Novak Djokovic slammed the Roland Garros crowd and expressed hope that he would not face any more French players after being booed throughout his second-round match against Frenchman Valentin Royer.
Djokovic Advances in Hard-Fought Victory
Djokovic extended his bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(9), 6-3 victory over Royer. It was the second straight match the Serbian has beaten a French opponent, following his first-round win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Crowd Behavior Draws Criticism
During the match, Djokovic accused the home crowd of lacking respect. After being booed, he clapped back sarcastically as the umpire called for calm. The umpire said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please have some respect for both of the players." Djokovic immediately responded, "They have no respect, no respect."
Following the win, the Serbian stated, "I hope I won't play any more French players for the rest of the tournament."
Match Highlights
The opening two sets showcased a vintage Djokovic, who dominated with precise shot-making. However, Royer fought back, leveling the third set at 4-4 with a hooked forehand. In the tie-break, Djokovic held match point at 6-5, but Royer's bold hitting and agility forced errors, including a long backhand from Djokovic, sparking a roar from the Parisian crowd.
Post-Match Comments
"I'm relieved. Obviously, it feels different when you win the match. It's a very important victory in difficult conditions for both players. It was very hot and I think Valentin deserves big credit for his performance today," Djokovic said in the press conference. He added, "It was a very tough match, a challenge right from the start. It's normal that things get tricky on court in these sort of conditions and atmosphere. I hope I don't have to play another French player again until the end of the tournament!"
Djokovic now holds an incredible record of 14-0 against French players at Roland Garros.
Records and Next Opponent
With the win, Djokovic reached a record 21st consecutive Roland Garros third-round appearance. At 39, he became the first man to play 120 matches at a single Grand Slam event, surpassing Roger Federer's Wimbledon tally of 119. The former World No. 1 will next face Brazilian 28th seed Joao Fonseca, who staged a stunning comeback from two sets down to defeat Croatian Dino Prizmic.
