Trungelliti: Djokovic Rallies Past Mpetshi Perricard in Four Sets
trungelliti, Novak Djokovic opened his French Open campaign with a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 comeback over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Sunday. The match lasted just under three hours. It kept the 39-year-old alive in his chase for a 25th major crown and a fourth French Open title.
Djokovic, Mpetshi Perricard
Djokovic said, “The match, it was very challenging, obviously mentally,” after a first-round fight that turned after he dropped the opening set. He also called the Frenchman’s serve one of the biggest tests he has faced, saying, “First set, zero chance on him serving. It’s one of the most tremendous serves in terms of precision and speed that I have ever faced in my career.”
The result mattered because it was Djokovic’s first win on clay in 2026. It also came in his record 82nd appearance at a major, with his last Grand Slam title still the 2023 US Open.
Roland Garros pressure
Djokovic has now started the same tournament where he is trying to push past every other player in the sport’s history with a 25th major title. That target sits over every round at Roland Garros, where he has already built enough success to make anything short of another deep run feel like a check on that chase.
He summed up the physical side bluntly: “Three hours, just what the doctor ordered at age 39.” The line fits a match that demanded more than a routine opening-round win and left him having to work through Mpetshi Perricard’s power before the clay began to tilt his way.
Royer and Zverev
Djokovic will next face Valentin Royer, who beat Hugo Dellien to reach the second round. Alexander Zverev also advanced on Sunday, beating Benjamin Bonzi 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 before saying it was “always nice to start with a straight-sets win.”
Zverev’s next opponent is Tomas Machac, who beat Zizou Bergs 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Karen Khachanov also moved through after beating Arthur Gea in straight sets, and Gea had to ask the umpire for a mid-match toilet break.
