Djokovic a step closer to claiming a record 23rd Grand Slam

PARIS Novak Djokovic fought o a terri c challenge from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to reach the fourth round of the French Open for a 14th consecutive year.

The 7-6 (4) 7-6 (5) 6-2 victory took three hours and 36 minutes, with Djokovic twice a break down in the rst set and forced to save a set point in the second.

The 22-time grand-slam champion looked unsettled in windy conditions, while he called the trainer before the third set to have his left thigh massaged, but, as he so often does, he found a way to come out on top.

Djokovic had struggled in his opening set against Marton Fucsovics on Wednesday before breezing through the next two, and it quickly became clear Spaniard Davidovich Fokina would o er a real test.

The 23-year-old, ranked 34, matched his opponent in physical rallies from the baseline and broke for the rst time to lead 3-2.

Djokovic hit straight back but was broken again at 5-5 after a game that featured three double faults and a time violation.

Again, Davidovich Fokina was unable to serve it out, though, and Djokovic made him pay for the wasted opportunities by winning a tie-break.

This time the challenge very much continued in the second set as the pair exchanged breaks of serve three times, with Djokovic unable to clinch it at 5-4.

Davidovich Fokina had one chance to break again and level the match in Djokovic's next service game but he could not take it and the Serbian again came out on top in a tie-break.

Djokovic let his emotions out, roaring and stpumping, but the toll the e ort had taken became clear when he called the trainer, applying ice to his left thigh and gesturing sarcastically towards the crowd. Djokovic looked distinctly uncomfortable at times in the third set but he forged ahead early on and did not let Davidovich Fokina back in, giving a weary celebration when the Spaniard's resistance nally ran out.

“I knew that it's going to be a very di match, a very physical match,” said Djokovic.

”He contested very, very well. He's an amazing ghter, amazing player. Congratulations to him for ghting. Bad luck but he played a great match. cult