Yesterday, Djokovic seemed a bit edgy.  It was getting dark.  del Potro was clocking the ball.  Djokovic’s timing seemed a hair off, and he was spraying balls just fractionally wide.  Would the former top tenner take his biggest victory and the streak stop? Djokovic must have wondered how del Potro, a man who pretty much didn’t play in 2010, could be in form so quickly.  And then, they were moved to Court Suzanne Lenglen because the Wawrinka-Tsonga match was heading deep into extra sets.

At one set apiece, the hyped up match between Djokovic and del Potro was called due to darkness with both players having to think about it.  On the one hand, del Potro had to be thinking he could keep up with Djokovic.  On the other, Djokovic had to hope that he could get it back together and play the kind of tennis that has lead to an undefeated season.

Early in the third set in the resumption of last night’s match, the two were still playing even and Djokovic did not look like he was that comfortable.  At 2-all, 15-40, del Potro had a chance to break to start the third set in style, pretty much where he left it the night before when he closed out the second set.  But seemingly, a light went on in Novak’s brain, and Djokovic began to play great tennis, the kind that lead him to this streak.  After holding this edgy game, Djokovic looked extremely solid.

For his part, del Potro was no longer clobbering the ball for winners but was engaged in longer rallies instead.  He seemed a bit fatigued and unable to find the winning shots he was hitting yesterday.  From that point on, Djokovic looked like he has for months, and began winning long rallies finding spots to hit to that the tall Argentine couldn’t reach, spots he was missing just a half a day earlier.

Djokovic won one game, then another, then the set.  He had an early break in the fourth set, and was on cruise control.  Despite giving back a break, he continued to dominate.  And to punctuate the last point, Djokovic hit a drop shot.  He had just hit one the point before but del Potro had missed the shot.   He hit one more which del Potro didn’t reach, and the match was over.  Right now, Djokovic is at the 40-42 mark.  40 matches since the start of the year, and 42 including Davis Cup of last year.

Up next for Djokovic is Richard Gasquet.  This is Gasquet’s best performance at the French Open which is one Slam he tends to perform poorly at.  He’s been working on his aggression and getting himself up the ranks, potentially to the top ten.  There is a large contingent of Frenchmen that are working to the top 25.  Will the streak continue?  Gasquet is a tough opponent, but Djokovic has a lot of shots, and getting through this match against del Potro should be good for him.

Juan Ignacio Chela won his match over Lukas Rosol in 4 sets.  Gilles Simon is up two sets to none over Mardy Fish.  Ljubicic and Verdasco are yet to play.