Djokovic advances at Roland Garros after scare against Frenchman

Serbian Novak Djokovic advanced this Wednesday to the third round of the French Open by beating Frenchman Valentin Royer by 3 sets to 1, with partials of 6/3, 6/2, 6/7(7) and 6/3.

Seed number three, Djokovic is seeking the 25th Grand Slam title of his career in Paris, an unprecedented milestone in men's tennis.

The 39-year-old Serbian dominated the first two sets on the Philippe-Chatrier court, showing precision and control on another day of intense heat at the tournament. In the third part, Djokovic opened up an advantage with a break of serve, but saw Royer grow in the match with aggressive blows and greater support from the French fans.

The 24-year-old saved a match point in the tie-break and won the set, sending the crowd into a frenzy. During the difficult moment, Djokovic showed irritation and complained towards his coaches' box.

Despite this, the Serb regained control in the fourth set and quickly took a 4-1 lead. In the final stretch, he still faced instability when serving to close the match at 5-3, wasting three match points and saving a break point before confirming the victory.

Three-time Roland Garros champion, Djokovic is competing in the main draw of the French tournament for the 22nd time, equaling the historic record for participation. With the result, he became only the fourth man in the Open Era to reach the third round in Paris after the age of 39.

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Source: CNN