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Novak Djokovic thanks French Open security for saving him from PSG fan chaos

Normally after a tennis match, the winner thanks the crowd, their team and family. Instead, 24-time grand-slam winner Novak Djokovic, chose to pay tribute to the French Open security team after his straight-sets stroll past Cameron Norrie.

Djokovic has had to stay the night in temporary accommodation – notably while waiting to be deported from Australia during the coronavirus pandemic – but in Paris he was almost left searching for a new hotel in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Before knocking Britain’s Norrie out of the fourth round of Roland Garros in straight sets, Djokovic beat Filip Misolic in Philippe-Chatrier’s late evening slot on Saturday night.

That was the same night as the Champions League final in Munich, which, after Paris St-Germain’s maiden European Cup, sparked violent clashes that erupted in Paris and caused two deaths.

Flares and fireworks were set off, cars torched and hundreds arrested after the club made history in Munich. The situation on the streets affected Djokovic’s late return to his hotel – by the time he was able to leave Roland Garros, it was already after midnight.

Speaking after beating Norrie, Djokovic said: “I want to thank the chief of security, who is not here, but he was amazing with his team. At one point, it was quite – people were quite tense here, I must say, for our return to the hotel.

“They were not suggesting us at one point to go back at all, to maybe find a place to sleep somewhere around here for a night, because at that point it was already past midnight and some gas bombs and cars under fire and stuff happening on the street that was really dangerous.

“So understandably, and actually, everything around our hotel, which is close to Arc de Triomphe. So, yeah, in the end we talked. We waited for a bit, and then we decided to go.

“Then it was fine. In the end we reached the hotel all good, but it was quite noisy with a lot of things happening outside of the hotel.”

Djokovic, who later on Sunday attended a trophy ceremony at Parc des Princes, PSG’s home ground, added: “You know, of course, it’s interesting in some way to look from your window what’s happening. At some point it was getting out of hand, but it’s understandable that people are so excited.

Novak Djokovic enjoys PSG's celebrations at Parc des Princes on Sunday, after the club won the Champions League on Saturday

Novak Djokovic enjoys PSG’s celebrations at Parc des Princes on Sunday, after the club won the Champions League on Saturday - AFP via Getty Images/Franck Fife

“You know, first-time Champions League winners for this city. It’s one of the most important cities in the world. So, yeah, they are all celebrating. They still go. It’s going to be several days, I’m sure, of celebration.”

The match against Norrie was a far more straightforward affair than the journey home on Saturday night, Djokovic was untroubled as he eased to win 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

While Jack Draper and Alexander Bublik put on a power-hitting masterclass, the encounter between Norrie and Djokovic was a game of attrition and extended rallies.

Djokovic shrugged off his 38 years to reach the quarter-finals and become the oldest player to do so in the men’s draw for half a century, and claim his 100th win at Roland Garros.

In his first quarter-final at the French Open, Norrie needed a medical timeout in the second set for a foot problem, but he denied it affected his tennis, although he faded in the third and was unable to recover.

Cameron Norrie receives medical attention after sustaining an injury during his fourth round match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic

Cameron Norrie took a medical timeout in the second set for an ankle issue - Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes

The contest itself was at times closer than the scoreline suggests. At one point in the second set, with the score poised at three games apiece, three-time Roland Garros winner Djokovic needed six game points in order to hold, having been broken in the first game.

But as he has done so often in the last few years, when it mattered, Djokovic delivered. There were glimpses of some of his best tennis, swerving down the line passing shots and he looked almost infallible when he came to the net, but he did not need to produce his best to beat 29-year-old Norrie.

As both players employed their drop shots all too frequently – Djokovic used his 18 times in the match – it was the experienced Serb who benefited.

Djokovic was never really under pressure at any point, only having to hit 26 winners, and only six passing shots, while making fewer unforced errors, 28 to 32 when compared to Norrie.

