Three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic gave his opponent and the partisan crowd some hope, but took it away in a four-set second round triumph Wednesday in Paris.
The No. 3-seeded Serbian was up a break on two occasions and earned a match point in the third set, but France's Valentin Royer dug in and captured the set in a tie-breaker. But Djokovic broke in the fourth game of the fourth set and triumphed, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-3 in another unseasonably warm day on the baked clay courts.
The 39-year old, who last earned the title in Paris in 2023, served half of his 10 aces in the match in the final set. But serving at 5-3, he could not convert on three match points and gave Royer one break chance before finally prevailing in three hours, 47 minutes.
"Clearly, the feelings on the court are different when you win a match, so it was a very important victory in conditions that weren't easy for both players," Djokovic said in French in his on-court interview. "It was very hot and I think that Valentin deserves a big round of applause for his performance today.
"It was a very difficult match, a very big challenge from the start. Credit to him for winning the third set, but I feel it was my fault because I was twice a break up and (attempted) to serve for the match."
Djokovic will take on 19-year old Brazilian phenom Joao Fonseca in the third round on Friday. Fonseca, the No. 28 seed, rallied for a 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 triumph over 20-year old Croatian Dino Prizmic.
It will be the first meeting between the iconic Djokovic and the wildly popular Fonseca.
Fonseca only earned seven break point chances, but capitalized on 6 of 7.
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Second-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany delivered 19 aces while cruising to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Tomas Machac of Czechia.
Zverev won 84.4% (38 of 45) of his first-serve points and had a 45-18 edge in winners.
No. 11 Russian Andrey Rublev outlasted Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), and No. 13 Russian Karen Khachanov edged Argentina's Marco Trungelliti, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (4).
No. 24 Tommy Paul sailed to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Italy's Lorenzo Sonego. Also, Nishesh Basavareddy, who sent No. 7 Taylor Fritz packing in the first round, didn't have the same magic on Wednesday. Fellow American Alex Michelsen beat Basavareddy 7-6 (5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Despite battling cramps and collapsing on the court after the final point, No. 26 Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic overcome Mariano Navone of Argentina, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (11), and No. 27 Rafael Jodar, a 19-year old from Spain, outlasted Australian veteran James Duckworth, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5.
Australian No. 7 Alex de Minaur advanced via a walkover past Germany's Alexander Blockx, who suffered an ankle injury during practice on Tuesday.
One Argentine to advance was Thiago Agustin Tirante, who rallied to defeat Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-3.
In a battle of Frenchmen, Quentin Halys moved past No. 32 Ugo Humbert, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8).
--Field Level Media
Three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic gave his opponent and the partisan crowd some hope, but took it away in a four-set secon...
