Djokovic Reaches Roland Garros Third Round for Historic 20th Time

PARIS: Novak Djokovic secured his place in the third round of the French Open by defeating Corentin Moutet in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1), at Court Suzanne Lenglen on Thursday.

This marks the 20th time Djokovic has progressed to the Roland Garros third round, an unprecedented achievement surpassing even Rafael Nadal’s record.

Moutet began strongly, breaking Djokovic’s serve in the first game, but the 24-time Grand Slam champion quickly regained command of the match.

Djokovic navigated the first two sets comfortably. However, the third set presented more of a challenge for the Serbian player.

Djokovic, who was seen cycling in central Paris on Wednesday, requested a medical timeout to address a blister on his left big toe. Despite the discomfort, he maintained composure to clinch the third set in a tie-break.

Djokovic acknowledged that the pain caused him some difficulty during the match but stated that it wouldn’t impede his progress in upcoming matches.

“The blister made things a bit complicated and bothered me. However, I’m confident it won’t hinder my recovery,” Djokovic commented post-match.

Although Djokovic’s recent form has been inconsistent, he believes his victory in Geneva has restored his confidence.

“Prior to the Geneva tournament last week, I lacked confidence in my performance, which is understandable given my insufficient match wins,” Djokovic stated. “In that regard, I’m just like any other player; I’ve had to put in considerable effort to achieve victory.”