Wednesday night for Novak Djokovic, manhandled for a long time by Pablo Carreno Busta in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros.

Visibly embarrassed by pain, the Serbian dragged his sentence on the court for more than an hour, before the machine started.

Helped, perhaps, by these fruits that we saw him eat regularly during side changes.

“I have been eating it for a long time,” smiled the world number 1 afterwards, finally relaxed.

Because he knows he has come a long way in this match.

Not on his plate, the Serbian gave in the first round and seemed really touched.

“I had a problem with my neck and my shoulder,” he admitted.

But I will not go into details.

I'm still in the tournament so you can't say too much.

I feel good.

The pain subsided as the game progressed.

"

Obviously favorite against Tsitsipas

Better in his body, he was finally able to raise his level from the middle of the second set, after having yielded the first under the pressure, too, of his Spanish opponent.

“I don't want to take anything away from his performance,” admitted Djoko.

For a set and a half, he mastered the game.

I had no energy.

It took me a set and a half to really feel comfortable.

In the end, we were very close and we could have won one or the other, even if I won in four sets.

"

The world number 1, who ensures that he "did not think for a second" of his disqualification during the US Open which occurred against this same opponent, will find Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-final, who will tumble in full confidence after having brought down Rublev.

“He's one of the best players in the world right now,” said the Serbian.

He's been playing the tennis of his life for the past twelve months, he's been very consistent, on all surfaces.

He's a great player, very complete.

But it will be him who will be the favorite, obviously.

Even with a slightly uncertain state of form.

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