In the previous round, Norrie only needed three sets to come through a battle of the Britons against Jacob Fearnley, to become one of two British players in the fourth round for the first time since 1963.

Unheralded Frenchwoman makes Roland Garros history two months after ‘smelly’ jibe

Until this week, Lois Boisson was probably best known for the weird incident in Rouen where British No 5 Harriet Dart accused her of smelling “really bad”.

But Boisson has moved beyond that awkward moment – which she laughed off with a humorous post on social media – by setting records at the French Open.

On Monday afternoon, her victory over third seed Jessica Pegula on Court Philippe-Chatrier drew arguably the loudest roars of the tournament. As the world No 361 – and French No 24 – she has just become the lowest-ranked player to reach the quarter-finals of a major since 2017.

This was surely the match of the fortnight to date, with the unheralded Boisson surging back from a set down to close out victory with a clean forehand winner. She has a tattoo on her shoulder reading “RÉSILIENCE”, which I will forbear from translating.

Novak Djokovic outclasses Cameron Norrie to maintain French Open bid

Lois Boisson celebrates the biggest win of her young career - Getty Images/Burak Akbulut

At 22, Boisson is still extraordinarily inexperienced – to the point where that match against Dart last month remains her only victory at a regular WTA event. Her win-loss record on the tour currently stands at 5-1, thanks largely to the four matches she has successfully navigated here.

Ranked too low even to access the Roland Garros qualifying event directly, Boisson received one of the 11 wild-card invitations to the main draw which were handed to French players by the national federation.

Few were expecting her to overcome 24th seed and seasoned campaigner Elise Mertens in the opening round. But that surprise pales alongside her achievements since then, which included becoming the last home hope standing at the French Open when she defeated compatriot Elsa Jacquemot on Saturday.

Like so many products of this tennis-loving nation, she has a stylish all-court game featuring plenty of variety, and she hit a remarkable 34 drop shots on the way to her 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback win.

“To play on this court with such an atmosphere was incredible,” Boisson told the former French No 1 Alize Cornet in a tearful on-court interview. “I believed in myself before the match, I knew what I could do even if she is super strong. I gave everything I had and it worked, it is incredible.”

Boisson has already shown herself to be a smart operator on social media. After her WTA debut in Rouen, where Dart encouraged the chair umpire to “tell her to wear deodorant because she smells really bad”, she posted a photoshopped image of herself holding a can of deodorant, accompanied by the caption “@dove apparently need a collab”.

Since that day, Boisson has gone from strength to strength, first landing a Challenger title in the south-west corner of France and then making this run in Paris. Dart – who later apologised for her comment – is heading into the grass-court season with hopes of ending her six-match losing streak.

05:28 PM BST

Win 100 at Roland Garros

05:23 PM BST

Djokovic wins 6-2, 6-3, 6-2

Norrie gets to 0-15 after a Djokovic backhand sails long. The Briton gets to 0-30 as Djokovic sprays a forehand wide.

The Serbian gets on the board as Norrie hits a return long and then 30-30 following another forced Norrie error.

Forehand winner down the line brings up match point for Djokovic and the Serbian seals it off the back of a strong first serve.

Game, set and match: Djokovic!

05:17 PM BST

Norrie* 2-6, 3-6, 2-5 Djokovic

Norrie falls 0-15 behind following an error on his forehand wing. The Briton then gets to 15-15 after a clever passing shot.

The Briton puts together a good sequence of points to go up 40-15 and eventually holds.

Djokovic will serve for the match after the sitdown.

05:14 PM BST

Norrie 2-6, 3-6, 1-5 Djokovic*

Djokovic wins the opening point as a Norrie return flies long. Same pattern on the backhand wing, as Djokovic gets to 30-0. The Serbian gets to 40-0 before Norrie brings the score to 40-15 after hitting a forehand winner down the line.

Djokovic then nets a backhand to bring the score to 40-30 before closing out the game with a sublime forehand drop-volley winner.

