Novak Djokovic Advances To Roland Garros 3rd Round Despite ‘Cauldron Of Heat’

BusinessSportsMoneyNovak Djokovic Advances To Roland Garros 3rd Round Despite ‘Cauldron Of Heat’ByAdam Zagoria,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I'm a basketball and tennis insiderFollow AuthorMay 27, 2026, 02:00pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 27: Novak Djokovic of Serbia pretends to play a violin on his racket as he celebrates victory in his Men's Singles second round match against Valentin Royer of France on Day Four of the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)Getty ImagesNovak Djokovic remains alive for a record 25th Grand Slam title despite playing in what Hall of Famer Jim Courier called “a cauldron of heat.”With temperatures in Paris reaching the low 90s, the 39-year-old Serbian legend prevailed over Frenchman Valentin Royer, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-3 in 3 hours, 43 minutes, in a highly entertaining match to advance to his 21st Roland Garros third round.There he will face either Dino Prizmic of Croatia, who upset Djokovic at the Italian Open, or young Brazilian star Joao Fonseca, the No. 28 seed.Djokovic hit 46 winners against 38 unforced errors and won 78% of his first-serve points. he improved to 14-0 against Frenchmen at Roland Garros and 103-17 overall.He could have ended the match at about the 2-hour, 10-minute mark when he held a match point in the third-set tiebreak. But he could not convert as the 24-year-old Royer hit boldly from the backcourt.Royer won the third set when Djokovic sailed a backhand long, triggering a roar of applause from the crowd.In the fourth set, Djokovic made the shot of the match – and maybe the tournament – when he stretched wide into the corner and hit a forehand winner around the net post that awed Royer and the crowd and caused Djokovic to smile at the crowd as he walked back to his chair.MORE F...