PARIS:
Novak Djokovic secured his place in the history books once again on Monday, defeating Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open—and, in the process, notching his 100th match victory at Roland Garros. The milestone puts him in elite company, joining only Rafael Nadal (112 wins) as the second man to reach a century of wins at the tournament.
The 37-year-old Serbian, a three-time French Open champion, is now firmly on course for a record 25th Grand Slam title. The win also makes Roland Garros his most successful major in terms of match victories, surpassing his 99 wins at the Australian Open—though he still holds a record 10 titles in Melbourne.
Speaking to the crowd in French, Djokovic said:
“It’s a great number, very nice, but 101 wins would be even better. The tournament isn’t over for me—I feel great, and I hope to keep making history here.”
This latest triumph marked Djokovic’s 16th consecutive appearance in the French Open quarter-finals, and made him the oldest man to do so since Istvan Gulyas in 1971, who reached the last eight at age 39.
Despite entering Paris following an otherwise modest season—though one that included his 100th ATP title—Djokovic has yet to drop a set in the tournament, signaling that he remains a formidable force even as younger challengers emerge.
Against Norrie, Djokovic initially traded breaks in the opening set before taking complete control. He weathered a few service wobbles in the second set but ultimately stayed composed to extend his dominance over the Brit, now holding a perfect 6-0 head-to-head record.
“I feel good. I have high expectations for myself. So far, 12 sets played and 12 sets won. Everything’s going in a positive direction,” he said.
Djokovic broke Norrie to love early in the third set and never looked back, sealing a commanding win on Court Philippe Chatrier. He now advances to face German third seed Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals. The two last met in the Australian Open semi-finals in January, where Djokovic was forced to retire due to injury. He currently leads their rivalry 8-5.
As Djokovic pushes toward yet another record, his form in Paris sends a clear message—he’s far from done.
