Paris [France], May 26: Novak Djokovic made more history at the French Open - and overcame a tricky first-round assignment against giant Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
By appearing in his 82nd Grand Slam tournament two days after his 39th birthday, Djokovic broke the record he shared with Roger Federer for the most appearances in men's singles at the majors.
It is the Serbian's 22nd successive year playing at Roland Garros and not since 2010 had he lost a set in the opening round, but he had to fight from behind to see off 2.03-metre Mpetshi Perricard 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4.
That Djokovic made a rusty start was not surprising given he had played just one match since mid-March because of a shoulder injury.
The third seed was booed during the 11th game of the first set when he challenged the decision to replay a point following an errant line call, and Mpetshi Perricard, who is coached by former British number one Greg Rusedski, went on to break.
To the delight of most of the packed crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier, the big serving 22-year-old then proceeded to clinch the set.
The second proved the key to the match, with Djokovic eventually finding a way through the Mpetshi Perricard weapon by clinching his fourth set point at 6-5, reacting by putting his finger to his ear and goading the crowd.
Djokovic did not need to go full pantomime villain, though, for Mpetshi Perricard's resistance waned thereafter and the 24-time grand slam champion moved through to a second-round meeting with another Frenchman, Valentin Royer.
Djokovic celebrated with a victory jig, saying: "I want to congratulate Giovanni for a great match. It's not many times in my career I've faced a serve like that.
"In the first set I had no chance. The second set it changed a little for me. In a match like that you have to stay concentrated and wait for an opportunity, It's a little complicated but I found my best game, you could say, and my return at the right moment."
Taylor Fritz is another player who has battled injury this season, with the American missing nearly all of the clay-court swing with lingering knee tendinitis.
And he became the first top-10 seed to fall, losing out 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (7-9), 6-1 to countryman Nishesh Basavareddy.
There were no such problems for second seed Alexander Zverev, who defeated France's Benjamin Bonzi 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, while, in the women's draw, eighth seed Mirra Andreeva and 11th seed Belinda Bencic were among the winners.
Source: Qatar Tribune
