Yet mistreated in the first two rounds, Novak Djokovic won in three sets (7-6, 7-6, 6-2), this Friday in the 3rd round against the young Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 34th in the world. The Serb, who will face Hurkacz or Varillas, can continue to dream of a 23rd Grand Slam title.
Facing Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the 3rd round of Roland-Garros, this Friday, was a trap match for Novak Djokovic. The Serb did not take place against the young Spaniard. He was nevertheless able to perfectly circumvent the obstacle posed by the finalist in Monte-Carlo last season and thus continue his route Porte d’Auteuil, the spirit always turned towards a possible 23rd crown in Grand Slam in the absence of his eternal rival Rafael Nadal, already certain to remain stuck at 22 titles. The former world number 1, now number 3, is not there yet. At the dawn of challenging Hubert Hurkacz or the surprising Peruvian Varillas for a place in the quarter-finals, the “Djoker” nevertheless made sure not to tremble too much against the 34th world and executioner during the two previous rounds of two of our French Arthur Fils and Luca Van Assche. This did not prevent him from experiencing some complicated moments, since Davidovich Fokina was in the lead in the first as in the second set. But each time without managing to force the decision.
Djokovic: “I knew it would be very difficult”
Both times, the Spaniard was therefore forced to play a decisive game against the “GOAT”, who then knew how to speak about his experience in both situations (7-4 in the first tie-break, 7-5 in the second). A disgusting scenario for the blond player in the ponytail, who no longer found the strength to fight in the third set, the only one easily won by Djokovic, still impressively confident even if the match was also marked by some outbursts of anger of the Serbian. When responding to Alex Corretja after the game, he had regained his composure. “I knew the match would be very difficult and very physical. He’s an incredible fighter, he plays very well. Congratulations to him, because he fought well”, analyzed Djokovic, saying he was “proud” of his performance.
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