Djokovic battles to victory, set to face 'prodigy' at Roland Garros 2026

The intense heat posed major challenges for Novak Djokovic during the second round at Roland Garros this year.

Novak Djokovic continues his campaign at Roland Garros 2026 by securing a grueling win over home player Valentin Royer under extreme weather conditions in Paris. The Serbian spent more than 3 hours and 40 minutes on court in temperatures exceeding 32°C to earn his place in the third round of the year's second Grand Slam.

On Court Philippe Chatrier on the evening of May 28 (Vietnam time), Djokovic beat Royer 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 after a 3-hour-44-minute contest. At 39, the former world No. 1 struggled against a French opponent 15 years his junior, currently ranked 74th in the ATP.

Throughout the match, Djokovic frequently applied ice packs to his neck and head during set breaks to cope with the scorching heat. Paris temperatures have surpassed 32°C for the fourth consecutive day of this year's tournament.

"Having to play over three and a half hours on clay in this heat is really exhausting. These are extremely tough conditions for any player.", Nole said after the match.

Although he cruised through the first two sets, Djokovic unexpectedly let Royer force a fourth set after missing an early finish in the third-set tie-break. The Serbian shanked a backhand at the decisive moment and needed four more match points before closing out the match on an opponent error.

After the final point, the Grand Slam record-holder nearly crumpled onto the clay in exhaustion before performing his trademark violin celebration with the racket.

This victory extends Novak Djokovic's perfect record against French players at Roland Garros to 14-0, while also marking his 21st consecutive third-round appearance at the tournament.

Nole's next opponent at this year's Roland Garros is the bright young Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca. The player, known for his heavy forehand, staged a brave comeback to defeat Dino Prizmic in five sets.