Murray gets pep talk from Djokovic

Serb calls crocked rival as he continues his own fightback from injury

Novak Djokovic has spoken to Andy Murray to wish him well in his battle to return to fitness.

Murray, who had a hip operation in January, has not played a competitive match since Wimbledon last year but hopes to return in time for this year’s tournament at SW19.

Djokovic recently had surgery on his problem elbow in an attempt to cure pain which has troubled him for the past two years. He is now through to the third round of the French Open without losing a set.

The Serbian, who has slipped out of the world’s top 20 for the first time since he was a teenager due to his spell out injured, knows just how two-time Wimbledon champ Murray is feeling.

“We spoke recently because we are part of the player council, so we had a meeting and he was on the conference call,” said Djokovic.

“I can only imagine how difficult it is for him, as well, to deal with the circumstances of injury.

“You know, that’s something that I can relate to.

“I mean, I have had quite a similar situation, although his injury takes more time, obviously.

“Hopefully we can see him playing on grass, because that’s where, I guess, he wants to play.”

Djokovic set up a third-round meeting with 13th seed Roberto Bautista Agut after a 7-6 (7/1) 6-4 6-4 victory over another Spaniard, Jaume Munar.

German second seed Alexander Zverev, along with Djokovic viewed as one of the few genuine obstacles to Rafael Nadal collecting an 11th title over the next fortnight, was almost packing his bags.

The 21-year-old was trailing 2-1, and playing dreadfully, against Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic but came back to win 2-6 7-5 4-6 6-1 6-2.

Fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov was also taken the distance by American Jared Donaldson who, tiring during a marathon final set, twice served underam, winning a game point with the first.

A gruelling showdown lasting fourand-a-quarter hours was eventually won by Bulgarian Dimitrov, 10-8 in the fifth.

In a match held over from Tuesday, Czech Tomas Berdych, the 17th seed, was a first-round casualty after he was beaten by France’s Jeremy Chardy in five sets.

Meanwhile, Marco Trungelliti’s epic French Open journey came to an end in the second round.

The Argentinian became the unlikely darling of Roland Garros after driving for 10 hours from Barcelona to Paris, with his brother, mother and gran, on Sunday in order to register in time as a lucky loser.

Trungelliti, the world No 190, then stunned the tennis world by beating former top-20 player Bernard Tomic to net himself £69,000 in prize money.

However, the 28-year-old hit the skids in round two as he was beaten 6-1 7-6 (7/1) 6-1 by Italian Marco Cecchinato.

David Goffin, the No 8 seed, beat home favourite Corentin Moutet in straight sets, 7-5 6-0 6-1, while Kei Nishikori saw off another Frenchman, Benoit Paire in five sets, 6-3 2-6 4-6 6-2 6-3 .

Gilles Simon disposed of No 12 seed Sam Querry 1-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-1 and Jeremy Chardy defeated veteran Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (10-8) 1-6 5-7 6-2.