Novak Djokovic will have to put his Champions League plans on hold, as his playful bid to avoid a night session at Roland Garros was firmly turned down by French Open organisers. The 24-time Grand Slam champion had hoped to enjoy the highly anticipated clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, but he’ll now be stepping onto Court Philippe-Chatrier for a prime-time third-round battle instead.
Fresh off a commanding straight-sets victory over Frenchman Corentin Moutet—6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1)—Djokovic couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at the schedulers during his post-match comments. He remarked, “It’s going to be PSG that I will support. I will definitely watch it if I’m not playing [the] night session.” The Serb added, with a grin, “Yeah, that will be nice. FYI, Roland Garros schedule.”
The Serbian superstar was referencing the UEFA Champions League final set for a 21:00 kickoff on Saturday, May 31, where French giants PSG meet Italian powerhouses Inter Milan in a blockbuster showdown. But instead of watching the action from the stands or on TV, Djokovic will now be back in the spotlight under the lights, scheduled to begin his match at 20:15—just minutes before kickoff.
Up next for Djokovic is a clash with Filip Misolic, who earned his spot with a gritty five-set triumph over Denis Shapovalov. While some fans raised eyebrows when Djokovic called for a medical timeout during his second-round encounter, the three-time French Open winner was quick to allay fears.
“I mean, I’m pretty fit at the moment. I don’t feel like I have any major issues,” Djokovic assured the press, brushing aside fitness doubts. He did reveal a minor nuisance, adding, “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.” Still, he remains confident that the time between matches will allow him to fully reset. “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.”
Saturday’s night session will mark Djokovic’s return to an evening slot for the first time since the Miami Open, adding a different dynamic to the contest. Under the artificial lights and absent the day’s heat, players must adjust to slower ball speeds and lower bounce—a tactical twist that separates day play from night grind.
In his match against Moutet, rain forced the closure of the roof—an environmental shift that didn’t faze the seasoned campaigner. “It’s nothing we, as tennis players, aren’t used to day after day,” Djokovic said, highlighting the ever-changing nature of the sport’s most unpredictable surface.
He elaborated on the challenges posed by the clay courts in Paris: “We know that this constant adaptation exists, that every day can be completely different. 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.”
Acknowledging the mental and physical demands of competing at Roland Garros, Djokovic pointed out the variables that make every match unique. “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.” Whether it’s a cool breeze or a sweltering afternoon, he explained, the climate dictates how the ball bounces and travels through the air. “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.”
Djokovic may have missed his shot at a front-row seat for Saturday’s football spectacle, but he’s not one to be distracted by off-court events. For a player with his pedigree, focus and flexibility remain his strongest allies—and in Paris, both are essential ingredients on the unpredictable clay.