The defending champion wins a four-and-a-half-hour epic to keep his hopes of his 25th Grand Slam title alive.

Novak Djokovic's chances of winning his 25th Grand Slam hung by a thread on the cold and damp night at Roland Garros, but the Serb fought back to win 7-5, 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 over Lorenzo Musetti in the latest finish of the French Open so far.

The reigning champion showed the iron will that has made him one of the game's best players and avoided defeat in a thrilling third-round battle that began at 22:37 local time (20:37 GMT) on Saturday.

About four and a half hours later, at 3:06 a.m. (01:06 GMT) on Sunday morning, fans who had been huddled under carpets as the 37-year-old orchestrated his magnificent comeback rose to their feet and shook the roof of the main show court.

“He played a fantastic match and was very close to winning,” Djokovic said on the court about Musetti.

“I was having a lot of trouble, but thanks to your support in the fourth set I became a different player. It was perhaps the best match I played here.”

Djokovic recovered from an early loss of serve to go head-to-head with the Italian in a grueling first set before taking the lead with a decisive break in the 12th game thanks to some incredible defense.

The world number one lowered his head and gasped for air after this long rally, but in the second set he soon regained control and scored a spectacular drop to take a 3-1 lead.

However, Musetti was able to fight back and equalise at 4:4 before fending off a set point in a high-class tiebreak to level the match.

The 30th seed took his game up a notch, breaking in the third set to take a lead before comfortably winning the set as alarm bells began to ring for a struggling Djokovic.

Djokovic, who complained to the umpire about the condition of the surface, suddenly found his rhythm again and closed the fourth set before pulling away from his exhausted opponent in the deciding set.

“Who's going to sleep now?” Djokovic added. “It's impossible to sleep, so much adrenaline. If you have a party, I'll come with you.”

Defending the title is still possible 🙌#RolandGarros @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/iis8IUKCMI

— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2024

Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev also survived a moment of shock in an evening marathon and moved into the fourth round with a 3:6, 6:4, 6:2, 4:6, 7:6 (10:3) victory over Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.

In the women's event, second seed Aryna Sabalenka beat her best friend Paula Badosa 7-5, 6-1 in a challenging duel, while Russian-born Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva won many new admirers by flying the flag for her adopted country.

After Corentin Moutet gave French fans a great Friday night with his victory over Sebastian Ofner, new crowd favorite Gracheva brightened up another rainy day with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Irina-Camelia Begu.

The last Frenchwoman in the women’s field was treated to a rousing performance of the national anthem “La Marseillaise” and celebrated together with the fans.

“I will remember this moment for the rest of my life,” said a beaming Gracheva, who received her French passport in 2023 after living in the country for more than five years.

“It means that everyone accepts me, that I am at home here.”

While Gracheva was the centre of attention in the afternoon, fellow Moscow-born Elena Rybakina continued to go unnoticed as the number four seed defeated Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2.

Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime, seeded 21st, completed a 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 victory over American Ben Shelton under the umbrella of Suzanne Lenglen as rain delayed matches on the outdoor courts.

When play resumed, Alex De Minaur completed a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jan-Lennard Struff to become the first Australian to reach the fourth round of Paris since Lleyton Hewitt in 2007. He then began searching for a superfan to spur him on.