Djokovic enters $US100 million dollar club

  • 02/06/2016
Novak Djokovic (Reuters)
Novak Djokovic (Reuters)

Novak Djokovic had 100 million reasons to celebrate reaching the French Open quarter-finals as players made a mad dash to clear the fourth-round backlog created by the fickle Parisian weather.

The Serbian world number one became the first tennis player to bank $US100 million ($147 million NZD) in prize money after his 3-6 6-4 6-1 7-5 win over Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut tipped him over the magic number.

However, the fourth-round winner's cheque is a far cry from the real prize Djokovic has his eyes on this week.

What he desperately wants is to get his hands on the Musketeers' Cup to complete his grand slam collection.

After winning a match that was originally scheduled for Tuesday (NZT), began the next day and was finally completed Thursday (NZT), the 29-year-old will have to play four days in succession if he is to reach Monday (NZT) title showdown.

"I have the feeling I played three matches against him," a grinning Djokovic told the crowd after donning a yellow rain hat during his victory speech.

"Yesterday the match was interrupted three times and it wasn't easy coming here at 9am and leaving at 7.30 or 8pm.

"So that's the reason why we should have the roof here. I'm hoping we're going to have it very soon," added the Serb after joining athletes such as golfer Tiger Woods and boxer Lennox Lewis in the $US100 million club.

Djokovic will be back in action to contest his 28th successive major quarter-final against Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych, a 6-3 7-5 6-3 winner over 2013 runner-up David Ferrer.

Reuters