Djokovic lifts the wall in Paris | ATP Tour
Roland Garros
Djokovic continues to build his wall in Paris
The Serb reached the third round in his last 19 matches.
May 30, 2024
Novak Djokovic wants to bring back the game that made him a legend and Roland Garros is giving him the ammunition he needs to try. The Balkan reached the third round of the Paris tournament this Thursday for the 19th consecutive season, combining his strokes in a tournament where consistency has been a constant throughout his career. With brick dust providing the effort and five arms as a shield, the Serbian advances through a scenario that protects him like no other.
The PIF ATP ranking number 1 survived a tense battle with Roberto Carballes Baena, defeating the Spaniard 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 after two hours and five minutes of play. In a season that has seen him struggle to reach his best level, Djokovic showed his best in a fast-paced duel on clay, ideal for fine-tuning his shots ahead of the second week of competition in Paris. Their first two matches, in which they didn’t give up a set, serve as a welcome letter to the defending champion.
“I’m glad I got through the first two rounds in a row,” said Djokovic, who needs to reach the final to maintain his chances of retaining the world number one. “Again, in the beginning, during the first set, it was demanding. He played very well, aggressively from the very beginning. I needed a little more time to start hitting more freely. The break was key to finishing the first set. After that, the second and third races went well for me.”
(AS WELL AS)
The victory allows Djokovic to flawlessly dominate the Lexus ATP Head2Head record (3-0) against Carballes Baena, with whom he built his rivalry exclusively on Grand Slam tournaments. The Balkan added his triumph at Roland Garros to those previously achieved at the US Open and Australian Open, completing a collection of superb fights on the biggest stages.
Djokovic will play the third round of the tournament against local favorite Gael Monfils or 30th seed Lorenzo Musetti – two profiles well known to the defending champion. The Serbian outscores the Frenchman 19-0 and has good memories in Paris against the Italian, whom he beat in straight sets at the Philippe Chatrier Course en route to the 2021 title.
Although he hasn’t had the most consistent season, pieces of history accompany Djokovic’s every move. The Serbian could become the third Open Era man to win at least four individual Roland Garros trophies, following in the footsteps of Parisian perennials such as Swede Bjorn Borg (4) and Spaniard Rafael Nadal (12).
Did you know…?
Novak Djokovic is the second man with the most singles wins (94) in Roland Garros history. The Balkan, champion in 2016, 2021 and 2023, could be on the verge of 100 victories at the Paris Grand Slam. The record holder for the number of matches won at the French tournament is Spaniard Rafael Nadal (112).
