Defending champion and world cricket-like crowd favorite Novak Djokovic has etched his name even deeper into tennis immortality. Battling through a grueling second-round encounter at the 2026 French Open on Wednesday, the Serbian maestro not only kept his quest for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title alive but also shattered a legendary record previously held by his longtime rival, Roger Federer.
By stepping onto Court Philippe-Chatrier, Djokovic recorded his 120th men’s singles appearance at Roland Garros. This milestone officially marks the most matches played by any male player at a single Grand Slam event in the Open Era, surpassing Federer’s iconic tally of 119 matches at Wimbledon. The 39-year-old virtuoso celebrated the historic feat by outlasted spirited French wildcard Valentin Royer in a physical four-set marathon, sealing a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3 victory in just under four hours.
Vintage Magic in Paris: Even at 39, Djokovic continues to defy the laws of physics. During a critical juncture in the match, the Serbian star stunned the Parisian crowd by sprinting wide to pull off a jaw-dropping, around-the-net-post winner, proving his elite athleticism remains entirely intact.
Taming the Local Hero in a Parisian Heatwave
The match initially looked like a routine outing for the top seed, who systematically dismantled Royer’s baseline game to claim the opening two sets with minimal fuss. However, the 74th-ranked Royer—who grew up just five kilometers from the tournament grounds—unleashed a fearless brand of high-risk tennis in the third set. Capitalizing on a few rare unforced errors from the champion, the young Frenchman fought back from a break down to snatch a tense tie-break 9-7, sending the local crowd into absolute raptures.
Unfazed by the drop in momentum and the punishing Parisian heatwave, Djokovic locked in for the fourth set. Showing the tactical discipline that has defined his career, he wore down the hometown hero, finally converting his fifth match point. Up next for the champion is an intriguing generational clash against Brazilian teenage sensation Joao Fonseca, who pulled off a miraculous comeback from two sets down to defeat Croatia’s Dino Prizmic.
Elena Rybakina Shocked; Swiatek Cruises Amid Underdog Surges
While Djokovic survived his scare, the women’s draw witnessed a monumental earthquake. Reigning Australian Open champion and title favorite Elena Rybakina suffered a stunning second-round collapse, crashing out to Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva. Despite comfortably taking the opening set, Rybakina’s game unraveled under the physical conditions, culminating in a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10/4) defeat. This marks Rybakina’s earliest exit from a Grand Slam since 2024, leaving the bottom half of the women’s draw wide open.
In stark contrast, four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek looked unshakeable. Working seamlessly under the guidance of her new coach, Francisco Roig (formerly of Rafael Nadal’s camp), Swiatek extended her flawless Paris streak with a clinical, straight-sets victory over Czech teenager Sara Bejlek.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Germany’s Alexander Zverev cruised past Tomas Machac, while Czech prodigy Jakub Mensik provided one of the day’s most dramatic images—collapsing on the clay with severe full-body cramps after needing eight match points to defeat Mariano Navone. With the grueling clay-court conditions forcing stars like 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini out of the tournament early, the first week of Roland Garros 2026 is turning into a pure war of attrition.