Who knew that an event like this last happened eight years ago… Probably beat Novak Djokovic (1st in the ATP ranking) in an official match became one of the biggest challenges on the circuitand as far as Argentine tennis players are concerned, a feat that seems impossible for most.
To search for the last time that an albiceleste tennis player won against the fierce Serbian you have to go back to the 2016more precisely in the Rio Olympic Games, appointment in which the draw determined that Juan Martin del Potro would be measured against the legendary Balkan in the first round, starring in a match between Grand Slam champions that captured everyone’s attention.
Coming back from injuries and with a superlative levelthe tandilense would achieve a feat that would not be repeated until now for an Argentine tennis player: beating Novak Djokovic. It was 7-6 (4) and 7-6 (2) in what the No. 1 himself claimed, some time later, to be the toughest defeat of his career for the whole context of being the first round and in an Olympic Games.
Now the one who will have the opportunity to end this incredible streak will be the Buenos Aires native. Francisco Cerúndolo (27th), who will face the leader of the ranking for a pass to the quarterfinals of Roland Garros.
In total, only three representatives of this nationality managed to prevail against the Serbian: Guillermo Coriaat Roland Garros 2005 and Miami 2006, David Nalbandianin Madrid 2007, and Delpo, in Davis Cup 2011, Olympic Games. London 2012, Indian Wells 2013 and the aforementioned victory in Rio.
In this way, the 2009 US Open champion became the Argentine who beat Djokovic the most times in his career. But after that victory in 2016, a streak of 20 wins in a row before ambassadors, achieving a record of 58-7.
Among those 20 victories are six against Diego Schwartzman, five against the Tandil tower, three against Tomás Etcheverry and two against Horacio Zeballos.
Other Argentines who also suffered the power of the Serbian are Juan Ignacio Londero, Pedro Cachín, Federico Coria and Federico Delbonis.
