Djokovic battles back from a set down to beat Mpetshi Perricard at French Open
Quick Look
- Novak Djokovic, the third seed at the French Open, showed signs of rust as he was forced to fight back from a set down to defeat world number 83 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in four sets.
- Djokovic will face Valentin Royer in the second round.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Novak Djokovic, the third seed at the French Open and a contender for a record 25th Grand Slam title, had a limited singles match schedule in 2026 prior to the tournament. He faced Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, ranked world number 83, in the first round.
Novak Djokovic showed signs of rust as he was forced to fight back from a set down to beat world number 83 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in four sets in the first round of the French Open.
The third seed, who is bidding for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, had only played 11 singles matches in 2026 prior to arriving in Paris, including losing in three sets to Dino Prizmic in his only outing on clay.
The 39-year-old was visibly frustrated in the opening two sets as he struggled against the 6ft 7in (2.01m) Frenchman's serve and ferocious forehand, conceding the first set 7-5 and later wasting nine break points in the second before converting his fourth set point.
That proved the turning point in the match, with Djokovic rattling through the third set in just 22 minutes before closing out the win 5-7 7-5 6-1 6-4.
He will face another home hope, Valentin Royer, in round two on Wednesday.
Open Questions
- Will Djokovic's rustiness continue to affect his performance in later rounds?
- How will Djokovic's age impact his endurance throughout the tournament?
