French Open 2024 results: Novak Djokovic beats Francesco Cerundolo at Roland Garros

Defending champion Novak Djokovic showed his supreme powers of recovery once again to come through a five-set marathon against Francisco Cerundolo and reach the French Open quarter-finals.

Serbia’s Djokovic, 37, looked hampered by a leg injury before winning 6-1 5-7 3-6 7-5 6-3 against Argentine 23rd seed Cerundolo.

For the second time in three days, the 24-time major champion fought back from a two-sets-to-one deficit.

“At one point I didn’t know if I should continue,” said Djokovic, who attributed the injury to the slippery clay surface.

The fourth-round match with Cerundolo started about 4pm local time on Monday, little over 36 hours after his previous contest against Lorenzo Musetti finished at 3:07am on Sunday morning.

But Djokovic still had the mental and physical resilience to win another gruelling encounter lasting four hours and 39 minutes.

The top seed broke out into a beaming smile when he sealed victory, pointing to his chest and then to the court in celebration.

“Three or four times I was points away from losing this match and thank you to my opponent,” said Djokovic.

“He deserves so much applause that’s for sure. I’m not sure how I won this match.”

It was Djokovic’s 370th victory at a Grand Slam tournament, putting him clear of his great rival Roger Federer.

Djokovic will face Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud, who the Serb beat in last year’s final, in the last eight.

Ruud progressed with a 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 6-4 6-2 win over American 12th seed Taylor Fritz.