Chennai

It was a marathon of four hours and 15 minutes. The intensity didn’t dip as Melzer triumphed 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-4 as Djokovic was stunned in the quarter-finals. Looking back, Melzer said it was the finest match he had ever played. “Of course, I am proud of it. It was in the French Open. It is something that has been done only once. I was maybe bit lucky but was fit enough to stay for fours with him,” he said. 

Six years later, fans haven’t still forgotten the epic. “Every time someone is 2-0 down to Novak and wins the third set, I get a lot of twitter mentions stating the only guy to do it,” he laughed. 

The Austrian, who rose to a career high of World No. eight, said playing both singles and doubles has made him a better player. “For me doubles was always important. I grew up playing soccer and doubles is the closest to being in a team and celebrating together. It has helped my singles game too by hitting accurate returns, playing serve and volley. There were singles matches that I lost because I played doubles but there were some I won because I got into rhythm I would not do any different If I have to do it again. I have been top 10 in singles and doubles at the same time,” Melzer said.

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