05:10 PM BST

Norrie* 2-6, 3-6, 1-4 Djokovic

A backhand volley winner sees Djokovic get to 0-15. The Serbian then follows up with a forehand return winner to go 0-30 and the 0-40 following an error from Norrie.

The Briton eventually gets on board but is unable to hold as Djokovic breaks again to extend his lead in this second set.

05:06 PM BST

Norrie 2-6, 3-6, 1-3 Djokovic*

Djokovic wins the opening point as a Norrie return sails long. The Serbian then gets to 30-0 off the back of a second serve and then 40-0 after finding Norrie’s baseline with a forehand down the line.

Norrie gets on the board with a forehand winner before Djokovic closes out the game to 15.

05:02 PM BST

Norrie* 2-6, 3-6, 1-2 Djokovic

Djokovic races to a 0-30 lead after showing some good defensive skills on the last point.

Norrie then goes long with a forehand to give Djokovic three break points and the Serbian pounces at the first opportunity.

04:59 PM BST

Norrie 2-6, 3-6, 1-1 Djokovic*

Djokovic gets on the board first after a Norrie return flies long. Three quick points see Djokovic get to 40-0 and the Serbian holds to love as Norrie shanks a forehand return.

04:56 PM BST

Third set: Norrie* 2-6, 3-6, 1-0 Djokovic

Djokovic, who looks locked in, wins the opening point with a backhand winner cross. Norrie gets to 15-15 with his own midcourt putaway and then gets to 30-15 following a nice drop shot.

The Briton then undercooks another drop shot as Djokovic gets to 30-30 before Norrie gets to 40-30 with a backhand winner and closes out the game to 30. Good hold to get things started.

04:50 PM BST

Djokovic wins the second set 6-3

Djokovic, serving for the second set, falls 0-15 behind after double-faulting.

Norrie then hits a forehand error to bring the score to 15-15 before Djokovic goes 30-15 ahead. Djokovic nets a backhand from the baseline to bring the score to 30-30 before Djokovic gets to 40-30 after a Norrie return sails long.

Norrie finds the line with a backhand to get to deuce. A good serve out wide is netted on the return by Norrie and Djokovic takes the second set as Norrie’s return flies long!

04:43 PM BST

Norrie* 2-6, 3-5 Djokovic

Three quick unforced errors from Norrie give Djokovic three game points.

The Briton saves the first with a good serve-plus-one combo, finished with a forehand down the line.

Djokovic then nets a backhand to go 30-40 before a big serve from Norrie gets the Briton to deuce.

A 16-shot rally is finished off by Djokovic with a forehand winner down the line as the Serbian gets to advantage. And Djokovic breaks!

04:37 PM BST

Medical timeout for Norrie

The Briton is having his left ankle seen to by the physio.

Both players have had physio attention now, Djokovic in the first set and now Norrie in this second.

Cameron Norrie (R) is tretaed by a medical staff during his men's singles match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic

04:32 PM BST

Norrie 2-6, 3-4 Djokovic*

Norrie gets on the board first with a nice forehand winner down the line. After a 15-shot tussle from the baseline, Djokovic levels up at 15-15. A deep return sees Djokovic net his response on the backhand wing before a Norrie backhand flies long to bring the score to 30-30.

The Briton then gets to 30-40 after taking on a Djokovic second serve. The Serbian finds a good first before Norrie nets a regulation backhand. The Briton makes up for it on the next point with a backhand winner down the line to get back to deuce. Djokovic gets to advantage before Norrie plays a sublime backhand drop shot.

Norrie hits a clean backhand winner return on Djokovic’s fourth game point. The Serbian then throws down an ace to get to advantage and eventually holds as Norrie goes long with a backhand from the baseline.

04:21 PM BST

Norrie* 2-6, 3-3 Djokovic

Norrie wins the opening point off the back of a forehand winner. The Briton gets to 30-0 as a Djokovic backhand sails long.

The Serbian gets on the board with a backhand-cross winner. Before Norrie wins the next point to bring up two game points.

