2026-05-28 08:47:57
Novak Djokovic has confessed that it was “not ideal” to play four sets in his French Open win over Valentin Royer.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner required nearly four hours to see off the home hope in the fierce heat at Roland Garros on Wednesday (27.05.26) but was left with a sense of frustration that he was unable to close out the match sooner.
Djokovic, 39, said: “Really important win for me.
“It was a very difficult match, a very big challenge from the start. Credit to him for winning the third set, but I feel it was my fault because I was twice a break up and [attempted] to serve for the match. Just too passive on those points, and he took his chances, and he got the crowd support he was looking for.
“I think he was playing on a high level. He was pumped. You could see it from the first point, really with clear intentions what he needs to do tactically.
“He’s a fighter. I never faced him before, but I saw some of the matches he’s played. He’s a great fighter, competes well. So just a very good win for me. Obviously not ideal that I stayed almost four hours on the court, but of course, positive when you win.”
Djokovic has had limited preparation on clay heading into the French Open and TNT Sports pundit Tim Henman questioned whether being taken to four sets may affect the world number four later on in the tournament.
The former British number one said: “First and foremost the result is the most important bit, but to spend that amount of time on court in that type of heat, he will recover, but you wonder if the implications are further down the road if he gets through to the second week.
“Will energy levels recover to 100 per cent? It’s a good win, and hopefully he can recover properly.”
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