Novak Djokovic advanced to the French Open’s third round on Wednesday with a four-set victory, continuing his most recent attempt to win a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam championship. However, he urged that matches be rescheduled later in the day to avoid the intense heat at Roland Garros.
Similar to how he defeated a home player in his first round, the 39-year-old defeated world number 74 Valentin Royer 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3 on Court Philippe Chatrier under the scorching sun.
“Obviously the feelings on the court are different when you win. It was a match in very difficult (weather) conditions,” AFP quoted Djokovic as saying.
As temperatures in the French city continue to reach the mid-30s Celsius, Djokovic subsequently told reporters that matches should be postponed to avoid playing during the warmest part of the day.
“Honestly, with Grand Slams it shouldn’t be an issue, generally, because we have so many courts. We have lights. You know, there’s no issue. You have big courts. You can play the matches. You can reschedule them some other courts and have still the crowd in the stadium and everything,” he said.
“For example, Umag in Croatia where matches are starting later in the afternoon, you know, 5:00 p.m. or something, and they play until deep at night.
“Yeah, is that ideal to go over midnight? Yeah, it’s not. But if you have, you know, certain days that you have extreme heat and conditions, then maybe that’s something to consider.”
Djokovic easily moved into a two-set lead over Royer on center court.
The Frenchman, who was born just five kilometers away from the Roland Garros complex, gave the local supporters something to celebrate when he twice stopped Djokovic’s breaks to tie the third set at 3-3 and 4-4.
Then, after falling behind 0-3 in the tie-break, he rallied center court to force a fourth set. With the match quickly reaching the three-hour mark, Djokovic appeared to falter in the late afternoon glare as he opened the frame with a valiant serve.
However, the three-time French Open champion persevered to stay in the match, and Royer grinned as he watched in disbelief when a stretched forehand from wide out beyond the net post tore off the ground just inside his baseline.
Djokovic only needed that flash of genius to rejuvenate himself, as he broke for a 3-1 lead in the very next match before securing his place among the final 32.
“I think Valentin merits a big round of applause for his performance today. I hope I won’t play any more French players for the rest of the tournament,” Djokovic added with a wry laugh.
Joao Fonseca, a 19-year-old Brazilian who was born more than a year after the veteran’s Roland Garros debut, will be Djokovic’s next opponent.
There will undoubtedly be a sizable, boisterous audience supporting Djokovic’s opponent for Friday’s third-round encounter, even if he has been granted his wish to avoid playing a French player right away.
Everywhere Fonseca plays, he draws large crowds of Brazilian supporters. On Wednesday, on Court 14, many of his countrymen were present to support him as he defeated 20-year-old Croatian Dino Prizmic in five sets. Prizmic was the player who had defeated Djokovic at the Italian Open earlier in May.
For the first time in his professional career, Fonseca overcame a two-set deficit to win 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, and 6-2 in a match between two emerging tour stars that more than lived up to expectations.
“Fonseca has been praised so much in the last couple of years. You know, I think his potential and quality as a tennis player is obvious, no doubt about it. He’s got big Brazilian support anywhere he goes. I think he’s a big-stage player. He really loves the occasion,” Djokovic said of the 28th seed.
This will be Fonseca’s first encounter with the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