Djokovic saves the first with a lovely angled forehand drop shot and then gets to deuce as Norrie nets a backhand. A drive forehand-volley winner is greeted with an “Allez” from Norrie, who closes out the game with an ace. Good hold!

04:14 PM BST

Norrie 2-6, 2-3 Djokovic*

Good serve out wide sets up the point for Djokovic who goes 15-0 ahead before Norrie gets to 15-15 after an error from Djokovic.

Norrie then gets to 15-30 before Djokovic wins the next couple points, getting to 40-30 with an ace. The Briton then gets to deuce and then advantage after a well anticipated backhand pass off a Djokovic smash.

An ace brings the Serbian back to deuce and another brings up game point. Norrie then plays a nice forehand drop shot to get back to deuce before the Serbian wins the next point with an unanswered overhead.

Norrie shanks a forehand and Djokovic holds to sneak back ahead.

04:05 PM BST

Norrie* 2-6, 2-2 Djokovic

Djokovic, now donning a cap, races to a 0-40 lead and eventually breaks to love as a Norrie backhand sails long!

Back on serve in set two!

04:02 PM BST

Norrie 2-6, 2-1 Djokovic*

Djokovic, who looks refocused in set two, races to a 40-0 lead and holds to love to get on the board!

Interested to see if Norrie can carry on his positive showing in this second set.

03:59 PM BST

Norrie* 2-6, 2-0 Djokovic

Norrie, looking to consolidate, wins the opening point after coming out on top of an 18-shot rally.

Djokovic gets to 15-15 before Norrie cruises to a 40-15 lead. A weighty forehand sees Djokovic attempt to reply with big groundstroke of his own which sails long to give the Briton the game. Good hold!

03:55 PM BST

Second set: Norrie 2-6, 1-0 Djokovic*

A couple of sloppy Djokovic errors sees Norrie get to 0-30 and then 0-40 as the Serbian goes long with a backhand.

The Briton takes his first break point to get on the board first in this second set.

03:50 PM BST

Djokovic wins the first set 6-2

Norrie falls 0-30 behind before getting on the board following a Djokovic error.

Djokovic then gets to 15-40 and takes the first set as Norrie nets a forehand volley.

6-2 to the Serbian after 41 minutes of play.

03:45 PM BST

Djokovic receiving treatment

Djokovic is having his right foot attended to by the physio.

The Serbian has not looked hampered in his movement on Chatrier this afternoon.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia gets his foot taped during his Men's 4th round match against Cameron Norrie

03:42 PM BST

Norrie 2-5 Djokovic*

Norrie takes advantage of a Djokovic second serve, finishing the point with a backhand winner.

The Serbian wins the next two points to go 30-15 ahead before Norrie gets to 30-30 after a Djokovic backhand into the net.

Djokovic goes 40-30 ahead and closes out the game after a 10-shot rally. The Serbian is a game away from closing out this opening set.

03:39 PM BST

Norrie* 2-4 Djokovic

Djokovic takes a 0-15 lead following a Norrie backhand error. Norrie then gets on the board as Djokovic hits a forehand long.

The Serbian then goes 15-30 ahead before Norrie wins three points in a row, in quick succession, to successfully hold to 30.

Good hold from the Briton.

03:33 PM BST

Norrie 1-4 Djokovic*

Djokovic sets up the point with a serve out wide. A backhand error from Norrie sees Djokovic get to 30-0 before the Briton gets on the board.

Djokovic eventually holds to 15 to consolidate the break!

Novak Djokovic in action during his fourth round match against Britain's Cameron Norrie

03:29 PM BST

Norrie* 1-3 Djokovic

Norrie falls 0-15 behind before levelling up with a nice backhand volley.

The Briton hits a couple forehand errors to fall 15-40 behind before Djokovic eventually breaks again.

The Serbian is using the drop shot to good effect this afternoon.

