Novak Djokovic: Stefanos Tsitsipas is one of the best players in the world

• Tennis News
• Novak Djokovic

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic admitted he didn't feel good before the match against Pablo Carreno Busta but he was fair and didn't want to take anything from the Spaniard's good performance. Carreno Busta, ranked at No. 18 in the world, won the first set against Djokovic but the No.

1 seed recovered to win 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-4 and reach the French Open semifinal. "I definitely didn’t feel great coming into the court today. Few things happened in the warmup. I had to deal with those physical issues coming onto the court.

As the match went on, I felt better, didn’t feel as much pain," Djokovic said after the match, per Max Gao. "I don’t want to take away anything from his good performance. Especially for set & a half he was the better player, dictating the play.

I was very neutral. I didn’t have much of energy really happening in my legs or movement or game itsef." Carreno Busta fought hard and well but Djokovic managed to get the win and avoid an upset. "It was really anybody’s game.

It was so close. He had his chances. I had my chances. It was a very even match even though it was three sets to one," Djokovic noted.

Djokovic won't be taking Stefanos Tsitsipas for granted

Djokovic death with neck and shoulder issues against Carreno Busta and that all he was willing to reveal.

"I had some neck issues and some shoulder issues. I’ll just say that. I mean, I don’t want to get really too much into it. Obviously I’m still in the tournament, so I don’t want to reveal too much," Djokovic said.

"I’m feeling okay. I think, as I said, as the match progressed, I warmed up by body, and the pain kind of faded away. It allowed me to play better and better and feel better”. Djokovic will need to be at his best in the semifinal as next up for him is No.

5 seed Tsitsipas. Tsitsipas, ranked at No. 6 in the world, saw off riding Russian star Andrey Rublev in straight sets to advance to the semifinal. "He’s one of the best players in the world. He’s been playing the tennis of his life in the last 12 months.

He has an all-around game. He’s really a complete, all-around player. I think he’s one of the hardest-working guys out there," Djokovic said of Tsitsipas.