A marathon in the heat
Novak Djokovic had to dig deep to book his place in the third round at Roland Garros. Up against stubborn Frenchman Valentin Royer, the third seed came through in four sets (6-3, 6-2, 6-7[7], 6-3) after a gruelling 3h44 battle on Court Philippe Chatrier. The Serb paid the price for becoming too passive in the third set, allowing the Parisian to whip the crowd into a frenzy, before reasserting control in a sweltering fourth to seal a vital win.
The Serb’s cold anger at the schedule
Asked about how long he had been out there, the most successful man in the history of men’s tennis firmly put a journalist in his place after he described the match length as “reasonable”. Djokovic pointed out that a near-four-hour clay-court slog in that kind of heat was an extreme physical test. The champion also lamented the absence of a proper heat rule in Paris, suggesting matches should be pushed back to later in the afternoon when temperatures peak to protect players’ health.
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The “Djoko smash”: the champion’s self-mockery never fades
The press conference also produced a moment of humour when the talk turned to his overheads. Smiling, the Serb quickly shut it down, saying he was hardly the right man to discuss that particular shot. He laughed that his own fans had christened it the “Djoko smash”, making clear it remains the weakest part of his game and the shot he has trusted least throughout his brilliant career.
A generational clash ahead against Joao Fonseca
Next up for the holder of 24 Grand Slam titles is Brazilian prodigy Joao Fonseca, who has already knocked out another rising talent. Djokovic praised the 19-year-old’s quality, especially his ability to raise his level on the biggest stages. It shapes up as another brutal physical test in the stifling Paris fortnight, where recovery and the temperature could yet decide how the rest of the 2026 season unfolds.
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