• French Open, Day Four

Djokovic the destroyer

ESPN staff
May 30, 2012

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Men's round-up: Federer drops a set
Women's round-up: Azarenka back on song
Purpose burns in Djokovic victory

What They Said
Day Four Gallery

Who made Djokovic angry?
Sometimes in journalism the temptation is there to overstate what you're witnessing. For example, anybody who labelled England's recent 1-0 win over Norway as anything other than 'laboured' had seriously lost grip with reality.

However, with Novak Djokovic on Wednesday, it is absolutely no over-statement to say the world No. 1 was frightening. A simmering rage behind the eyes, a cold-blooded lack of sympathy in his play, Djokovic looked like he had just been told Blaz Kavcic had stolen his missus, and he was out to prove who was the bigger man. On this form, the French Open title is changing hands.

A Blaz of glory
Blaz Kavcic may have been outclassed by Djokovic, but he wasn't about to let that spoil his day. After losing the opening seven games, he finally got on the board in the eighth. Reacting to the applause of the crowd, the Slovenian raised his fist as if he'd won the title, a big smile showing clear banter in his face. Good man.

Record breaker
A truly significant record was set by Roger Federer with his win over Adrian Ungur on Court Philippe Chatrier. The Swiss has now won more grand slam matches in the Open era than any other player. His win over Ungur was his 234th, taking him clear of Jimmy Connors.

Not quite Wimbledon
The game's biggest stars often say how Wimbledon is their favourite arena in world tennis. Wednesday provided a reason why. With arguably the sport's greatest ever player, Federer, stood on court, a plethora of seats remained empty on Court Philippe Chatrier - most of which belonged to VIPs. A similar scenario simply would not happen at SW19, and the reputation of British tennis is better for it.

Roger-Vasselin Ridge?
Whisper it quietly, but Great Britain may have a new tennis player to name a piece of grass after. It just so happens that Edouard Roger-Vasselin, who gave Juan Martin Del Potro a run for his money on Wednesday, has an English grandmother. You can imagine it at Wimbledon now... "Come on Tim!"

All aboard...
It was a day for showboating at Roland Garros, but the only problem was that the party pieces failed to come off. Adrian Ungur, clearly feeling confident after taking a set against Roger Federer, attempted a jumping backhand winner, which he framed into the bottom of the net. Meanwhile, during Tomas Berdych's win over Michael Llodra, there was an attempt from Llodra to produce a hot-dog half-volley. Always one for tricks, the Frenchman tried the move on a stinging forehand from Berdych, succeeding merely in stopping the ball dead - rather than extending the rally.

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