15:56
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 3:3
Well then, yes! Again Djokovic has the breakball and again Davidovich Fokina goes to work quite courageously. However, his backhand longline gets caught in the net. Unnecessary mistakes by the Spaniard, who has to accept them in order to remain active.
15:54
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 2:3
However, Davidovich Fokina shows himself from the best side and drives Djokovic across the square again. Even with the threat of a break behind him, the 23-year-old remains courageous and makes his debut.
15:52
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 2:3
This breakball comes out of nowhere for Novak Djokovic, who is forced to the net in front, but this time he can see it in time.
15:46
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 2:3
And there’s the break and above all it’s well deserved! The Spaniard lets the favorite run wild, chasing him from left to right and finding just the right balance between risk and safety.
15:45
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 2:2
The Djoker does not manage to secure free points after his own service. And from the baseline, his opponent has even made a slightly better impression here so far. Davidovich Fokina even has two breakballs now!
15:39
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 2:2
So far, the Spaniard has even made the better impression here! On the one hand he serves with incredible consistency, on the other hand he lets the Djoker run properly. Again and again he throws in the stop and also plays the lines well. Djokovic can almost always only hit while moving.
15:35
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 2:1
In the end, the Serb can secure his serve. However, the Djoker had to work hard for this. Everything stays in order for now!
15:34
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 1-1
A splendid point of the Spaniard! Davidovich Fokina brings Djoker forward with a great stop and then realizes early enough that the Serb is still getting the ball. Davidovich Fokina reaches Djokovic’s counter stop in time and turns the ball around the net post. It’s about debut again!
15:33
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 1-1
However, Djokovic knows these situations well enough and remains strong. He fends off the breakball with a service winner.
15:30
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 1-1
When it comes to the first serve, Novak Djokovic still has his problems. He doesn’t even bring half into the field. The Spaniard knows how to use this and attacks bravely. There is now even the breakball for the 23-year-old!
15:27
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 1-1
Of course, Davidovich Fokina needs his first serve against a strong return player like Novak Djokovic. This comes very consistently in this first service game and so the Spaniard can easily equalize to 1:1.
15:23
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 1-0
In the end, the Serb can still serve the game. He shows how important the service game was for him by tapping the balls, where he already takes his time.
15:21
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 0-0
If the Djoker doesn’t dominate the rally from the start, he doesn’t have the confidence to play the lines in this early phase. The passivity is punished, it is now 30:30.
15:19
N Djokovic – A Davidovich Fokina 0-0
Here we go! Novak Djokovic opens the game with his own service and immediately secures the first two points. His opponent does not have the necessary length in the return to put the Serb under pressure.
15:08
Fourth duel
The two players meet today for the third time. In 2021 Novak Djokovic won in two sets in Rome and at the Olympic Games. However, Davidovich Fokina won the last duel in April 2022 at the clay court tournament in Monte Carlo.
14:57
Can Davidovich Fokina stop the favorite?
However, the veteran is dealing with a different caliber today. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is seeded number 29 and obviously feels comfortable on the clay court. The appearance on the chatrier will certainly be a highlight for him. From the Spaniard’s point of view, it would be all the nicer if he could annoy the big favorite a little. However, everything has to be right for this. The 23-year-old is at least in good form, having knocked out two French players, van Assche and Fils, in the first two rounds.
14:41
Djokovic is looking towards title number three
Even though Novak Djokovic is known not to feel particularly comfortable on sand and there are “only” two successes in the French capital among his 22 Grand Slam titles, he is certainly one of the favorites to win. The Serb underpinned this status with two sovereign three-set victories at the start. A third success is now to follow.
14:21
Welcome!
Good day and hello to the French Open 2023. The third round is scheduled for this Friday. Novak Djokovic, who meets Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at around 3:15 p.m., is fighting for a place in the round of 16.