PARIS—To put it all in perspective, consider this: Richard Gasquet was on the run of a lifetime; he had never been to the fourth round of Roland Garros. He was put on display on Court Phillipe Chatrier, where his French countrymen would provide both motivation and inspiration. And all the flash, dash and bow-legged scurrying that characterize Gasquet's game seldom has never looked better. I'll bet you know the punch-line that's coming.
Novak Djokovic, seeded No. 2 and riding a 40-game undefeated streak in 2011, just demolished him. Djokovic made Gasquet look like an eager but underpowered schoolboy not quite ready for big-boy pants, winning in a fast-paced, symmetrical, and largely uneventful exhibition, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
One thing we know about Gasquet is that you can count on him to be mercurial. He's not just fleet afoot, he plays at a fleet pace. Another thing we know about the Frenchman is that the more critical the point, or juncture in the match, the more likely it is that he'll run off the rails. Nobody, but nobody, gets to 4-all looking spectacular, only to lose the set 4-6 in the blink of an eye. Hey, what just happened there?
Gasquet happened, that's what.
It might have been different this year but for the way Djokovic has been playing. Today, as in recent weeks and months, there's been a serenity about the man, suggesting that what he's doing out there is not exactly work and not precisely play. What he seems to be doing is fulfilling destiny. And when you're up against a guy like that, getting into a hitting contest the way Gasquet did isn't recommended.
This match produced data points rather than turning points. Djokovic hit 34 winners to 16 by Gasquet, and the proportions were reversed almost exactly in the unforced errors department: Gasquet committed 26, Djokovic just 15.
For straw clutchers, this match loomed as a potentially significant stumbling block for Djokovic, but mainly because his quarterfinal opponent was determined earlier in the day. It will be Fabio Fognini, who won a remarkable five-stter, 11-9 in the final set, while limping on a badly injured left quad.
Only fly in the Serbian ointment: Should Djokovic get a walkover from Fognini, he'll have to win his semifinal (against Roger Federer, Gael Monfils or David Ferrer) to tie John McEnroe's 42-match season-starting win streak and top the mark in the final—probably against defending champ Rafael Nadal.
—Pete Bodo