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A two-time Roland Garros champion Novak Djokovic is through into the last 16 in Paris for the 17th time! The Serb worked hard to earn his 88th Roland Garros win, overpowering Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 in three hours and 36 minutes.
Davidovich Fokina gave everything to challenge a great rival in the opening two sets, pushing Djokovic to the limits and wasting a set point on the return in the second that could have made the scoreboard even tighter. Novak had to stay focused from start to finish, laboring to overpower the rival in the opening two sets before finally breaking his resistance in the third.
Djokovic hit six double faults and struggled on the second serve. He got broken five times from eight chances offered to his rival and grabbed seven return games from 17 break points to emerge at the top and remain on the title course.
The Serb hit more unforced errors than winners and will have to play better if he wants to chase his third Roland Garros crown. Djokovic had the upper hand in the shortest, mid-range and most extended rallies, playing better when it mattered the most and moving closer to his 350th Major victory.
Both players took almost half of the return points in the first set, with two breaks on each side and the drama that lasted over 80 minutes! Novak saved a break point in the third game before Alejandro clinched a break at 2-2 with a forehand crosscourt winner.
The Serb pulled it back in the next game, and they served well in the following four games to reach 5-5. The Spaniard broke again with a mighty backhand in the 11th game and served for the set at 6-5. Djokovic broke back at the last moment and fired a forehand crosscourt return winner at 6-4 in the tie break to wrap up the opener in 83 minutes!
The returners played well in set number two, and we saw three breaks of serve on each side, as they remained neck and neck and delivered another marathon. Davidovich Fokina saved break points in the first game and grabbed a break in the next one for 2-0.
Novak Djokovic battled past Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at Roland Garros.
The Spaniard squandered a 40-15 lead in the third game and allowed the Serb to break back and reduce the deficit. They traded breaks in games five and six, and Novak secured another at 4-4 after Alejandro's volley error.
The younger player broke back at love in game ten to lock the result at 5-5 and extend the battle. Davidovich Fokina saved a break point in game 11 and created a set point on the return in the next one. Djokovic saved it after an extended rally and introduced a tie break.
The Serb led 4-1 before losing four straight points to find himself 5-4 behind. Alejandro missed a forehand in the tenth point, and Novak drew the rival's mistake after another lengthy rally for 6-5 and a set point. World no.
3 seized it after Davidovich Fokina's backhand error to forge two sets to love advantage after two hours and 47 minutes! With a boost on his side, Novak served well at the start of the third set and broke Alejandro in the second game for 3-0.
The Spaniard denied a break point in the fourth game to stay in touch, and the Serb held after deuces in the next one for 4-1. The veteran fired a service winner in the seventh game to open a 5-2 gap, forcing the opponent to serve to stay in the match. Djokovic created two match points with a forehand crosscourt winner and forced Davidovich Fokina's error on the second to emerge at the top and celebrate the win.