Djokovic v Zverev live: French Open quarter-final scores and updates – UK Times

Zverev lands a wonderful backhand down the line on 15-15, with Djokovic stumbling slightly on the baseline.

Djokovic looks to jump on the second serve but gets his timing wrong. Zverev holds.

Djokovic is well on top in the rallies and Zverev’s forehand has creaked in a few of the crosscourt exchanges.

Just as Djokovic feels he’s getting his teeth into a service game, Zverev replies with a big serve and volley winner on 30-30. On game point, Zverev thunders another big serve and Djokovic can’t keep the return in play.

Djokovic pulls Zverev in with a drop shot and the German doesn’t do enough on the short ball. Djokovic finds the backhand winner.

A better game for the Serbian. He holds to 15.

A dominant server like Zverev will usually convert a break of serve if he gets ahead in a set. He has made a very good start and holds as Djokovic nets on the forehand.

Djokovic cracks two winners but is made to look at 30-30 on serve, and is left with a long delay between serves on a pressure point due to some noise in the crowd.

He pushes a forehand long and will face to face a break point in the opening game. Zverev catches the baseline and Djokovic goes long as he stretches for his backhand!

Advantage to Zverev early on.

Djokovic takes a few extra serves before ending his warm-up. The three-time French Open champion will serve first to begin this quarter-final.

Novak Djokovic lifts his left arm as he walks out on Court Philippe-Chatrier for his NINETEENTH French Open quarter-final. That he is only bidding for a fourth Roland Garros title is down to Rafael Nadal, the King of Clay.

Speaking of, Zverev and Djokovic are part of the same club as two of the three men to have beaten Nadal here. Zverev did so in the first round of Roland Garros, Djokovic in the second round of the Olympics.

When Novak Djokovic last played Alexander Zverev he ended up retiring from their Australian Open semi-final to a chorus of boos from sections of the Rod Laver Arena crowd.

Djokovic shook hands with Zverev upon losing the first-set tiebreak after struggling with a torn muscle in his upper left leg, sustained in his quarter-final comeback over Carlos Alcaraz.

There were a few jeers from the crowd as the match ended far earlier than expected and Djokovic, who was bidding to become the oldest grand slam champion of all time in Melbourne, held his thumbs up as he departed the court.

Zverev called for “respect” to be shown to the 10-time champion.

Alexander Zverev said he has the toughest draw in the French Open, with the third seed’s path to the trophy blocked by Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and then either Carlos Alcaraz or Lorenzo Musetti.

“For me, Carlos is the favourite,” Zverev said on Monday. “I have said that before. Then I would say the next three in line are Jannik, myself, and Novak, right? I still believe that.

“I still believe on tennis and on experience Novak is up there with us, no question about that at all. So, yeah, I think from now on I have the toughest draw in the tournament.

“I’m looking forward to the battles ahead, and I’m looking forward to playing the best in the world.”