Novak Djokovic, a titan of the game with 24 Grand Slam titles under his belt, is hoping the tournament schedule works in his favor as he gears up for his upcoming clash. After a solid victory over Corentin Moutet, Djokovic shared insights on a nagging injury and his expectations moving forward.
The Serbian star secured his spot in the third round with a convincing straight-sets win, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1), against the French wildcard. However, the real drama unfolded in the third set when Djokovic was forced to call for a medical timeout to tend to painful blisters on his foot—a concern that tested his resilience during the match.
Admitting the injury gave him some trouble, the sixth seed revealed, “Although it took me almost an hour to deal with the blister and the bleeding that I had. So that was not really a pleasant process.” Despite this, Djokovic remains optimistic about his physical condition ahead of the next round. “The recovery time is not much longer, I feel like. I mean, I’m pretty fit at the moment. I don’t feel like I have any major issues,” the three-time Roland Garros champion added.
His upcoming opponent is qualifier Filip Misolic, and Djokovic is counting on the rest days that Grand Slams afford to get back to full strength. “The good thing about Slams, obviously you have a day in between, so plenty of time to recover and get ready for [the] next one,” he noted, underlining the advantage of the tournament’s scheduling.
Beyond the court, Saturday holds extra excitement for Parisians with the Champions League final featuring hometown heroes PSG against Inter Milan in Munich. Djokovic lightheartedly expressed his hopes to avoid playing in the evening session at Roland Garros so he can catch the big match. “It’s going to be PSG that I will support. I will definitely watch it if I’m not playing [the] night session,” he said with a smile. Adding some playful advice for the tournament organisers, Djokovic quipped, “Yeah, that will be nice. FYI, Roland Garros schedule…”
Interestingly, Djokovic’s recent match was staged on Court Suzanne Lenglen, not his usual Philippe-Chatrier arena. To add to the uniqueness, the roof was closed during the contest, creating a distinct playing environment.
“It’s nothing we, as tennis players, aren’t used to day after day. We know that this constant adaptation exists, that every day can be completely different,” Djokovic explained, emphasizing the sport’s demands.
Clay courts, often referred to as ‘living’ surfaces, add their own layer of complexity, responding to every shift in temperature, humidity, and wind. “Clay is a ‘living’ surface, so to speak: it responds and reacts to any change in temperature, weather, wind, everything. You have to be constantly alert and flexible enough to adapt,” Djokovic elaborated.
The Serbian further pointed out that such unpredictability affects both players equally, underscoring the mental and physical toughness needed at Roland Garros. “It works the same for both of us, and it’s demanding, no doubt about it. It’s something we’re also used to in Paris; the weather is quite unpredictable. It can be very cold or very hot, which affects the bounce of the ball and how it flies through the air. It also depends on who you’re playing against. You have to be ready for anything.”
As Djokovic battles not only his rivals but also the elements and his own body, fans will be watching closely to see if he can navigate these hurdles en route to another deep run at the French Open.