Novak Djokovic reaches third round of Roland Garros after tough battle against Royer

Novak Djokovic has advanced to the third round of Roland Garros after defeating French player Valentin Royer. The Serbian star won 3-1 in sets — 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 — and continued his campaign for another major result on the Paris clay.

Although it seemed that Djokovic would finish the job quickly, the match lasted much longer than expected. Novak dominated the first two sets, controlled the rhythm, moved well and kept his opponent away from any serious chance with confident tennis. Royer, the world No. 74, had no answer in that period for the Serbian player’s precise shots.

However, Djokovic’s level dropped in the third set. Novak broke twice, but the Frenchman managed to respond both times. Royer began playing much more aggressively, taking risks in almost every point, and that approach paid off in the tie-break. He converted his second set point and extended the match, even though Djokovic had previously had a chance to close it out.

The fourth set brought another battle, but also confirmed the Serbian player’s quality. Djokovic managed to make the key break in the middle of the set and then withstood Royer’s final push. The Frenchman saved several match points, but Novak eventually managed to finish the match and secure his place among the last 32.

The match was played in very difficult conditions, with intense heat in Paris, but Djokovic did not show any major physical problems. On the contrary, for most of the contest he looked confident, energetic and ready for long rallies. Still, nine double faults and the fluctuations in the third set are details he will need to pay attention to in the rest of the tournament.

Djokovic finished the match with 46 winners and 38 unforced errors. With the victory over Royer, he also extended his impressive run against French players at Roland Garros — he now has a 14-0 record against home players in Paris.

This match was also special because of another record. Novak Djokovic played his 120th match at Roland Garros, becoming the player with the most appearances at a single Grand Slam tournament in singles competition.

In the third round, Djokovic will face the winner of the match between Joao Fonseca and Dino Prizmic. Both possible opponents represent a serious challenge: Fonseca is considered one of the most talented young players in the world, while Prizmic recently defeated Novak in the opening round of the Rome Masters.

Novak once again showed that, despite his age and less-than-ideal preparation for the clay season, he still has the winning instinct and quality for the biggest stage. His journey in Paris continues, and the Serbian player will once again take it step by step.