PARIS/WASHINGTON, June 3, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
In the 100 years since Roland-Garros was opened to players from abroad in 1925, just two men have captured 100 singles wins in the history of the French championships in Paris. The first was Rafael Nadal, who during his storied career that included winning 14 French Open titles, won 112 matches. He captured his 100th Roland-Garros victory in the 2020 title match.
The second player to reach the 100-victory plateau is three-time Roland-Garros champion Novak Djokovic, who happened to be Nadal’s opponent in the 2020 French Open final, which rewarded the King of Clay with his 13th Paris major crown.
On Monday, the 38-year-old Serbian great added to his many career accolades when he defeated 81st-ranked Cameron Norrie of Great Britain, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, in two hours and 14 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier, to attain his 100th singles win at Roland-Garros.
It was the World No. 6 Djokovic’s six career win over Norrie, which includes a three-set win in the semifinals at Geneva two weeks ago en route to winning his 100th career ATP tour-level title, just the third player to reach the century mark.
This time against Norrie, Djokovic won 72 percent (39 of 54) of his first-serve points, hit 26 winners, converted seven of 11 break points and outpointed Norrie 95-64.
No trouble for Djokovic: straight-sets win and a quarterfinal clash with Zverev incoming! #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/2Qyn0LPz5U
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2025
Djokovic, who extended his unbeaten streak in French Open fourth-round matches to 19-0, became the oldest Roland-Garros quarterfinalist since István Gulyás of Hungary, who reached the last eight in 1971 at age 39. He’s also through to the French Open quarterfinals for the 16th straight year. That’s consistency.
During an interview with TNT Sports after his win Monday, Djokovic was asked by commentator Mary Joe Fernandez if he takes the time to appreciate everything he’s accomplished. After all, it seems every time he’s stepping on the court he’s playing for a record or playing for history. Djokovic smiled at the question, then gave a thoughtful response: “Yes and no. Yes, but it lasts a very, very short time because the very next day I have to focus on the next opponent, the next tournament, the next match.
“While I’m still in the tournament, I can’t really reflect. To be honest, my feeling is that you can’t really totally reflect on everything you’ve achieved – that you’ve experienced – until you retire.
“Anyone who’s been in a high level of professional tennis knows that basically every week – every two weeks – there’s another tournament. The tension is constantly there. You can’t really let yourself loose, in a sense. Even thought it’s important to have the right balance and enjoy life – and relax – to really kind of reflect and be happy about everything in the past I think it takes away that focus on what needs to be done in order to be able to perform your best at the next tournament.
“I know the feeling. I’m actually looking forward to sitting on the beach and reflecting with some cocktails on everything that was lived, that was experienced. Of course, I’m super proud of all these achievements.”
#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/3srkb3j1xS
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2025
A year ago, Djokovic needed to battle through consecutive five-set skirmishes against Lorenzo Musetti and Francisco Cerundolo just to reach the quarterfinals. The win over Cerundolo forced his eventual withdrawal from the tournament with a knee injury that required surgery the next day. This year, Djokovic is healthy and yet to drop a set through four rounds. In fact, he’s dropped more than four games in a set just twice through his first four matches – and now has won 21 straight matches on Parisian clay, which includes his Olympic gold medal triumph last summer.
The last time Djokovic lost a match at Stade Roland-Garros? It’s been a while. It came three years ago against Nadal in the quarterfinals of the 2022 French Open.
Next, Djokovic will play No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. If the seedings hold, he would face World No. 1 and top seed Jannik Sinner of Italy in the semifinals on Friday and defending champion and No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the title match on Sunday. That’s quite a challenge – even for Djokovic – as he goes after his 25th Grand Slam singles crown.
However, the way things have fared for the 24-time major champion Djokovic during this Parisian fortnight, anything’s possible.
Win 100 at Roland Garros. My new favorite number . Quarterfinals idemooo pic.twitter.com/kV3Z83FTIR
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) June 2, 2025
Monday’s Roland-Garros results
Tuesday’s Roland-Garros order of play
By the numbers
Novak Djokovic is 100-16 lifetime at Roland-Garros. In Monday’s win over Cameron Norrie, his 116th match at Stade Roland-Garros, Djokovic equalled Rafael Nadal for the most matches played at this event during the Open Era. He also broke the record for the most quarterfinals reached by a player at a single Grand Slam event during the Open Era, surpassing Roger Federer’s 18 at the Wimbledon Championships.
“Quotable …”
“It’s a very pretty number, but 101 victories sound better. I will continue to search for another victory; it’s clearly not finished for me here. I’m very honored to make history in this sport, which has given me everything in my life.”
– Three-time Roland-Garros champion Novak Djokovic, during his on-court interview Monday, after garnering his 100th career win at the French Open.
