Novak Djokovic faced a challenging match at the French Open on Thursday, battling through a blister on his left toe. This issue forced him to take a medical timeout in the third set. At one point, he found himself just a point away from entering a fourth set, but he ultimately secured a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1) victory over Corentin Moutet.
Djokovic acknowledged Moutet’s talent, stating, “With him, anything’s possible. But I managed to find the right shots to stay in the match.”
This win marked Djokovic’s 20th time reaching the third round at Roland-Garros—an achievement no one else, not even Rafael Nadal, can claim. With two more wins, he could make it to the quarterfinals for the 16th year in a row. It’s worth noting that in 2024, he had to withdraw before the quarterfinals due to a knee injury.
In his career, Djokovic has claimed three of his record 24 Grand Slam titles in Paris.
Injury Concern for Djokovic
During the match against Moutet, a left-handed French player, Djokovic experienced an early setback, getting broken in the first game as the crowd cheered for Moutet. However, Djokovic quickly regained control. His troubles resurfaced at 2-all in the third set when he took a fall while hitting a forehand. He hopped on his right foot and requested a trainer to treat his sore big toe.
While Moutet initially took a 4-2 lead in the third set, Djokovic bounced back, facing a tough moment when he was down 6-5 and facing a set point, as the fans rallied behind Moutet. Fortunately for Djokovic, Moutet made an error with a backhand, and once they reached a tiebreaker, Djokovic demonstrated why he’s a champion.
This season had already seen Djokovic experience some ups and downs, including two losing streaks. However, he bounced back by winning his 100th career title at the Geneva Open just before arriving at Roland-Garros.
Reflecting on his struggles, Djokovic remarked, “Before last week’s tournament in Geneva, I didn’t feel confident in my game. But that’s normal, as I hadn’t won enough matches. I’ve had to work hard to achieve success, just like any other player.”
