Novak Djokovic survived a punishing opening night at Roland Garros on Sunday, beating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of the French Open under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The 39-year-old, playing his 82nd appearance at a major, needed just under three hours to get past the 2.01-metre French server in a match that turned only after Djokovic steadied himself in the second set. He called it “very challenging mentally” and said of the opener, “First set, zero chance on him serving. It’s one of the most tremendous serves in terms of precision and speed that I have ever faced in my career.”
Djokovic’s victory was his first on clay in 2026 after a shoulder issue kept him out of most of the clay-court swing, a delay that made this match feel larger than a standard opening-round test. He is chasing a record 25th major title, and Sunday’s result gave him a clean start in a tournament where every round will be measured against that goal. His last Grand Slam title came at the US Open in 2023, and the pursuit of another one has now begun on the surface that has often demanded the most from him.
The match also carried the kind of crowd tension Djokovic described after the finish. “Obviously, the crowd gets into it and you feel the pressure even more. All in all, it was a good match to be part of,” he said, adding, “Three hours, just what the doctor ordered at age 39.” That was as much a nod to the challenge as to the result: he came through after dropping the first set and then overwhelmed Mpetshi Perricard, a world number 74 whose serve has made him dangerous even against the best.
Djokovic will next face Valentin Royer in the second round after Royer beat Hugo Dellien to advance. For Djokovic, the immediate job is simple enough: keep surviving. The larger picture is harder to miss. Carlos Alcaraz, the double-defending Roland Garros champion, is out through injury, and Djokovic is one of the few players left in the draw with both the pedigree and the game to take advantage. The night began with a test; it ended with the sense that the tournament’s oldest contender still has more to say.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Alexander Zverev opened with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Benjamin Bonzi and said it was “always nice to start with a straight-sets win.” He will meet Tomas Machac, who beat Zizou Bergs 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Karen Khachanov also moved on by beating Arthur Gea in straight sets, in a match that briefly stalled when Gea had to ask the umpire for a mid-match toilet break.
