Novak Djokovic kicked off his Roland Garros campaign with a hard-fought four-set victory over home favorite Giovanni Mpeh Pericard. The Serbian world No. 1 survived a shaky start, dropping the first set before rallying to win 3-1 (5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4) in a match that lasted nearly three hours.

A Milestone in the Making

This marked Djokovic’s 82nd Grand Slam main-draw appearance, a staggering statistic that even the 37-year-old admitted he hadn’t been tracking. When asked about the milestone, Djokovic offered a simple, understated response, noting that he wasn’t fully aware of the count but appreciated the moment.

The match itself was a grueling test of patience and precision. Pericard, playing on the clay of Roland Garros, brought one of the most potent serves Djokovic has encountered in recent years. The French qualifier forced the Serbian champion to dig deep, particularly after losing the opening set. However, Djokovic adjusted his tactics from the second set onward, reading Pericard’s service patterns more effectively and neutralizing the threat.

Physical Readiness and Mental Fortitude

Djokovic’s preparation for this year’s French Open has been anything but ideal. Dealing with minor physical setbacks, he entered the tournament with only one practice match under his belt. Despite this, he insisted that his body feels manageable and that the three-hour match provided the necessary rhythm.

“This surface is challenging for me,” Djokovic said during his post-match press conference. “It wasn’t ideal to have only one match, but I was injured. I prepared for Paris, I will give everything. My body feels okay so far, I need to get into the game flow, and I hope it happens as the tournament progresses.”

The pressure of playing a French opponent on the hallowed grounds of Roland Garros is well-documented, and Djokovic acknowledged the extra weight it carries. “It’s never easy to play a Frenchman at Roland Garros. The pressure is felt more,” he noted, highlighting the mental resilience required to maintain composure in Paris.

A Fond Farewell to Monfils

The press conference took a lighter turn when journalists asked about Gael Monfils, who is bidding farewell to professional tennis at this year’s Roland Garros. Djokovic praised Monfils’ character, describing him as a positive force in the sport and one of the greatest athletes in tennis history.

However, Djokovic couldn’t resist a playful jab at the end. “I told others, and I told him. For me, his legacy is how good a person he is... One of the greatest athletes in history. We will miss his slides, his spikes, everything. I loved watching him play, and honestly, I loved playing against him too (record 20-0). I had to mention that, ha-ha,” Djokovic joked, drawing laughs from the press room.

With the first round behind him, Djokovic now looks ahead to the second round, aiming to build momentum on a surface that has historically been one of his strongest.