Djokovic starts French Open with comeback win, eyes record 25th major title

Novak Djokovic began his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title with a hard-fought comeback victory at the French Open. The Serbian world No. 4 battled past French wildcard Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 in a challenging first-round match on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Djokovic, 39, found himself in a difficult position after losing the opening set to the 22-year-old French player. Despite the crowd's strong support for Perricard, Djokovic managed to level the match by winning a tight second set. He then asserted his dominance, overwhelming his younger opponent in the third and fourth sets to secure the win in two hours and 51 minutes.

This victory extended Djokovic's remarkable streak of never losing in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament, a record he has maintained for 20 years. He acknowledged the pressure of playing a local favorite on a major stage, stating, "Playing a French player at Roland Garros on the center court is never easy. The crowd gets into it, and the pressure is much higher."

The tournament marks Djokovic's 82nd Grand Slam appearance, setting a new men's record. His pursuit of an unprecedented 25th major title continues after his last Grand Slam win at the US Open in 2023. Djokovic has a strong history at Roland Garros, having won the title three times previously (2016, 2021, 2023) and reaching the semifinals or final in his last five major tournament appearances.

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Playing a French player at Roland Garros on the center court is never easy. The crowd gets into it, and the pressure is much higher.