(Paris) Novak Djokovic, the main favorite at Roland-Garros with world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz in the absence of Rafael Nadal, came out in three sets, but more than three and a half hours of a disjointed match against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich (34e) in the third round, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, Friday.
On several occasions throughout the match, Djokovic made gestures suggesting that he felt discomfort in his left thigh. He also got a massage at the end of the second round. However, he did not seem particularly affected in his movements throughout the game.
At the Australian Open in January, a torn left thigh did not prevent him from winning his 22e Grand Slam title and equal Nadal.
On Friday’s center court, again very windy, the first set stretched for an hour and a half, and the second lasted almost as long.
In each of these two rounds, Davidovich had his chances, but Djokovic was able to come back and, as often, he was the one who managed the important points best.
“I knew it was going to be a very tough, very physical match,” said “Nole.”
“Three hours for the first two races was maybe a bit too much. I said to myself that if I lost the second, we would probably play five hours, but you have to be ready, ”he added.
In the first set, the Spaniard twice scored a broken lead (3-2 and 6-5), each time immediately erased by the world No.3, before giving in to the decisive game.
In the second, he led 2 games to 0, balls 3 to 0, then even got a set point, 6-5 in his favor, service Djokovic, before experiencing the same fate. In the meantime, however, he had broken the 36-year-old Serb when he served to win the second set, at 5-4.
In the last round, Djokovic immediately escaped, and concluded with a final break.
In the round of 16, Djokovic will face either the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, world No.14, or the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas (94e).
Djokovic, 36 since the end of May, has for the first time the opportunity to become the first man with 23 Grand Slam trophies to his name.