Novak Djokovic moved into the semi-final of Roland Garros for a 58th showdown with Rafael Nadal, surviving a third set hiccup to defeat Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 in a match soundtracked by both cheers and silence the players were forced to leave the court so that spectators could be persuaded to go home as the national curfew approached.
A rowdy crowd had convened for the first night session with spectators at this year’s tournament due to the relaxation of restrictions in France and a later 11pm curfew. Although they cheered loudly for his opponent, they witnessed Djokovic tearing past Berrettini with relative ease for much of the evening as he established a two sets lead. He then conceded just three points on his serve as they reached a third set tiebreak.
Djokovic seemed to be en route to victory in the tiebreak after executing a supreme backhand return at 4-4 to put himself within two service points of victory. But then, out of the blue, Djokovic gagged. In consecutive points, the world No 1 landed strong first serves that generated short returns, then he missed his first groundstroke both times. As the score swung from 5-4 to 5-6, Berrettini saw the opportunity and on his first set point he nailed a forehand winner to take the set.
As the match endured into a fourth set, what followed was an absurd sign of the times. With the time approaching the new curfew of 11pm, the umpire, James Keothavong, instructed the crowd to leave at numerous change of ends as the curfew time approached.
Tennis has become familiar with matches disrupted by curfews after similar issues at the Australian Open and recently in Rome, but not with the sight of a crowd refusing to move. The French crowd responded with boos and remained in their seats, leading to a drastic, ad-hoc resolution.
At 10:56pm, with the score 3-2 to Djokovic in the third set, the players were forced to go back into the locker rooms so that the fans would finally depart from the stadium.
As fans took photos by the empty court and took their time to leave, the players did not return for 15 minutes. They finished the match in silence, with Djokovic snatching a break at 6-5 and then as he celebrated loudly to nobody but his team, his screams echoed across 15,000 empty seats.