03:23 PM BST

Norrie 1-2 Djokovic*

Djokovic wins the opening point with a sweet backhand volley. Norrie gets to 15-15 as Djokovic nets a midcourt backhand. The Briton sneaks 15-30 ahead after landing a deep groundstroke on Djokovic’s forehand wing.

Djokovic then levels up at 30-30 before going long with a backhand to hand Norrie a break point. Djokovic saves it after finding a few lines and ending the point with another drop shot.

Norrie gets another break point after some aggressive baseline play... and the Briton gets on the board as Djokovic nets a backhand.

03:16 PM BST

Norrie* 0-2 Djokovic

Norrie lands a big first serve and then engages in a 25-shot rally that sees Djokovic come out on top to go 0-15. The sixth seed then gets to 0-30 as Norrie nets a backhand.

The Briton eventually levels things up at 30-30 then takes a 40-30 lead after putting away an overhead. Djokovic gets to deuce as Norrie’s forehand flies long. Norrie then nets a backhand to give Djokovic a first break point look.

And Djokovic breaks!

03:10 PM BST

First set: Cameron Norrie 0-1 Novak Djokovic* (*denotes server)

Djokovic, serving first, sees a Norrie forehand return sail long to go 15-0. The Serbian gets to 30-0 after getting the better of Norrie in an extended rally, and then 40-0 before Norrie gets on the board following an unforced Djokovic error.

Djokovic eventually holds to 30.

03:05 PM BST

Players on court and warming up

Cameron Norrie and Novak Djokovic are warming up on Chatrier.

03:00 PM BST

Quarter-finals confirmed

Men

(2)Carlos Alcaraz vs (12)Tommy Paul

(8)Lorenzo Musetti vs (15)Frances Tiafoe

Women

(1)Aryna Sabalenka vs (8)Zheng Qinwen

(5)Iga Swiatek vs Elina Svitolina

(6)Mirra Andreeva vs Lois Boisson

(2)Coco Gauff vs (7)Madison Keys or Hailey Baptiste*

*Keys leads Baptiste 6-3, 4-4

02:50 PM BST

Zverev awaits following Griekspoor’s retirement

Back to the men. Third seed Alexander Zverev awaits the winner between Norrie and Djokovic after Tallon Griekspoor retired from their fourth-round match.

Zverev was leading 6-4, 3-0.

02:43 PM BST

History made in Paris

Boisson, ranked 361st in the world, has made history in Paris.

02:39 PM BST

Champions League trophy on the grounds

Ousmane Dembele is on the grounds with some silverware.

The Paris St-Germain winger has brought the Champions League trophy to Roland Garros on day nine.

02:36 PM BST

Boisson gets it done

02:34 PM BST

Potential upset on Chatrier

French wildcard Lois Boisson is serving for the match against third-seeded American Jessica Pegula on Philippe-Chatrier.

Norrie and Djokovic follows this match.

02:28 PM BST

Most recent meeting in Geneva

02:13 PM BST

Huge task ahead for Norrie

Good afternoon and welcome to fourth-round coverage of Cameron Norrie versus Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros.

Norrie has not dropped any sets since his first-round upset win over 11th seed Daniil Medvedev. Since that five-set epic, the Briton has seen off Argentina’s Federico Agustin Gomez in round two and countryman Jacob Fearnley in round three, both in straight sets.

Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, has not dropped a set en route to the second week. The former world No 1 made lightwork of Mackenzie McDonald in round one before dispatching home favourite Corentin Moutet in round two and then Filip Misolic in the third round.

The head-to-head between Norrie and Djokovic is as one-sided as it can get – Djokovic is 5-0 against the Briton. However, Norrie can take solace from the fact their most recent meeting, the Geneva semi-final, a week before the French Open, went the distance.

Djokovic went on to win that ATP 250 event but it was the second time in their five meetings that Norrie managed to win a set against the Serbian.

Their last meeting at a major was the Wimbledon semi-final in 2022. Norrie won the opening set before Djokovic, who was the eventual champion that year, won 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

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