Anniversary in pain: Grand slam record winner Novak Djokovic has reached the third round of the French Open for the 20th time in a row.
The Serb prevailed on Thursday evening against the Frenchman Corentin Moutet 6: 3, 6: 2, 7: 6 (7: 1) and thus held a course for a possible quarter -finals against Alexander Zverev.
However, Djokovic caused anxious moments in the third set. At 2: 2 he was injured on his left foot, had himself treated after the 2: 3 for a long time and then noticeably conceded the break to 2: 4.
But the “Djoker” bit through, fought his way into the Tiebreak quite suffering and converted his first match ball after 3:04 hours. “Overall, I played really well. The third set was hard, now I’m looking forward to the day of rest,” he said.
Djokovic is at the start for the 21st time in a series at the classic sand. Only at his premiere in 2005 did he fail in the second round when he gave up against the Argentine Guillermo Coria. In the following 19 years, Djokovic won the tournament three times, lost four times in the final, five times in the semi -finals, six times in the quarter -finals (including retreat 2024) and only once in the third round.
Djokovic already strong in 2024 in Paris
In addition, Djokovic stayed with a single in Paris for the eighth time in a row without a set – last year he had won Olympic gold in the Stade Roland Garros with a flawless record in six games.
In addition to the old star, two of the most spectacular young stars also moved into the round of the last 32. The Brazilian top talent João Fonseca (18) defeated the Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7: 6 (7: 4), 7: 6 (7: 4), 6: 4 and remained again without loss of sets. The great French hopeful Arthur Fils (20), who had beaten in Miami Zverev in March, went into a wild game against the Spaniard Jaume Munar 7: 6 (7: 3), 7: 6 (7: 4), 2: 6, 0: 6, 6: 4.