PARIS — In the relentless Paris heat wave, Novak Djokovic resorted to ice packs around his neck and atop his head during changeovers to stay cool at the French Open on Wednesday.
At 39, Djokovic faced a spirited challenge from 74th-ranked French player, Valentin Royer, who is 15 years his junior. After a grueling battle lasting over 3.5 hours, Djokovic advanced to the third round with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-3.
Once again, temperatures soared above 32 degrees Celsius for the fourth consecutive day of this year’s tournament.
“This was a very challenging match under intense conditions,” Djokovic remarked. “It was a significant test for me… My experience played a crucial role.”
Early in the fourth set, Djokovic delivered a stunning forehand around the net post, prompting him to gesture enthusiastically to the crowd inside Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Djokovic had a chance to wrap up the match sooner but faltered with a backhand in the third-set tiebreaker, necessitating four additional match points before Royer’s forehand hit the net, concluding the lengthy rally.
When the moment finally arrived after 3 hours and 44 minutes, Djokovic nearly stumbled on the clay but then performed his signature violin celebration, pretending to play his racket as if it were a string instrument.
Before arriving in Paris, Royer had only one tour-level victory in 11 tournaments this season.
Djokovic entered Roland Garros with doubts surrounding his form, having lost to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic in his sole clay-court match prior to the tournament after a two-month hiatus due to a right shoulder injury.
However, Djokovic is steadily regaining his form, having come from a set down to defeat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, another Frenchman, in a first-round encounter that stretched nearly three hours.
With this win, Djokovic boasts an impressive 14-0 record against French players at Roland Garros, marking his 21st consecutive year reaching the third round. He previously claimed the Coupe des Mousquetaires in 2016, 2021, and 2023.
“I hope to avoid facing more Frenchmen until the tournament concludes,” Djokovic joked during his post-match interview. “Oh my, I’ve had enough!”
A couple of enthusiastic Djokovic supporters in the stadium displayed a sign featuring a goat — signifying “Greatest of All Time” — proclaiming, “39 is the new 29.”
Next up for Djokovic is likely a tougher match against either 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca or 20-year-old Prizmic, who were set to play later. Fonseca is seen as a future Grand Slam powerhouse, while Djokovic has high hopes for Prizmic after their encounter in Rome.
On another court, Jakub Mensik collapsed due to cramps after a grueling five-set tiebreaker against Mariano Navone that lasted 4 hours and 41 minutes.
In a separate match on Court 6, Hailey Baptiste had to retire while facing a set point against Wang Xiyu after an awkward landing on her left leg.
Meanwhile, second-seeded Alexander Zverev was set to face Tomas Machac in the night session.
Elena Rybakina, the Australian Open champion, suffered a defeat at the hands of Ukrainian Yuliia Starodubtseva, with a final score of 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Also moving forward were the in-form Ukrainians, Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk, fresh off victories at the Madrid Open and Italian Open, respectively.
The seventh-seeded Svitolina extended her win streak to eight matches with a commanding 6-0, 6-4 win over Kaitlin Quevedo. The 15th-seeded Kostyuk stretched her own winning streak to 13 matches, defeating Katie Volynets 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3.
“I’m just relieved that I didn’t cramp or pass out during the match,” Kostyuk expressed after her nearly three-hour battle. “It wasn’t an easy match for anyone.”
Swiatek elevates Paris record to 42-3
The four-time champion Iga Swiatek bolstered her career record at Roland Garros to an impressive 42-3 by defeating 35th-ranked Sara Bejlek 6-2, 6-3.
Swiatek’s triumphs at Roland Garros occurred in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Her next match will pit her against Magda Linette in the first all-Polish clash at Roland Garros since the professional era began in 1968. Linette advanced by defeating 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.
