Novak Djokovic: Former world No 1 into French Open second round with four-set win over Giovanni Mpetschi Pericard | tennis news

Novak Djokovic reached the second round of the French Open with a four-set win over Giovanni Mpetschi Pericard.

Making a record 82nd appearance at the majors, Djokovic sealed a 5-7 7-5 6-1 6-4 victory over Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The Serb has left behind Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez For the most Grand Slam men’s singles matches, his tally reached 82, but he was far from his dominant best this season with only one previous match on clay.

Djokovic celebrated the win, saying: “I want to congratulate Giovanni for a great match. I’ve never faced a performance like this in my career.

“I had no chance in the first set. The second set changed a bit for me. In a match like that you have to stay focused and wait for the opportunity, it’s a bit tricky but I found my best game, you can say, and my comeback at the right moment.”

That rust appeared briefly and Mpetshi ⁠Perricard raced to a 6-5 lead in the opening set, which he claimed with a big ace in the next game to become the first man in 17 years to take the set past Djokovic in the first round at Roland-Garros.

Third-seeded Djokovic more than measured Mpetschi Pericard’s power from the baseline and earned the 10th break point of the second set to level the contest, and the 39-year-old Cruz steadily dialed up the intensity through the third set.

Mpetshi Perricard received treatment for wrist and hand problems and recovered an early break in the next set, but Djokovic went ahead again at 4-3 and cruised to an opening victory.

Advancing to the second round for the 22nd consecutive Roland-Garros, the three-time champion will next face the Frenchman Valentin Rayer.

The 24-year-old beat Hugo Delian 6-4 6-2 6-2 in one hour and 58 minutes.

Fritz stumbles and falls to Basaredi

An injury-hindered clay-court season ended in a blur to American Nishesh Basvaredi, who stunned seventh seed Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (9-11) 6-1.

Fritz returned from an opening defeat in Geneva last week after two months out with a knee injury and he showed signs of rust under the afternoon sun on Court Suzanne-Lenglen against 21-year-old wildcard Basvaredi.

“I knew I was playing at a high level,” Basvaredi said. “If I kept going, I would have had more opportunities, and I was able to come out strong early in the fourth set. That was the best set I think I’ve played.”

Zverev on cruise control under the blazing sun

Alexander Zverev opened his campaign with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 first-round demolition of France’s Benjamin Bonzi.

The 2024 runner-up and three-time semi-finalist, who is chasing his maiden Grand Slam title, did not let the world number 95 in Philippe-Chatrier’s competition as he set up a second-round meeting with Tomasz Machak.

“Very good start to the tournament, it’s always good to start with a straight sets win, especially against Benjamin who can be a tough opponent,” said the German second seed.

Abhishek takes an emergency bathroom break

Home player Arthur Gea ran off the court for an emergency bathroom break early in the first set of his debut on Sunday.

“I have to go to the bathroom. I can’t move anymore. I’m going (to) the court,” Gea told the chair umpire in French before rushing off the court.

135th ranked Gia made her move when she was trailing 13th seed Karen Khachanov 4-2. Khachanov won 6-3 7-6 (7-3) 6-0.

Gea said the umpire allowed him a break due to a “medical situation” and he was given some medicine to cure a stomach ache.

After the match, Gea said that he didn’t feel sick the night before but he started feeling sick when he woke up in the morning.

“It was worse during the match,” he said. “I had to go to the toilet very quickly.”

What’s happening at the French Open on Monday?

The first round of the French Open continues with the British qualifiers Toby Samuel23, Australian eighth seed Alex de Minaur will play on Court 14 at 10am BST, while fellow Brit Katie Boulter The American will face world number 185 Akasha Urhobo on court number 8

Four-time champion Iga Suatek, world No. 2 Elena Rybakina and newly crowned Italian Open champion Elina Svitolina are among the top seeds in action.

Meanwhile, former champion Stan Wawrinka and home favorite Gael Monfils are set to bid farewell to Roland-Garros ahead of retirement.

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