Novak Djokovic advances to fourth round with hard-fought win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at French Open

Novak Djokovic beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(4) 7-6(5) 6-2 to progress to the fourth round of the French Open.

The Serbian was forced to fight hard to stay in the first two sets, before completing the job in more comfortable style in the third.

Speaking after the match, Djokovic said: “I knew that it was going to be a difficult, physical match. We played three hours, only two sets. He contested well. He’s an amazing fighter and player and does not have many weaknesses in his game. Congratulations to him for fighting, and bad luck, but a great match.

“Of course, a win is a win,” he added.

“Maybe the first two sets were [too long]. If I lost the second set, I’d have probably played for five hours today. But you have to be ready.

“That’s what Slams are all about, best of five. Playing on the slowest surface in sport. It takes a lot of effort but we have to believe in ourselves and try to make the most out of it. I’m proud of the performance today.”

Djokovic led the head-to-head 2-1 coming into their fourth meeting, but Davidovich Fokina had won their last match – and their only previous on clay – at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2022.

And the world No. 34 had Djokovic searching for answers during a hard-fought opening two sets. However, Djokovic – a winner at Roland-Garros in 2016 and 2021 – dug deep.

First, he broke as the Spaniard served for the first set and took that momentum into the tie-break, sealing the opener at the first opportunity.

Davidovich Fokina responded, fashioning a set point in the twelfth game of the second set. The Serbian world No. 3 rallied again however to take it to another tie-break. Again, in a showing of ruthless efficiency, the former world No. 1 took the first set point he fashioned.

When Djokovic broke the serve of his opponent early in the third, it looked like he would run away with the set and then match. However, Davidovich Fokina again made a fist of it; first holding and then fashioning a break opportunity, but was unable to convert.

And Djokovic – with a three-game cushion – was solid behind his serve and added a second break to seal his progression to the next round.

He will face Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas in the fourth round.

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