Roland Garros: Djokovic struggles to overcome difficulties.

Having been out of competition for quite some time, coupled with declining health due to age, former world number one Djokovic had a very difficult start to his first round match at Roland Garros. Novak Djokovic had only played one match since Indian Wells in March. Therefore, the veteran Serbian player faced considerable difficulties when confronting Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Perricard vs. Djokovic: Stunning first set, incredible comeback.

Veteran tennis player Novak Djokovic had a difficult start at Roland Garros, having to come from behind to defeat home favorite Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the second round.

Djokovic struggled to come from behind.

On the Philippe-Chatrier court, Djokovic faced considerable difficulty against the powerful serves of his French opponent. The 39-year-old player repeatedly made unforced errors in the first two sets, while Mpetshi Perricard played with great enthusiasm, fueled by the fervent support of the home crowd.

However, the resilience of the 24-time Grand Slam champion came to the fore at the right moment. After missing nine break-point opportunities in the second set, Djokovic finally capitalized on his tenth break-point to level the match. This turning point allowed the former world number one to completely dominate the rest of the game.

With his improved serve reading, Djokovic quickly overwhelmed his younger opponent and closed out the match after 2 hours and 51 minutes. This victory also helped the Serbian player increase his Roland Garros record to 102 wins.

Not only did Djokovic overcome the daunting challenge, but he also made history even before the ball was served. He became the first male player to reach the main draw of the men's singles at Grand Slam tournaments 82 times, surpassing the previous record held by Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez.

In the second round, Djokovic will face French player Valentin Royer.

Wawrinka and Monfils shine brightly one last time.

Roland Garros 2026 will see the final appearance of "Iron Man" Wawrinka in Paris before his retirement at the end of the season. The 2015 champion still receives great attention thanks to his emotional playing style and his iconic one-handed backhand that has become a symbol of the ATP Tour.

The Swiss player recently had a strong performance at the Geneva Open and promises to shine in the special atmosphere of his final Roland Garros tournament. His opponent is Jesper De Jong, the Dutch player who entered the main draw as a lucky loser after Arthur Fils withdrew due to injury.

De Jong possesses a rather challenging clay court surface and tenacious defensive capabilities from the baseline. However, Grand Slam experience and composure in crucial moments remain a significant advantage for the 41-year-old Wawrinka.

In this emotionally charged match in Paris, the former world number 3 will likely have the composure to secure her place in the next round, although De Jong could certainly cause her trouble by winning a set.

HOANG NAM

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/the-thao/the-thao-quoc-te/202605/roland-garros-djokovic-nhoc-nhan-vuot-kho-3c51f93/