PARIS – On the French Open on Wednesday, Novak Djokovic positioned an ice pack on his neck and head throughout a changeover to remain cool amid the Parisian warmth wave.
Djokovic, 39, was pushed for greater than three and a half hours by Frenchman Valentin Royer, 15 years his junior and ranked 74th on this planet, successful 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-3 to advance to the third spherical.
At this yr’s event, temperatures exceeded 90 levels Fahrenheit for 4 consecutive days.
“It was a really, very tough match in tough situations,” Djokovic stated. “It was a giant problem for me. … The expertise helped me so much.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion waved his arms on the crowd inside Court docket Philippe-Chatrier as Djokovic gained an important level early within the fourth set with a forehand that hit the web submit from far down the court docket.
Djokovic squandered an opportunity to finish the match with an extended missed backhand within the third set tie-break, then wanted 4 extra match factors in his closing service sport, however Royer’s forehand in the end discovered the web, ending an extended rally.
When the match lastly ended after 3 hours and 44 minutes, Djokovic first practically tripped on the clay after which carried out a violin celebration.
Earlier than arriving in Paris, Royer had gained simply considered one of 11 tournaments this season on the tour stage.
Djokovic got here to Roland Garros uncertain about his kind after shedding by fall to Croatian qualifier Dino Prismic in his solely clay court docket match earlier than the event, taking part in the Italian Open for the primary time in two months because of a proper shoulder harm.
However Djokovic is beginning to regain his kind, bouncing again from a set right down to defeat fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpesi Pericard in a first-round match that lasted practically three hours.
Djokovic improved to 14-0 in his profession towards French opponents at Roland Garros and reached the third spherical in Paris for the twenty first consecutive yr. He lifted the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophies in 2016, 2021 and 2023.
“I hope I do not play one other Frenchman till the top of the event,” Djokovic stated with fun in an on-court interview. “Oh, that is sufficient.”
Two Djokovic followers inside the primary stadium held up placards with a goat on them and the phrases “39 is the brand new 29.”
Djokovic’s subsequent match could possibly be an even bigger check towards 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca or 20-year-old Prismik, who will play later. Fonseca has been touted as a future Grand Slam candidate, however Djokovic himself recommended huge issues are in retailer for Prismik after their assembly in Rome.
No. 11 Andrei Rublev and No. 13 Karen Khachanov have been additionally among the many gamers who superior to Wednesday’s third spherical.
Second seed Alexander Zverev then confronted Tomas Machak within the night time session.
