You’d think a sporting legend who’d “completed tennis” by winning Olympic singles gold last year would have very little left to play for.
But Novak Djokovic continues to compete with incredible drive and to accrue achievements – the latest a milestone he was yet to attain at any of the four majors.
Djokovic won a 100th singles match at Roland Garros by dismantling Cameron Norrie, one more than the 99 he has earned at the Australian Open, a tournament he has dominated.
Just one other man – 14-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal, with 112 – has achieved 100+ singles wins at the claycourt Grand Slam.
Djokovic’s result came just over a week after he beat Norrie in the Geneva semifinals en route to his 100th career tour-level singles title.
That win was a three-set struggle, but on Monday Djokovic commandeered Court Philippe Chatrier, administering a 6-2 6-3 6-2 beatdown to return to the quarterfinals in Paris.
While the Brit and the Serb were relatively even when it came to winners and unforced errors, Djokovic was much more efficient. He won significantly more first serve points, dominated the return stats and forced 37 errors from Norrie, who could only force 14 from the sixth seed’s racquet.
“It was one of the best. Maybe not ‘the’ best,” Djokovic replied when asked if this was his finest performance of the fortnight.
“In terms of how I was striking the ball, I think I played solid. I can always expect myself to play better. But I think, you know, considering the opponent's form, as well, and the last 16 round and the occasion, I think it was a very good match.
“A straight-set win again. I'm pleased with the way things are going.”
He should be, given he has not dropped a set and spent less than nine-and-a-half hours on court to arrive here.
It’s his 16th consecutive quarterfinal at Roland Garros; the last time fell before this stage was in 2009.
The 38-year-old debuted at the tournament exactly 20 years ago, winning three rounds of qualifying then securing his first Grand Slam main-draw win with a 6-0 6-0 6-3 demolition of Robby Ginepri – a player who just months later reached the 2005 US Open semifinals.
Since then Djokovic has progressed to the quarterfinal stage or better at Roland Garros in 19 of 20 visits, winning the title three times – in 2016, 2021 and 2023.
While it’s still three match wins away, a fourth French trophy would give him an all-time record 25th Grand Slam singles title and make him the oldest major singles champion in the Open era.
“Obviously matches only get tougher,” Djokovic said, knowingly. “I look forward to the next challenge.”
That comes in the form of No.3 seed Alexander Zverev, last year’s finalist.
At Australian Open 2025 the pair met in the semifinals, where injury ultimately forced Djokovic to retire after the first set. But in completed Slam matches? Djokovic dominates the head-to-head series 3-0, including a quarterfinal victory over Zverev at Roland Garros in 2019.
In fact, Djokovic has not lost a match at the venue since 2022, when he fell to Nadal in the quarterfinals.
Having withdrawn before last year’s quarterfinal against Casper Ruud with a meniscus tear, then returning two months later to win Olympic singles gold, Djokovic’s last-eight run this year means he’s compiled a 21-match winning streak at Roland Garros.
A win over Zverev would extend that further, and make him the oldest men’s semifinalist since 40-year-old Pancho Gonzalez 57 years ago.