Arabic version: نوفاك ديوكوفيتش يتقدم بعد مباراة صعبة في الدور الأول من بطولة فرنسا المفتوحة

Novak Djokovic celebrated his progression to the second round of the French Open with a dance on the baseline, contrasting sharply with the struggle he faced against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The third seed, who turned 39 on Friday, had to overcome an initial setback, winning the match in four sets: 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4. According to BBC News, Djokovic’s victory extended his first-round unbeaten record at Roland Garros to 22 matches.

Entering the match with limited competitive play this season, Djokovic’s lack of match sharpness was evident, particularly against the 6ft 7in Frenchman. Despite struggling to read Mpetshi Perricard’s serve and powerful forehand, Djokovic managed to level the match after converting his fourth set point in a closely contested second set. The momentum shifted in his favor, allowing him to dominate the third set in just 22 minutes.

Djokovic acknowledged the challenge posed by Mpetshi Perricard, particularly his serving prowess, which led to a high number of winners. The Serbian expressed his frustration during the early stages of the match but found his rhythm as the contest progressed, engaging with the crowd and demonstrating his competitive spirit.

Looking ahead, Djokovic is set to face Valentin Royer in the second round. Meanwhile, the tournament saw an upset as American Taylor Fritz, the first top-10 seed to exit, lost to compatriot Nishesh Basavareddy in a five-set match. In contrast, German second seed Alexander Zverev opened his campaign with a straight-set win over France’s Benjamin Bonzi.