Novak Djokovic, the world number three, moved one step closer to claiming his 23rd Grand Slam title with an emphatic victory over Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru at the French Open on Sunday. The Serbian superstar dominated the match, securing a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win and securing his place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Facing his 94th-ranked opponent, Djokovic demonstrated his exceptional skills on the Philippe Chatrier court, undeterred by the challenging windy conditions.
With this win, Djokovic now holds the record for the most appearances (17) in the French Open quarter-finals, surpassing Rafael Nadal's previous record of 16 appearances. Nadal, a 14-time champion, was absent from this year's competition due to injury.
Reflecting on his achievements, Djokovic expressed his pride in the records he has set but acknowledged the passage of time, saying, "I am proud of all the records but it also means I am not young anymore."
However, he remained highly satisfied with his performance, describing it as the best level of tennis he has played at the French Open. Djokovic added, "When I play like today, I am satisfied and motivated to continue."
Djokovic strategically attacked Varillas, avoiding lengthy baseline rallies that had been the Peruvian's strength in previous matches. His aggressive approach paid off, as he quickly gained an advantage by breaking Varillas' serve twice, securing a 4-0 lead. Varillas, who had shown resilience in previous rounds, was unable to find a way back into the match against Djokovic's dominant play.
In his post-match comments, Djokovic highlighted his motivation and determination to maintain his high level of performance.
"I put in a lot of effort like all the players, and the situation today is not the same as, say, 10 years ago. When I play like today, I am satisfied and motivated to continue," he stated.
Djokovic will now face the 11th seed Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals, as he continues his quest for a 23rd Grand Slam title.
(With inputs from Reuters)
