ISLAMABAD: Novak Djokovic continued his flawless run against French players at Roland Garros by defeating Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) on Thursday to secure his place in the third round of the French Open.
The 38-year-old tennis legend showed resilience despite battling a blister on his left foot that required a medical timeout during the third set.
Djokovic’s Strong Performance Despite Injury
Djokovic dominated the first two sets comfortably but faced a challenge in the third when Moutet earned a set point.
After receiving treatment for his blister, Djokovic managed to regain composure and clinched the tiebreak decisively. “Things got a little bit complicated with the blister.
That was bothering me for a bit,” Djokovic admitted but remained confident that it would not affect his recovery.
His win marks the 12th time he has defeated French opponents at Roland Garros without a loss, extending his perfect record.
Djokovic is now through to the last 32 for the 20th time, a record surpassing even the 14-time champion Rafael Nadal.
Upcoming Match and Lighthearted Moments
Djokovic will face Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic next, who recently won a tough five-set battle against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov.
Meanwhile, Djokovic shared a humorous anecdote about his nighttime cycling adventure around the busy Arc de Triomphe, describing it as an adrenaline-filled but somewhat dangerous experience that he is unlikely to repeat.
In lighter news, Djokovic expressed his hope that the tournament schedule would avoid a clash with the Champions League final, where Paris Saint-Germain will play Inter Milan. “It’s going to be PSG that I will support. I will definitely watch it if I’m not playing night session,” he joked.
The Serbian star now focuses on maintaining his form to advance further in the tournament and add to his illustrious Grand Slam legacy.
