Novak Djokovic began his quest for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title with a tough first-round victory at the 2026 French Open, overcoming a difficult challenge from the home favourite Giovanni Mpestshi Peericard at the Roland Garros. The Serbian star has recovered from a slow start to win 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The match proved to be far tougher than many expected, especially in the opening stages . Perricard, backed by a loud French crowd, used his booming serve and aggressive baseline play to unsettle Djokovic during the early games of the match. The Frenchman took the opening set and looked quite confident as the atmosphere inside the stadium was quite intense. Djokovic struggled initially to read the powerful perricard delivery, later admitting it felt similar to facing some of the biggest servers in tennis history.
However, the 39-year-old Serbian once again showed why he remains one of the toughest competitors in grand slam history. Djokovic gradually raised his level in the second set, finally converting a crucial break point late in the set to level off the match. From there onwards, the momentum completely shifted in his favour. His superior movement experience and consistency began to wear Perricard down as the Frenchman also required treatment for discomfort in his wrist and arm during the contest.
The victory also marked another historic milestone for Djokovic. The Roland Garros appearance was his 82nd Grand Slam men’s singles appearance, allowing him to surpass Roger Federer’s long-standing record. It also extended Djokovic’s remarkable streak of opening-round wins at the French Open to 22 consecutive matches.
Coming into Paris with limited clay-court preparation and inconsistent form earlier in the season, questions surrounded the title credentials of the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Yet his comeback performance in Paris shows he remains a major contender despite the challenges posed by younger rivals and the game’s increasing physical demands.
Sources: ESPN India | NDTV Sports
