Djokovic "warms up" the duel against Fonseca: "He likes to play on the big stages, enjoys these matches"

Carlos Navarro | 27 May 2026 | 22.15

Djokovic advances in Paris... and Fonseca is already waiting for him. Source: Getty

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Novak Djokovic advances despite the heat at a Roland Garros 2026 that promises to demand every last drop from him. The Serbian player had to dig deep today against a determined Valentin Royer, capable of pushing him to the limit and forcing him to spend over three and a half hours under the intense Parisian sun in an overwhelmed Philippe Chatrier court. Djokovic managed to overcome this challenge in time, but he had no qualms about revealing that yes, his last two matches have taken a toll on his body... a toll that cannot be hidden.

After the match and facing a packed press conference, the Balkan player gave a brief summary of his physical condition, making it very clear that not finishing the match in three sets (he had a match point to do so) became a problem he solved just in time. However, he also left a window open to the future by extensively discussing Joao Fonseca, who awaits him in the third round in what promises to be a simply spectacular battle.

How Djokovic experienced his victory over Valentin Royer

- How he feels at this moment after two 'reasonably long' matches, especially this last one, at Roland Garros

"I'm not sure I agree with the term 'reasonably long.' When you play a match for three and a half hours on clay, it means it is long and very exhausting. At least in my opinion. Physically, yes, today I spent energy on a very hot day. The conditions were very challenging. I couldn't finish it in straight sets, and that was my fault, as I was two breaks up and had match points. I played very passively on those points, and he seized his opportunities, garnering the crowd support he was seeking."

There, the dynamic changed, but I was able to regroup in the fourth set. It was a very demanding duel, perhaps the score doesn't do it justice. It was a very, very tough match. He played at a very high level. He was highly motivated, it was evident from the first point, with clear tactical intentions. He's a fighter. I had never faced him before, but I had seen some of his matches. He's a great fighter, competes very well. It's a very good victory for me. It's not ideal to spend almost four hours on the court, but winning is always positive."

- About his relationship with a particular shot, the smash, and how it has evolved over the years

"I don't think I'm the person you should talk to about this (laughs). I'm not sure if my coaches would agree when you say it has improved over the years, I'm not even sure I would. Even my fans coined the term 'Djokosmash,' I'm not sure if that's a positive thing (laughs). Let's say it hasn't been the shot I've had the most confidence in throughout the last 10 or 15 years of my career. Maybe a bit more at the beginning, but let's say I'm not a fan of smashes. If you watch some of my matches, you'll probably understand why."

- His next match was going to be against Fonseca or Prizmic (eventually Fonseca): What do these members of the 'next generations' bring to tennis?

"Fonseca has received plenty of praise in the last two years. I believe his potential and quality as a player are beyond doubt. He has tremendous support, that of the Brazilian public, and he's a player who likes to perform on big stages, who thrives in major arenas, who enjoys night sessions. He played a great match against Sinner in Indian Wells, beat Rublev in straight sets in Australia... it's clear he can step up in big matches and bring out his best, with very powerful shots.

Whoever I face, it will be another demanding match in terms of physical condition, long rallies. I don't know if I will play at night or during the day, that will also determine how we handle various aspects, such as the ball bounce, court speed, etc. I believe we will continue to experience very hot days in a couple of days. These last days have been very, very demanding for many players."

- About possible protocols that Roland Garros could implement against the heat

"I don't understand why they don't have a heat rule. I didn't know, I thought there was one at all Grand Slams, but someone told me that Roland Garros doesn't have a rule against the heat. I guess if you were to close the roof to combat the heat, it wouldn't be fair to the other players and matches played on outdoor courts. Why would you close the main court and have the rest of the world continue playing in the sun? I wouldn't agree even though, of course, it would be great to play with the roof closed on such a hot day.

This is something we have experienced in Australia in recent years, with delays of one, two, or three hours until the index drops to acceptable levels. It's fair. This shouldn't be an issue in the Slams, with so many courts. We have lights. Huge courts. You can play all the matches on other courts, under different conditions. In other tournaments, without such infrastructure, it's a different discussion. We have some tournaments, like Umag, in Croatia, where matches don't start until 5 in the afternoon and end very late, at night. Is it ideal for a match to last until the early hours? Clearly not, but on days when you know it's extremely hot, maybe it's something you should consider."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic "calienta" el duelo ante Fonseca: "Le gusta jugar en los grandes escenarios, disfruta estos partidos"