Novak Djokovic to begin Roland Garros campaign on Sunday against Mpetshi Perricard

Novak Djokovic will begin his Roland Garros campaign on Sunday, when he faces French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round. The exact time of the match will be announced later by the tournament organizers in Paris.

The Serbian tennis star arrives at the second Grand Slam of the season in far from ideal circumstances. Djokovic has admitted that he is not in his best physical condition ahead of the tournament and does not yet feel fully prepared for the demanding best-of-five-set format. However, the schedule gives him a few more days to improve his readiness before stepping onto the court.

His opening opponent will not be an easy one. Mpetshi Perricard is 22 years old, stands 201 centimeters tall and is known for his powerful serve, which can make him a very dangerous rival in the early stages of a Grand Slam. The Frenchman will also have extra motivation from the support of the home crowd.

Djokovic and Mpetshi Perricard have never faced each other on the ATP Tour, so their meeting in Paris will be their first head-to-head clash. The French player already has two ATP titles to his name, including one won on clay, which shows that he can also be effective on this surface.

The draw has not been particularly kind to Djokovic, especially considering his current form. The Serbian had a long break between Indian Wells and the Rome Masters, where he was eliminated in the opening round. For that reason, his first-round match at Roland Garros will be an important test of his physical condition, match rhythm and confidence.

Despite all the circumstances, Djokovic arrives in Paris as one of the greatest champions in tennis history and a player who has repeatedly shown that he can raise his level at Grand Slam tournaments when it matters most.