Djokovic survives in Paris; Azarenka falls

Associated Press

PARIS

For two sets, Novak Djokovic’s game was sort of like Sunday’s weather at Roland Garros: dreary, drab, not much to write home about.

Before it got any worse, Djokovic turned things around, fought off an unthinkable upset and kept his chances alive for the “Novak Slam.”

Djokovic completed his third career comeback from two sets down Sunday, shaking off 81 unforced errors — the same number he had in his first three matches combined — for a 4-6, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 victory over surprisingly game 22nd-seeded Andreas Seppi of Italy.

“Today, I played a very poor match,” Djokovic said.

A cold front and a big rainstorm blew through Paris overnight; Sunday morning on the grounds felt sleepy and quiet, both in the stands on down on the courts. Across the way from Djokovic, the top-seeded woman, Victoria Azarenka, got off to a similarly bad start, except she never recovered — a 6-2, 7-6 (4) loser to No. 15 Dominika Cibulkova that left her grumpy.

Azarenka bashed her racket into the ground during a second-set changeover and received a warning for racket abuse.

Azarenka found company on the sideline with former French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, a 6-0, 7-5 loser to 21st-seeded Sara Errani of Italy.

“Lucky loser” David Goffin of Belgium got an up-close look at his idol Roger Federer — and even took a set off him — before the 16-time Grand Slam champion won their fourth-round match.

The third-seeded Federer reached the quarterfinals at a record 32nd consecutive major tournament by beating the 109th-ranked Goffin 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4.

Playing in the main draw at a major tournament for the first time, and only because someone else withdrew, the 21-year-old Goffin pulled off three upsets before facing a guy whose posters hung in his childhood bedroom.

Goffin clearly enjoyed himself. After winning one late point with a volley, he held up an index finger, then bowed to the arena’s four corners.