Novak Djokovic continued his quest for a historic 25th Grand Slam title on Thursday, battling both French wildcard Valentin Royer and oppressive heat on day four of the French Open. The world No. 1 took to Court Philippe-Chatrier under a blazing Parisian sun, with temperatures exceeding 30°C, forcing organisers to implement heat-break rules between sets.
The 37-year-old Serbian, who won his 23rd Roland Garros crown last year, faced a spirited challenge from the 22-year-old Royer, ranked 216th in the world. Royer, buoyed by a partisan home crowd, pushed Djokovic in the opening set before the defending champion's experience began to tell. Djokovic's movement looked sharp despite the conditions, though he called for the trainer during a changeover to receive treatment on his left thigh.
Djokovic, who has spoken this week about the physical toll of the clay-court season, said in his pre-match press conference: “Every match is a battle, especially here. The heat makes it even tougher, but I've prepared for this. I know what it takes to win seven matches here.” The match marked the first meeting between the two players, with Royer earning his place in the second round after a straight-sets victory over Alejandro Tabilo.
The winner will face either Lorenzo Musetti or Gael Monfils in the third round, with Djokovic eyeing a potential quarter-final clash against Casper Ruud. Should Djokovic triumph in Paris, he would break the all-time record for most Grand Slam singles titles, currently shared with Margaret Court. The Serbian has already won the Australian Open this year, adding to his tally of 24 major titles.
British interest in the men's draw remains with Cameron Norrie, who faces a tough second-round tie against Alexander Zverev on Friday. In the women's draw, Katie Boulter is also in action, seeking to reach the third round for the first time at Roland Garros. The extreme heat has prompted organisers to keep the roof closed on the main show courts where possible, though matches on outside courts continue as scheduled.