Staff Reporter.
Novak Djokovic maintained his perfect record against Frenchmen at Roland Garros on Thursday, when he shut down the Corentin Moutet show to reach third round of the French Open.
Two more wins, and Djokovic will get to the tournament’s quarterfinals for the 16th consecutive year. In 2024, though, he withdrew before playing in that round after tearing the meniscus in his right knee during the fourth round and needing surgery.
Djokovic has won three of his men’s-record 24 Grand Slam titles in Paris.
Djokovic, who went on a nighttime bicycle ride in the center of Paris on Wednesday, slid into a forehand and held up, then hopped with all of his weight on his right foot. He stepped gingerly to the sideline and requested a visit from a trainer, who treated and taped the problematic big toe.
“Before last week’s tournament in Geneva, I didn’t feel confident in my game. But it’s normal to feel that way, because I hadn’t won enough matches,” Djokovic said. “I’m like any other player in that respect. I’ve had to work hard to win.”
Meanwhile Australian world number nine Alex De Minaur and Czech 19th seed Jakub Mensik both exited Roland Garros on Thursday – and both after winning the first two sets.
De Minaur lost 2-6 2-6 6-4 6-3 6-2 to 62nd-ranked Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, a talented but often temperamental payer.
Bublik said afterwards he had already accepted defeat before mounting a comeback.
“I was checking the tickets [home] already in my head. I didn’t really care, in a way. I was like I will accept the loss,” the 27-year-old said.
“It was a bit early for me. I was a bit sleepy in the first two sets. So it was key to wake up and then to play one of the best Slam matches that I ever played in my life.”
Elsewhere home hope Arthur Fils came through a gruelling four-and-a-half-hour match against Spain’s Jaime Munar, despite being unable to move at one point because of a back injury.
The 20-year-old required treatment during the third set and looked down and out after the fourth set.
But after taking painkillers, and roared on enthusiastically by the French supporters, the 14th seed fought back from a break down in the decider to compete victory.
Fils ripped off his shirt as he celebrated the 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 0-6 6-4 victory and lapped up the applause from the crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
“This is my best match of all time” Fils said.
“I have had some difficult matches but this one is the best five-set match that I have ever played. I could have lost this match. “I was lucky. But it’s going to be one of my best five-set matches ever of my life.”